CONGEN FLORES LECTURES ON PHILIPPINE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE TO XAVIER SCHOOL STUDENTS

 ConGen Flores delivering his lecture to the Xavier School students

Philippine Consul General to Xiamen conducted a two-series lecture on the Philippine diplomatic service for Manila’s Xavier School Grade 8 students on 25 and 26 November 2014 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Bulwagang Bagumbayan (National Hereos Hall). A total of 116 students (57 and 59 students each for the two groups) attended the lecture.

The Xavier School students are in Xiamen for the school’s new program, the Xavier China Experience: Xiamen Program – a 40-day activity to expose the school’s Filipino-Chinese students to their familial roots in China, particularly in Fujian province, to enrich their knowledge of history and culture.

In his lectures, ConGen Flores gave the historical account of the establishment of the Consulate General in Xiamen, including the opening of the Chinese Consulate in Cebu and the visits of Presidents Corazon Aquino (1998) and Noynoy Aquino (2011) in Fujian.

He also underscored that Xiamen/Fujian is the most historically and culturally linked with majority of the overseas Chinese in the Philippines, which the students confirmed by revealing that most of them trace their familial roots back to Fujian province.

ConGen Flores also highlighted the many facets of the work of the Consulate General covering political, economic and public diplomacy functions. He encouraged the young students to join the Philippine foreign service but reminded them that it would require long preparation and they could do it b by focusing on their studies early on. End

Group picture with CG Flores (middle) and Xavier School students and teachers