When I went to Morocco in 2023 for a two-week scholarship program, I only carried one cabin-size and one medium-size luggage bags, plus two shoulder bags. Those were enough to carry my clothes, shoes, computer, and pasalubong for the program organizers and my fellow diplomat-trainees. As the days progressed, and we visited several areas, and…
Category: FSO Life
Diplomatic Anecdote 6: Snapshots of FSO Life
The life of a Foreign Service Officer is colorful. Yes, it’s demanding. Yes, it expects a lot from you. But if you’re ready to face challenges, are enthusiastic in embracing life as a diplomat, and have the heart to serve, then it will be a fulfilling career. I want to share with you some photos…
Aphantasia
I was today years old when I learned that some people cannot see or access their mind’s eye, through a TED Talk by Alex Rosenthal, “Can you picture things in your mind? I can’t.” Oh my! I assumed that visualizing things was a natural ability that all people have. Imagining the rocket-ship that crash lands…
Diplomatic Anecdote 5: Suva Surprise
On 18 December 2025, the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Fiji, I left Manila to fly to Fiji, to join the landing team here. We had an important task: to establish a new Embassy of the Philippines in Fiji, which will cover Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, with Consular…
All in a Week
These are some of the highlights as September ended and a new month began. I started the week with two (2) lectures on cultural diplomacy on a Monday morning, which were rescheduled twice because of Sept. rains and storm. This was followed by a despedida lunch for a dear former boss and mentor who is…
Filipiniana Attire
To break my writing hiatus, I struggled to write at least a paragraph a day, choosing a light and interesting topic that will somehow keep the computer keyboard clacking. It’s been a struggle as I was unable, due to several factors including fatigue and subtle ennui, to write something (except for numerous work-related deliverables) in…
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…
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…
Behind the Scenes of the Baguio Conference
I attended a conference in Baguio recently, where I was the keynote speaker on 24 October 2024. My topic was on the Internationalization of Higher Education. I appreciate this invitation from the Philippine International Friendship and Understanding Association (PIFUA) to the 5th International Conference-Training for International Students, Student Leaders, and Advisers (ICTISSLA), which gave me…
Beyond Routes 