During the ASEAN Regional Forum in April 2016, I had the chance to meet and have conversations with diplomats from Russia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and the United States. I’d like to share with you some (of the many) fascinating things I learned: 1. I asked the diplomat from Russia (who had been staying in the…
Author: Emi_F
A diplomat, former educator, student of life, lover of nature, literature, art and music, believer of shared humanity
A Pocketful of Countries’ Memories
Having been to several countries because of my work, and some personal trips, I realized that, oftentimes, it’s not the grand things that you remember. It’s not the lavish meals, the important meetings, the sense of accomplishment after finishing outputs, and the sense of pride in meeting notable personalities. Rather, it’s those little things that…
Colorful Tapestry of Fabric, People, and Places
I love shawls and scarves. They bring warmth on a cold day. They’re versatile. You can fold them so that they only take a small space in your bag (or sometimes tie them to the bag handle), and bring them out when the temperature drops or when the cold wind blows. They also add a…
Lav Diaz, a great Filipino artist
Paris, January 2020: I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet Mr. Lavrente Indico Diaz, or more popularly known as Lav Diaz. The “ideological father of the new Filipino cinema,” his films were featured in the exhibition in Paris in January 2020, when he participated in the 15th edition of the Hors Piste Festival at the…
Missing my Paris walks
I miss walking around my neighborhood. When the French government imposed a lockdown starting on the 17th of March requiring every resident to limit their movements outside their homes, following it up with even stricter restrictions on the the 24th, to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country, I had to stay at home,…
Barcelona of My Dreams
November 2019. It was our dream to go to Spain, so weeks prior to our flight, my friends Allen and Tricia, and I exchanged ideas on the best place and dates for our visit. We considered Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and others, but finally chose Barcelona and the first three (3) days of November 2019 to…
You Are Woman
Happy International Women’s Day! ❤ Sharing with you a poem I penned three years ago today. The softness of the moonlight, The warmth of the early morning sun, The cheery colors of the rainbow, The gurgle of water in the stream, The refreshing coolness of the sea breeze, The welcoming shade of the verdant trees….
When Breath Becomes Air (Paul Kalanithi, 2016)
When I saw the pale blue book with the image of a surgeon’s back as the cover, on one of the shelves in Morawa Bookstore in Vienna, during my visit last weekend, I didn’t pay it special attention. Even after I briefly read the title and the synopsis at the back cover, it didn’t impress…
Weekend Date in the Eternal City
I was in Rome, known as the Eternal City, but for two days in October 2019, but it left an indelible mark on me. Since the time was very short, rushing to the airport wearing my office clothes on a Friday night after work and returning to Paris on Sunday afternoon, I made sure to…
UK Visit: Sweeter the Second Time Around
Part I: England I visited England three months after my April 2019 visit. This time, I was more prepared. I applied for a leave from work longer than the four-day leave (including weekend) that I filed before. Also, I did not need to ride a cab from London to Fleet, Hampshire because my Ate and…
Beyond Routes 