10 June 2015 – The Diplomatic League (D-League), the Philippines’ first inter-university association of International Affairs students, was recently launched at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Initiated by the DFA Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO), the D-League comprises of the student organizations of tertiary programs leading to the diplomatic profession. Students from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, De La Salle University-Manila, Far Eastern University, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila, Miriam College, Philippine Women’s University, and University of Santo Tomas are among the D-League’s founding members. Ateneo de Manila, University of the East and University of the Philippines students have also signified interest in joining the
D-League.
The D-League was convened by UNIO in line with its volunteerism and youth engagement advocacies, in coordination with the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and the United Nations Country Office in the Philippines. The League intends to serve as the national association for Filipino university students taking up international affairs-related courses and intending to pursue careers in diplomacy.
A D-League planning meeting was held at UNIO on June 09 together with representatives of the United Nations-Philippines Communications Group and Rotary International to discuss a joint activity for the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations. Among the main projects agreed upon were the organization of Model UN conferences outside Metro Manila, in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and “Model UN 2.0” – simulations of UN field activities including peacekeeping operations, disaster response and grass-roots level development assistance. Other key activities of the League included its “Diplomatic Ball” held last May 08 at the DFA’s Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini, and Futsal training at the DFA Basketball Court last summer. END