21 April 2016 - The Diplomatic League (D-League), initiated in 2014 with the support of the Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo and Ric Alarilla of UNIO, held its key events for 2016 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) throughout the month of April.

The D-League held the first session of its Summit at the DFA Summit Lounge in the afternoon of April 01. The summit, participated in by student representatives of the D-League member-universities, is aimed at developing Philippine Foreign Policy recommendations for the next Presidential administration. Alongside Metro Manila-based schools, Mindanao universities including Ateneo de Davao, University of Southern Mindanao and Xavier University, also participated in the proceedings. According to D-League President Cardenas, a graduate of the Lyceum of the Philippines in Manila, the Summit’s recommendations will represent the contributions of Filipino Youth to the advancement of Philippine Diplomacy and underscores the importance of the Youth as Foreign Policy stakeholders.

The second annual D-League Ball was held in the evening of April 01 at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini in the DFA with the theme “Latin Night.” The event was organized with the support of the DFA-Office of American Affairs (DFA-OAA) and the Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. The event featured the cuisine, beverages and performance arts of Central and South America. The Embassies also presented videos and shared materials on the cultural, tourism and commercial offerings of their respective countries. Gracing the occasion were Ambassador of Panama Rolando  Guevara,  Ambassador-Designate of Brazil Rodrigo do Amaral Souza, Charge d'Affaires a.i. of Venezuela Yelitza Ventura, Ms. Corina Sarli of  the Embassy of Argentina, and Mr. Gerardo Regalado of the Embassy of Mexico. Advising the event were Ambassador Eva Betita, former Philippine Ambassador to Brazil and Professor at the University of the East, and Mr. Dennis Briones, DFA-OAA Director for South America.

From April 04 to 05, the D-League held its first Model United Nations Academy (MUNAc), also at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini, with the theme “Redefining Model UN Practice in the Philippines.”  The MUNAc is intended to enrich D-League members’ knowledge on the actual working procedures of UN conferences, in cooperation with UNIO and the UN Country Team.  MUNAc is also aimed at supporting the holding of Model UNs in universities and colleges outside Metro Manila. Sharing their experiences in the UN system were Ambassador Rosario Manalo, Ambassador Lauro Baja and Ambassador Libran Cabactulan. The three veteran Ambassadors discussed their successful Chairmanships of vital UN processes. Ambassador Manalo headed the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in the 1980s-1990s, Ambassador Baja served as President of the UN Security Council in 2004 and 2006, while Ambassador Cabactulan was Chairman of  the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.  Also, UNIO Director Donna Feliciano-Gatmaitan shared her recent experiences with the 2016 CSW sessions.

Representing the UN Country Team were Ms. Teresa Dubuque and Ms. Soojin Chen of the UN Information Center and UN Volunteers, respectively. Atty. Trisa Kintanar-Camacho represented the Rotary International Club of Jose P. Rizal, Makati City, which has been running a high-school level MUN for the past 18 years. The MUNAc also presented the Model UN 2.0 concept of Barangay Diplomacy and discussed the disarmament and humanitarian implications of fictional weapons and abilities.

Later in the month the D-League held various workshops for the establishment of “Commissions” focused on particular regional and bilateral relations, international organizations, universities and foreign policy issues. Among the Commissions established in March and April were those for the Latin America, South Asia, US, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, International Organization on Migration and Georgetown University. D-League President-elect Angelita Bonsilao of Far Eastern University stated that the D-League looks forward to working closely with the Public Diplomacy thrusts of the DFA and to encouraging D-League members to take the Foreign Service Officers’ Examination. D-League advisers Ambassador Benjamin Domingo, Ambassador Marilyn Alarilla, Ambassador Jaime Bautista and Ambassador Linda Tirona pledged their continuing support to the “future diplomats” of the League. END