PH EMBASSY HOSTS DIPLOMACY STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (seventh from left) and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Louie Dane C. Merced (ninth from left), with the students of the Department of Diplomacy and International Studies (DDIS) of the University of Nairobi (UoN). The students were accompanied by Ms. Lucy Odero (sixth from left) and Dr. Shazia Chaudhry (tenth from left) of the DDIS.

NAIROBI, 03 May 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi hosted a group of first-year students from the Department of Diplomacy and International Studies (DDIS) of the University of Nairobi (UoN) on 03 May 2023, as part of the Embassy’s outreach to raise the awareness and visibility of the Philippines among the Kenyan public.

In welcoming the students, Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang noted that the visit is a follow-through to the initial engagements between the Embassy and the DDIS in 2022, and expressed optimism for further collaborations. She also advised the students, many aspiring to become diplomats, that life in the foreign service is not always glamorous, but entails a lot of hard work and learning.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Louie Dane C. Merced gave a briefing on the Philippines, Philippines-Kenya relations, and ASEAN.

During the open forum, questions centered on the prospects of closer Philippines-Kenya cooperation, especially in the education sector, and the possibility of increasing engagements between ASEAN and African countries. The students also took the opportunity to ask questions about diplomatic practices such as presentation of credentials, and diplomatic protocols and etiquette.

Some of the students shared that their initial familiarity with the Philippines was limited to Filipino teleseryes or television dramas, and that they learned more about the country through the visit to the Embassy and interaction with Filipino diplomats.

Following the briefing, the students partook of pansit bihon, empanada, and turon as part of their introduction to Filipino cuisine and culture. END

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Merced presented an overview of the Philippines, its government, economy, history, culture, and foreign policy to the UoN students.