Being a diplomat offers myriad of opportunities to represent the Embassy/Consulate and the country. I have been tasked to convey the country’s position in some conferences. The statements here were concise and vetted beforehand. I have represented the Ambassador in various events of the Filipino community where I was expected to deliver short inspiring speeches….
Author: Emi_F
A diplomat, former educator, student of life, lover of nature, literature, art and music, believer of shared humanity
Inevitable
It’s still the weekend or to be more precise, Sunday night, a time when reflective thoughts often come. I realized that in the past few months and weeks, several people whom I knew and two of our pet kittens (our rescues) bid goodbye to this world. One was the artist Robert Alejandro; Two were my…
Random Acts of Kindness
Once, I was walking to the transportation terminal in BGC, carrying a paper bag with fruits, when I crossed paths with a sporty woman in her 30s. We exchanged slight smiles and perhaps noticing the brown bag I carried like a baby in my arms, she offered her Metrobank eco bag. I declined at first…
Sampung Tagubilin sa mga Kabataan (ni Gregoria de Jesus)
Kahapon ay isinagawa ng aming opisina, ang DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy sa pakikipagtulungan sa Pelikulove, and unang lektyur sa Heritage Talks 2025, isang proyekto sa diplomasyang kultural, kung saan ay itinampok ang mahalagang papel ng kababaihan sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, bilang paggunita sa National Women’s Month. Binigyang pansin ang makulay ngunit masalimuot na buhay…
Thank you, Amazing Women
As part of the celebration of International Women’s Day, I would like to allot an hour today to think of and write about the amazing women that I had the fortunate opportunity to be with, come across with, or work with: My mom Emma – I am blessed that she is my mom. She is…
Diplomatic Anecdote 2: LO (2016 and 2017)
Being designated a liaison officer (LO) is a usual part of the work of a Foreign Service Officer. In particular, you will be assigned to visiting dignitaries and guests and your role is to make their stay as smooth as possible, from fetching them at the airport, bringing them to their hotel, ensuring that they…
Diplomatic Anecdote 1: NTD (2022)
On 30 January 2022, I was designated as my Office’s (DFA – Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy), representative to the celebration of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, following an official invitation from Executive Director Thoko Elphick-Pooley, Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The idea was to communities light up “landmarks, stadiums and…
Of Scents and Freshness
Ms. Beng, my fellow Toastmaster gave me a lovely and blossomy soap package earlier today as a birthday gift. I liked it very much. In fact, what inspired me to write this was the fresh scent of this gift. Haha! I like soaps, body wash, long baths. Bathing’s invigorating and it’s part of my daily…
Post-birthday Musing
I recently had my birthday and I wanted to post something on the day itself to mark it. But I was busy–I went to work, had lunch and snacks celebration with officemates, etc. and got home around 9p.m., fell asleep due to tiredness, and woke up before 11pm to eat the sotanghon that my mom…
2025, quo vadis?
It’s the 15th of January 2025. We’re only two weeks into the new year and yet, it feels like it has been a long time. Since January 2, there has been only 10 work days and two (2) weekends! But we’re back to the same routine, and the newness of 2025, it seems, is getting…
Beyond Routes 