22 July 2013 - The first part of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Lecture Series on Philippine Diplomatic History started on July 18 at the Quirino Hall with more than 100 attendees.

The three guests speakers were Professor Augusto V. de Viana, chairman of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) History Department, Mr. Carlo L. Santiago, research specialist at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), and Ambassador Juan A. Ona, former DFA Chief of Protocol. 

Professor de Viana presented a paper on “Apolinario Mabini and the Diplomatic Service of the Revolutionary Government.”  Mr. Santiago spoke about the “Philippine Foreign Service 1946-1953” and Ambassador Ona shared his experiences at the DFA when it was still located at Padre Faura Street in Manila.

The second lecture is scheduled on July 24 with the following speakers and their topics:  Professor Ricardo T. Jose, University of the Philippines Department of History, who will make a presentation on the “Philippine Diplomacy during the Japanese Occupation”; Mr. Marciano R. de Borja, Special Assistant, DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Administration (OUA), who will speak about “The State Department Boys: Pioneers of the Philippine Foreign Service” and retired Ambassador Alfredo L. Almendrala, Jr. who will share his memories of his DFA days at Padre Faura.

The Office of the Undersecretary for Administration and the Foreign Service Institute organized the  DFA Lecture Series on Philippine Diplomatic History to complement the on-going DFA exhibit entitled “The Philippine Foreign Service: Its Beginnings” at the DFA main building which will run until July 26 It will then move to the Office of Consular Affairs at Aseana building along Macapagal Avenue from August 05 to 16.

For more information on the DFA Exhibit and the Lecture Series, please contact OUA Secretariat at 834-4068/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END