FSI Partners with ASEAN Ladies Foundation, Inc. for Cultural Immersion  

ALF and its formidable  partners for The Manila Route: (L-R) Mr. Joshua Santiago, Chief-of-Staff, Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan; Atty. Joan Padilla, Administrator, Intramuros Administration; Mme. Pamela Louise Manalo, Chairperson, ASEAN Ladies Foundation, Inc. (ALF); Mme. Bouvane Souksavanh, President, ALF; Ms. Louella Baysic, Head of Conservation, San Agustin Museum; and Director General Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, Foreign Service Institute.

MANILA 06 December 2024 — The Foreign Service Institute served as one of the partners of the ASEAN Ladies Foundation, Inc. (ALF) as it launched The Manila Route, A Tour of Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church and Museum.  The event is projected as an annual immersive learning experience to deepen appreciation of the different historical landmarks in Metro Manila and promote cultural heritage of the Philippines.  For the inaugural tour, project partners include the Intramuros Administration, San Agustin Church and Museum, Office of the Manila City Mayor, and the Foreign Service Institute. In attendance were members of the Diplomatic Corps from the ASEAN region and their spouses.

ALF’s project aligns with FSI’s thrust to strengthen partnerships and collaborations with various organizations to promote cultural understanding and lifelong learning. In his message during the opening ceremony, Director General Fernandez affirmed the Institute’s commitment in providing a platform for cultural understanding through its Cultural Wednesdays program and encouraged ASEAN embassies to maximize these opportunities. END 

Mr. Diego Torres, Senior Tour Guide of the Intramuros Administration gave participants an overview of Fort Santiago and its significance in the life of Dr. Jose Rizal.