GOVPH

OCA Successfully Conducts Personality Development and Social Graces Workshop

(On-site Participants of the Personality Development and Social Grace Workshop with Ms. Karen Agustin-Ostrea, Photo courtesy of DFA – OCA)

MANILA  04 April 2024 – As part of the celebration for the International Women’s Month, the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of Consular Affairs (DFA - OCA) has successfully conducted the Personality Development and Social Graces Workshop on Saturday, 23 March 2024. 

A total of 230 participants joined the workshop with 106 participants from OCA and NCR Consular Offices attended face to face at Aseana and 124 participants from other Consular Offices who attended via Zoom. To ensure a wholesome approach, outsourced encoders from the DPB Services Inc. were also invited to participate in the workshop. The target participants were all frontline personnel of the Consular Offices who assist and deal with applicants on a daily basis. 

To empower and capacitate OCA personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to build a professional image, Ms. Karen Agustin-Ostrea, who is a certified business etiquette, international protocol, and image consultant, was invited as a resource speaker. Ms. Ostrea provided practical tips and guidance focusing on the improvement of appearance, behavior, and communication skills of the participants. 

This includes practical tips on professional dressing, proper posture for standing, sitting, and walking, and the handshaking etiquette for both social and formal settings. All of these are seen as necessary, especially for front-liners dealing with applicants every day.

Due to the positive feedback received from the participants, the OCA-GAD plans to conduct this workshop for other personnel in the Consular Offices in the Visayas and Mindanao regions to undergo the same workshop. This reaffirms the strong commitment of OCA to encourage the personal growth of its personnel as well as ensure the excellent delivery of consular services to applicants. END

(Participants actively participating in the practical exercises, Photo courtesy of DFA – OCA)

(The GAD Focal Point System of OCA, Photo courtesy of DFA – OCA)