DFA Completes Second Leg of DFA Public Diplomacy Caravan in Dumaguete City and Larena, Siquijor

DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita C. Daza addresses the students at Silliman University

MANILA 25 February 2025 — Following the well-attended launch of the DFA Public Diplomacy Caravan in Cauayan City in Isabela Province on 23 January 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs successfully completed the second leg of the caravan with a visit to Silliman University in Dumaguete City and Siquijor State College in Larena, Siquijor, on 20 February 2025 and 21 February 2025, respectively.

The DFA delegation composed of the DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita C. Daza and other officials from the Office of Public Diplomacy, the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, the Office of Policy Planning and Coordination, and the Human Resources Management Office engaged around 300 students at Silliman University and around 900 students at the Siquijor State College. 

The two-hour session in each university included presentations covering the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy, an Independent Philippine Foreign Policy, the West Philippine Sea, Philippine maritime zones, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 2016 Arbitral Award, the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo), and possible career opportunities in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

After the presentations, Open Forum sessions were held where the panel of DFA officials answered questions from the students.

The goal of the DFA Public Diplomacy Caravan is to engage communities and students around the Philippines to inform them about the DFA’s mandate and functions, and its impact on nation-building. Through this engagement, the DFA not only aims to have a more direct interaction with its stakeholders, but a better appreciation of their concerns and perspectives.

The DFA Public Diplomacy Caravan is expected to continue in various universities and communities around the country in the coming months. END

Silliman University students participate in the discussions during the presentations delivered by DFA officials.

DFA-HRMO Acting Director Jake Robin Ramintas presents the career opportunities in the Department

The DFA and university officials and staff composed of (left to right, first row 2nd-12th) Mr. Cliff Bunny Seares, Mr. Clint de la Peña, Ms. Jesusa Aguirre, Ms. Kristine Marie Cruz-Mamigo, Special Assistant Patricia Milla, Principal Assistant Dennis Flores, Silliman State University Assistant Professor Johanna Diago, CO Dumaguete Head Ms. Sitti Tawffiya Jamahali, DFA Spokesperson Teresita Daza, Deputy Assistant Secretary Jed Martin Llona, Acting Director Jake Robin Ramintas, Principal Assistant Ms. Diana Marie Jimenez-Leomo and Acting Executive Director Duke Villanueva (second row, center) with Silliman University students.

DFA Spokesperson Daza (standing) addresses the students of the Siquijor State College

Siquijor State College students participate in the discussion during the caravan.

DFA officials with the faculty and students of Siquijor State College