Introduction:
When we heard that we will be having an excursion, our team was so excited because we know that it will be so delightful. I and some of my members were so happy because it was our first time to have and experience that kind of activity. The excursion provided us real-world experience. We were practicing our social skills and critical thinking abilities. We were able to ask experts about our particular field of study. We learned real-world lessons. The activity was also able to expose us to the places that are related to our study and we learned a lot of things. The excursion was so productive in our team. |
history of foreign service as a profession Article II, section 2 of the Constitution authorized the President to appoint with the advice and consent of the Senate, ‘Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls.’ From 1789 until 1924, the Diplomatic Service, which staffed U.S. Legations and Embassies, and the Consular Service, which was primarily responsible for promoting American commerce and assisting distressed American sailors, developed separately. The first Act of Congress providing for U.S. consuls abroad was passed on April 14, 1792. U.S. consuls received no salary and were expected to earn their livings from private trade or from fees charged for official services.
President Grover Cleveland issued an Executive Order on September 20, 1895 that required appointees to consular positions to be either a qualified officer of the Department, or to pass a written examination on consular regulations and an oral examination that included demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language. Executive orders issued by President Theodore Roosevelt on November 10, 1905 and June 27, 1906 instituted examinations for the lower grades of the Consular Service and for secretaries in the Diplomatic Service. The Rogers Act of May 24, 1924 merged the Diplomatic and Consular Services into a unified Foreign Service. #S.3.8 Gayapa, SB |
RA 7157: FOREIGN SERVICE LAW IMPORTANT POINTS 1.) When talking about Foreign Service, it is actually composed of multiple positions, ranks, offices, and titles not just the general title of Foreign Service officer, ambassador, and “diplomats”.
Along with that, there are also personnel who are assigned as the Chief of Mission and a Career Minister. 2.) When you pass the Foreign Service Officer Examination (FSOE) and you wish to be a Foreign Service Officer, you are NOT immediately hired to be one because you will still need to be chosen by the President from the list of passers by the Secretary. After that you would still be trained, specifically by the Foreign Service Institute, on all the necessary protocols to follow and the objectives to be achieved. 3.) You CANNOT apply to be an AMBASSADOR OF THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC because on the President chooses the said position. You must show extraordinary skills and talents in the field in the hopes of catching the eye of the President. #S.4.6 Cuyos, A |
STEPS TO GETTING TO THE FSOE
The steps in becoming a Foreign Service Officer are shown in the simple diagram above. First, the Qualifying test which covers math, logic, grammar, is similar to a college entrance exam. Second, the preliminary interview will be conducted by three panelists who basically would need you to answer questions honestly and just be yourself. Third, the written test takes 3 days to finish. It covers English (20%), Filipino (5%), Philippine Political, Economic, and Cultural Conditions (30%), International Affairs (20%), World History (20%), and Foreign Language (5%). Fourth, the psychological test is for them to make sure you are psychologically fit for the job as a Foreign Service Officer. Lastly, the oral test takes 2 days: day 1 would be for a 20-minute panel interview and day 2 would be for the debate or group dynamics and a formal dinner. These are the steps for taking the Foreign Service Officer Exam mentioned by Rafael Egnacio, a FSOE 2011 passer, on Rappler.
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#S.4.8 Matanog, A
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most important points about the DFA The Department of Foreign Affairs is tasked to contribute to the national security of the Philippines. It also participates in the goal of Sustaining Development of the PH and to strengthen its relations with other countries. Aside from people usually entering for passport making purposes, the DFA also promotes understanding of PH culture as well as securing the rights of Filipinos overseas.
In Light of the excursion. The DFA speaker clearly elaborated that the DFA speaker clearly emphasized that the DFA integrates itself with the government to achieve national goals along with improving camaraderies with other nations, he further added that we can be simply one if we have the spirit and the passion to serve the Filipino People. #S.3.5 Egnora, G |
specific illustration of fs career trajectory from frontlines of diplomacy
If you want to be a Foreign Service Officer, you need to be a motivated individual who is loyal to his/her country with good sound judgment and leadership abilities who can retain their self-control in times of dire situations and in times of big problems. Having the power to represent your country in the international community is big responsibility and as a Foreign Service Officer, it is all about survival the job for the good of your country.
As a Foreign Service officer, there are several paths that you can be in. Like being a Consular Officers, Economic Officer, Management Officer, Ambassador, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and a lot more. In the book Frontlines of Diplomacy, the path that is being highlighted is becoming an Ambassador. Just like Cesar Bautista. He was appointed because he is expert in business. It was the time of President Erap Estrada. President Erap wanted to ensure quality public service in the Philippines so he chose Cesar Bautista as the representative of the country because of Cesar’s expertise in business. Being a Foreign Service Officer, it also requires certain skills like courage, strategic, affable, confidence and a lot more so that you will be successful in your job.
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Most important distinction(s) between FS in PH and that of another country
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While reading the Frontlines of diplomacy, I focused the career trajectory of the diplomats. Once they got into the DFA, there all had specific tasks. Some of them went outside of the country, and some of them joined into the international institutions such as UN. They were spread throughout the world to serve their people or to deal with other countries. I would like to cite an example of one diplomat who served in UN. His name is Mr. Ernesto C. Garrido. He joined the DFA as a clerk in 1947 and retired in 1989 as Chief of Mission Class I. He was the first Filipino elected to the UN Joint Staff Pension Board and the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. His first step on UN was the member of the Board of the Pension Committee. He recalls that his most difficulty was the language. He had to read and write fluently in Spanish. And he considers the ability to negotiate as the most important character for the diplomat.
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takeaways
References:
Office of the Historian. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/about/faq/origin-of-foreign-service
Ignacio, R. 2012, November 24. How to Take the Foreign Service Officer Exam. Retrieved from: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/16694-how-to-take-the-foreign-service-officer-exam
https://www.dfa.gov.ph/
Roldan M. (2011) Frontlines of Diplomacy: conversations with Philippine Ambassadors. Mandaluyong City: Anvil Publishing
Image Source:
http://www.webstrategiesinc.com/blog/how-to-understand-the-customer-journey
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-businessmen-different-ethnicities-shaking-hands-cartoon-as-symbol-friendship-partnership-image54872632
http://www.philembassy.no/news-item/new-location-of-dfa-mindanao-regional-consular-office-davao
Office of the Historian. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/about/faq/origin-of-foreign-service
Ignacio, R. 2012, November 24. How to Take the Foreign Service Officer Exam. Retrieved from: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/16694-how-to-take-the-foreign-service-officer-exam
https://www.dfa.gov.ph/
Roldan M. (2011) Frontlines of Diplomacy: conversations with Philippine Ambassadors. Mandaluyong City: Anvil Publishing
Image Source:
http://www.webstrategiesinc.com/blog/how-to-understand-the-customer-journey
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-businessmen-different-ethnicities-shaking-hands-cartoon-as-symbol-friendship-partnership-image54872632
http://www.philembassy.no/news-item/new-location-of-dfa-mindanao-regional-consular-office-davao