A fellow participant in a recent training for ASEAN diplomats asked me how long it took me to draft the “Thank You” message of the batch, which I delivered that afternoon during the closing ceremonies of our diplomatic training. I said, “15-20 minutes, around that time.” She was amazed and asked how I did it….
Category: FSO Life
And the Years Passed By
Today, 22 January 2022 marks the six years since I took my oath as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO). I still distinctly remember that day when I had the oath-taking at the Department of Foreign Affairs wearing a royal blue Filipiniana gown and a rather conspicious silver necklace which I never wore again after that…
Emi in Paris
Recently, I started watching Season 2 of Emily in Paris after a long break from watching Season 1. The vibe is the same–cool, fun, trendy. What I like most about each episode is that there’s always a misadventure that Emily runs into but she almost always pulls it off. I could relate to her efforts…
Home
A colleague moved to a new apartment this week and relayed to me that although her new place is comfy and spacious, she was unable to sleep during the first night. That brought to mind my first night here at my place in Paris, about three years ago, when, exhausted from a day’s work, from…
Glimpse of a Diplomat’s Life
What do diplomats do? In the virtual age, is the work of a diplomat still relevant? At a time when even the highest leader of the land or the head of the Foreign Affairs Department can post his/her decisions and sentiments online, available to the public within mere seconds and when news travels more than…
Agosto
Tuwing Agosto, ipinagdiriwang ang Buwan ng Wika sa Pilipinas. (Every August, the Month of Language is celebrated in the Philippines.) Nais kong makiisa sa pagdiriwang na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbahagi ng mga maiikling tula sa wikang Filipino, kasama ang mga larawan dito sa Paris na kinuha ngayong buwan. (I would like to take part…
Meeting the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretaries
This short narrative that I posted four years ago, about an event that happened the day before, popped up in my social media account recently. I felt I wanted to share it again now because I feel that it is a wonderful part of my (and my batch mates’) Foreign Service Officer (FSO) journey. 2…
Salamat sa mga Kababayan
Dahil sa sitwasyong kinakaharap ng buong mundo ngayon, sa banta sa kalusugan na dulot ng COVID-19, may mga ipinapatupad na mga bagong pamantayan ang mga Pasuguan at Konsulado ng Pilipinas sa iba’t-ibang panig ng mundo. Kasama na rito ang pagpapatupad ng istriktong appointment system para sa mga aplikante na nangangailangan ng serbisyong konsular, pati na…
Celebrating the 122nd Year of Philippine Independence
On June 12, 2020, we celebrated the 122nd year of Philippine Independence at the Embassy, led by the Philippine Ambassador to France and Monaco. It was different from the previous years’ celebrations for several reasons. Last year’s Philippine Independence Day celebration and Diplomatic Reception was held at the historic Mona Bismarck hotel in Paris. We…
The New Normal, the “Abnormal”, and the “Paranormal”
With the lifting of the lockdown in France on May 11, the new normal became more obvious. Although this term had been commonly mentioned for weeks since the lockdown started, emerging from the safety of one’s home made it tangible. Some “abnormal” events happened in many countries in the world, giving analysts materials to ponder,…
Beyond Routes 