DFA opens exhibit on PH foreign service history

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is opening an exhibit about the rich history of the Philippine Foreign Service since its humble beginnings from the time of Apolinario Mabini.

“This is the first time that the DFA will stage this kind of exhibit,” Marciano de Borja, Special Assistant, Office of the Undersecretary for Administration, told reporters in a media briefing Wednesday.

“It’s spurred by this desire to be able to rekindle the interest, first, of the [DFA] personnel and the general public on the history of this institution,” he said.

Rare and never before seen photos, films and documents about the DFA since it was established will be showcased during the exhibit that will run from July 15 to 26 in the DFA Main Building along Roxas Boulevard.

A second exhibit will be held from August 5 to 16 in the DFA Office of Consular Affairs on Macapagal Boulevard.

“Some of these photos even came from the national archives in the United States,” Borja said. Many of which were sourced from
declassified state department records, he added.

“We’re very fortunate that these records are preserved there because many of them are not available even in our own department,” Borja said.

Many of the materials that will be on display were also sourced from the National Historical Commission, Lopez Museum and Library, and
Ayala Museum, among others.

The exhibit is being held ahead of the 150th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini, who was the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs of
the Philippine during the time of former President Emilio Aguinaldo.

The collection on exhibit will also be showcased in several universities in Metro Manila such as the University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo, La Salle, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Miriam College, etc.

Lectures are set to be conducted on the history of the foreign service in the DFA Main Building on July 18, 9am-12nn and on July 24, 2p.m.-5p.m.

On the first lecture session, UST history department professor Augusto de Viana will give a lecture on Apolinario Mabini and the diplomatic service of the revolutionary government while Carlo Santiago, a
researcher of the Foreign Service Institute will lecture on Philippine Foreign Service from 1946 up to 1953, and Ambassador Juan Ona will lecture about the DFA when it was still in Padre Faura street.

The second lecture session features UP history professor Rico Jose who will present the history of Philippine Diplomacy during the time of the Japanese Occupation. Borja will lecture about the pioneers of the DFA and Ambassador Alfredo Almendral Jr. will lecture also about the DFA in Padre Faura.