Last March 19, 2016, International Relations and Foreign Service (IRFS) 122 - Foreign Service and Analysis of Foreign Policy students gathered at the American Corner for Carolinian Circle of Young Diplomats' (CCYD) first ever Skype lecture. Entitled "Digital Civic Engagement: Projecting PH-US Relations Through Public Presidency", this educational talk served as the second part of "Regency: A World's Faire" which served as the last activity hosted by the 2015-2016 Parliament.

 

The event started at 1pm with Deputy Prime Minister Samantha Villabert giving the audience a rationale on digital civic engagement. This was followed by the Skype lecture of guest speaker Mr. Jonathan Klingler,  a research fellow in Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST). His fourty five minute discussion surrounded on the concept of Public Presidency and the European perceptions of the United States Presidency. IRFS Head of Track Atty. Archill Niña Capistrano, MInternatRel then talked about the European take on Public Presidency, particularly its implications upon US Foreign Policy. This was followed by Cebu Normal University (CNU) instructor Mr. Ryan Dave Rayla's analysis on the face of the Philippine Foreign Policy according to the 2016 PH Presidential Candidates and PH-US Foreign Relations projections. 

 

The highlight of the event was the matching game, wherein IRFS 122 students get the chance to roleplay presidentiables from US and the Philippines and predict the outlook of the countries' bilateral relations based on the candidates' foreign policy. These include US Presidential Candidates Hilary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and the Philippines' Jejomar Binay, Rodrigo Duterte, Mar Roxas, and Grace Poe. Student-presidentiables were asked to be seated in two circles, the outer circle representing the American politicians while the inner represented the Pinoys. Game moderators included the Atty. Capistrano, Prime Minister Vene Seane Aljas and Protocol Minister Rt. Hon. Daniel Orin Levi. Players were given three (3) minutes to discuss with the foreign candidates regarding the status of their countries' ties; by the end of the minute, the moderators would ask these students ask to speak to another presidentiable. This one (1) hour activity ended with a Closing Remarks delivered by the Prime Minister and a picture taking with the attendees.

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Below is a compilation of the results of the matching game. Check it out now!