In March 2019, I was delighted to find out that one museum in Paris featured the Philippines. The exhibit did not show paintings nor sculptures of talented Filipino artists, as what would normally be found in a museum. Instead, it presented anting-antings! This exhibit was held from March 12 to May 26, 2019 in Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac. The 10-week exhibit titled “Anting-Anting, The Secret Soul…
Managing Oneself (Peter F. Drucker, 2008)
Six months after I arrived in Paris in 2018 for my foreign assignment, I ordered a book in Amazon about the history of France. Then, I saw that one of the recommended books is a white and orange booklet with the helpful title “Managing Oneself.” I thought, “Why not? It will possibly help me adjust…
The Eiffel Tower
One of the perks of living in a neighborhood close to the Eiffel Tower is that you see this beauty almost every day, even in the most mundane of days and/or tasks. You see it when you rush to the nearest Monoprix or Franprix or Carrefour to buy grocery items. You see it when you…
Les Jardins de Paris: The City of Love and Its Gardens
I love gardens. In my view, gardens are havens that refresh and calm people from the busyness of life in the city. In Paris, there are many gardens. Some are not so grand as the others, consisting only of a few benches, grassy lawn, several trees and bushes. Some are so vast that you can…
Vienna-Bratislava-Melk-Kahlenberg Trip
June-July 2019. Because I have two dear friends and batch mates in Vienna, it was but natural that I came back just six months after my first visit. I was touched by the wonderful preparation and the great itinerary they planned for me. I wasn’t expecting it’d be so special, but I received a bouquet…
Visit to England: A Reunion
April 2019. My heart was bursting with joy when I visited England, particularly Fleet, Hampshire for the first time. It has been more than ten (10) years since I last saw my sister Lori. At that time, my Ate only had one lovely daughter and now, she has three beautiful kids. I arrived in Heathrow…
My First Vienna Trip
Last week of December 2018. I loved the serene vibe of the city. The streets were clean, the Prater park where we strolled and where we walked from the apartment to church was spacious and relaxing, and traffic flowed slowly where I stayed. There was no frantic honking of horns nor rowdy speeding cars. The…
Diplomacy and Music
At times, diplomats are requested to sing to the group during celebratory gatherings after the conclusion of meetings or during events. It may be useful to be familiar with some Original Pilipino Music (OPM), which will not only entertain the group but also promote Filipino language, culture, and music. More so, OPM celebrates the great…
Some Tips for Passing the Foreign Service Officer Exam (FSOE)
So, you want to have a challenging career? To travel around the world? To meet and work with people from different countries? To be part of the country’s endeavors in the international community? Well, to be a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) could be one of your great career options! How do you become one? The…
Becoming a Foreign Service Officer (FSO)
It was in December 2013 during the Christmas holidays, when I first learned about the Foreign Service Officer Examination (FSOE). My Ate (older sister) sent me a message with the link for the exams and she said, “You might want to consider this. Deadline of applications is until February next year.” I read her message,…
Beyond Routes 