Hoboken, USA -- This post is dedicated to all the people who told me that it will just be a lovely 15-minute walk from 6th street to Newport city. There's a special place for you in the fiery dungeons beneath the earth. Keys It's another day at the ICSB Academy! Except I got a bit of a problem. (again) I don't have the keys. They told me that...
It's a Special Administrative Region of mainland China. Let's start with something relatively easy -- with a little bit of history. After the first Opium War in 1842, Hong Kong (Hong Kong Island) became a British crown colony. It was later occupied by Japan after the Second World War and was eventually returned to the British in 1945. After a few years, several declarations came into effect which paved the...
Suwon, South Korea -- Quaint afternoon; T'was our last volunteer work for this year's International Hyundai Work Camp which was spearheaded by the International Workcamp Organization (IWO) in South Korea. Volunteer work has always been physically and mentally exhausting yet it provides strength in various aspects of human life. Not to mention the fulfillment you get when you do it for the people who needs a hand. Eight...
Hoboken, USA -- I've finally arrived! It was 1:00 in the morning. While I was walking to the nearest building, I saw the breathtaking New York skyline across the Hudson river. Welcome to the Stevens Institute of Technology! I rushed to the admin hall and asked for the dormitory keys under my name. Unfortunately, the university concierge didn't have the list. I know what you're thinking; as if...
Manila, Philippines -- "I've always viewed life as a game -- and I think that's the secret in winning in life." The moment you see life as a game, everything changes. Will you choose to play a game that you don't want to play? Will you choose to play strategy games if you love the idea of action games? Definitely not. So why do you keep doing the...
New York, USA -- I finally arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal! Good heavens! We rushed to the gates and asked for directions at the counter. I was instructed to go to bus route 126 at Gate 323 (PABT-Hoboken, New Jersey 12PM) Long story short, we dazzled upon the maze-like gates inside the terminals. I went crazy with the broken escalators (I mean really? I got two...
Manila, Philippines -- I wonder if I have a purpose other than what I originally planned to. A visit at the National Museum of the Philippines was brisk yet distinct. A friend of mine named Jonna dragged us to BenCab's Gallery. Benedicto Reyes Cabrera — or BenCab, as he is more popularly known is widely hailed as a master of contemporary Philippine art. Remember the saying that goes...
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Welcome to another jam-packed misery and yet another brouhaha in which I will make a series of: "New York, New York" series! (It's surprisingly original) While on-board Emirates flight 334 (DXB-JFK) I made sure that I was landing at the correct seat. The goal was to see the New York skyline 15 minutes before landing. But since I'm too much of an awesome person, I woke up...
Manila, Philippines - Ticking off my carry-on list, grabbing another cup of water and last minute hugs to my mom and to my dog, off we go for another early flight from Terminal 3. T'was a nerve-racking point in my life. I couldn't even imagine myself being away from my country for 2 weeks. What more for a few months? I sat down at the backseat of the...
Manila, Philippines -- "An encounter with a smaller door after crossing the main entrance. A prerequisite to a new chapter." All photos are from the official page of LPU Manila and Ina Bernabe. All rights reserved. ...
Sendai, Japan -- "I found myself in a delusional position -- thinking that it's odd to call a person you just met 15 minutes ago, your father. Yet it felt natural I guess, it just felt natural." We arrived at the JENESYS hall in Miyagi prefecture -- 20 minutes late --which was quite unusual in Japan. I saw people staring outside from the window. We rushed upstairs and...
Seoul, South Korea -- Started the Sunday morning near Hongdae. Nothing beats a strong americano in an energetic city like Seoul. We were in for a treat when we found oursleves on the middle of the Cheonggyecheon stream. Until it was restored in 2005, Cheonggyecheon Stream existed only as a neglected waterway hidden by an overpass. Today, it has been transformed into a haven of natural beauty amidst...
Hong Kong, Hong Kong -- "My first travel was light, vivid and crowded with unfading scenes of discovery" Welcome to Adam's Key. A collection of random theories, introspection and soul-searching thoughts that eventually led me to places. I was just a normal kid; expected by many to wonder. I asked God why I wasn't allowed to see the world. He replied, "humble yourselves, so that I may exalt...
almendrala
ambassador
ambassadors
College of International Relations; Home of Excellence
11:40:00 AMAdam Pascual
Manila, Philippines -- So, you want to enter the premier school of foreign service in the country housing 9 retired Ambassadors of the Republic of the Philippines that had diplomatic missions and posts across the globe? A faculty from top universities and a student body that competes and excels, both in the national and international arena? Up to date we had 6 Foreign Service Officer Exam (FSOE) passers in the past...
Baku, Azerbaijan -- Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal once said, "the youth is the hope of the fatherland." But what if he/she permanently leaves the country? How do you intend to give back to the Filipino youth all the learning and experiences you got abroad? A measure of a real young aspiring diplomat is to serve the people and the interests of the people. The Ilustrados (Spanish for "erudite," "learned," or "enlightened...
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4globalbakuforum
azerbaijan
Assessing the Challenges: IV Global Baku Forum
7:09:00 AMAdam Pascual
Baku, Azerbaijan -- On 10–11 March 2016, international leading figures in global politics are convened by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center in a game-changing event in Baku to debate the current trends in international relations and human security. The meeting provides a space for current and former Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers and leading scholars and experts to assess the current state of the world and the most pressing threats to international security and...
Tokyo, Japan -- Ah yes. The Land of the Rising Sun. Just like most of you guys, I presume, have looked up the entire internet to get substantive information about the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths or more popularly known as “JENESYS”. Unfortunately, there’s not much out there and most of the blog posts are from three years ago or written in another language. The...
Manila, Philippines -- "What else am I bound to do?" It is evident that research unlocks doors and can ultimately dictate and influence where a country should head in terms of education, economy, political and socio-cultural conditions and most importantly (in my career), policy-making instruments. The Philippines needs to uplift its administrative workings in the areas of scientific research and must invest heavily on development studies and the restructuring...
Miyagi, Japan -- "Sendai; through the lenses of my friend Syahir from Malaysia." Through the Shinkansen (bullet train), we've reached our destination at 12:30. As soon as we stepped into Miyagi prefecture's largest city, Sendai, we felt the towering difference in aura compared to Tokyo. Japan's capital might have millions of people compared to Sendai, but one thing's for sure: Miyagi speaks to you on a calm and...
Baku, Azerbaijan -- "The melting pot of the east and west known as the "land of fire", Azerbaijan continues to awe the world with its new identity from the Soviet past." Welcome to Adam's Key. A collection of random theories, introspection and soul-searching thoughts that eventually led me to places. Iridescence; I saw an iridescent purple sheen across my dreams. It must've been my curiosity that lurked into...
Baku, Azerbaijan -- "Out of 3,100+ competitive applications, the 15 chosen "young leaders" are finally complete!" From left to right: Alex from the US, Aygun from Azerbaijan, Ranitya from Indonesia, Linara from Azerbaijan, Muhammad from Pakistan, Adam from the Philippines, Antoine from France, Merve from Turkey, Aaron from Canada, Veronika from Macedonia, Juliana from the US, Laurent from the Netherlands, Sandy from Syria, Yilmaz from Germany and Meerim from...
Washington D.C., USA -- How did I end up in here? I ask the same question. Well, it started at a random day while browsing through my phone. I stumble upon a Facebook post and the next thing I knew is that I grabbed my other phone and went outside to the living room. I called both of my friends (screaming) then immediately told them that "we're going...
4globalbaku
4globalbakuforum
azerbaijan
Baku: Application, Anticipation, Acceptance Letter
5:17:00 AMAdam Pascual
Manila, Philippines -- While scrolling through my feed, I stumble upon a prestigious conference searching for young applicants -- 100% funded to the capital of Azerbaijan. (c) Gunnar Knetchel Photography Nizami Ganjavi International Center searched for 13 young leaders who will be the voice of today's youth and convey the generation's current status to the diplomatic table at the 4th Global Baku Forum “Towards a Multipolar World” which is...
