The pursuit of studies abroad has always been a badge for career advancement. More often than not, however, such a badge leads us down the path of public service where the studies and even training acquired from a foreign country can be maximized and utilized to its fullest.
I recently hosted an informal dinner, as President of the Chevening Alumni Foundation of the Philippines Incorporated (CAFPI), to honor Chevening scholars who were recently appointed to government or elected into public office. Those feted at the dinner were: Department of Transportation Under Secretary for Planning Rommel Gavieta, who was my Chevening batch mate in the United Kingdom; Department of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary for International Economic Relations, former WTO Ambassador Manuel A.J. “Dondi” Teehankee; Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Gerard Chan; and Representative Ron P. Salo of the Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (KABAYAN) Party-list. Not present but, nonetheless, included in our honoring was current Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Jose Luis “Chito” Gascon whose term of office started in the previous administration.
CAFPI is an association of scholars who finished their studies in the United Kingdom under a British Government Scholarship grant. Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders. Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organizations, Chevening offers two types of award—Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships—the recipients of which are personally selected by British Embassies and High Commissions throughout the world.
Other Chevening scholars who have answered the call to public service include Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs and former Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad; Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Management Ma. Aniceta Aileen Bugarin; Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) Millicent Cruz – Paredes; and Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Hjayceelyn M. Quintana.
Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr., who served as part of the Philippine team to the victorious arbitration case on the West Philippine Sea, was also a Chevening alumnus. So was former Arroyo Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Joaquin “Jake” Lagonera and Aquino Finance Undersecretary Carlo A. Carag.
In the judiciary we have highly respected alumnae in Pampanga RTC Judge Ma. Amifaith Fider-Reyes and Pasay RTC Judge Rowena Nieves A. Tan. I will not be surprised if, someday soon, we will have a Chevening alumnus or alumna in the Supreme Court.
We also have several alumnus and alumna in the private sector who are occupying or who have occupied high positions in the corporate, professional, and NGO world. These, however, deserve another column.
Truly the bulk of Chevening alumni is in public service, a healthy sign that the passion to serve, to go into public service, has not waned. It does burn brightly, truth be told! Someone once said that there can be no greater calling than public service. The Chevening alumni embrace that creed with much zeal and fervor.
A Chevening alumnus or alumna as President? Only time can tell.