“Public Diplomacy: the strategic planning and execution of informational, cultural and educational programming by an advocate country to create a public opinion environment in a target country or countries that will enable target country political leaders to make decisions that are supportive of advocate country's foreign policy objectives.” ( Michael McClellan, 2004)
Last August 28, 2010, we are required to attend the seminar organized by a group of Sem-Cda students which tackled the topic about Public Diplomacy. There should be three presenters who will speak to us about this topic but only one came but he filled up the gap of the two speakers who were not able to attend the seminar. The speaker from the Department of Tourism was able to part some of his practices and knowledge about Public Diplomacy and also impart his concerns and insights about the Hostage incident that had happen recently and how it affects our country. A brief story about an experienced in Japan served as an introduction by the speaker, It was said that the Department of Tourism is linked with different agencies and departments which involved advertising and as well as the promotion of the Philippines with its beauty. He repeatedly said to us that we as a Filipino should uphold and support the Philippines to other countries for us not only to develop nationalism but also help our country because by this, we can encourage many foreign investors to invest in our country and knowing that tourism is a big part of our economy.
However, the speaker also said that we should not be too aggressive in promoting our country because it might end up in other way around, like over promoting our country and forgetting about the incident that had happed recently in our country, it shows a bit disrespectful for the countries who are affected by it. On the other hand, this incident must not be a hindrance for us to endorse our country and there are a lot of instances that the destructive things that have happened in our country is weaken by the beauty of our country. Tourism is a great chance to take part in big trade to other foreign countries; it is indeed a good scene to discuss and talk product's rates of our country.
Activities of Public Diplomacy such as the “familiarization trip” where the our county invite foreigners to visit us and experience the Filipino foodstuffs as well as atmosphere itself, so that they could share this experience to other foreign nationals, thus, will help in the promotion of our Philippine tourism. The promotion by a word of mouth is an influential manner that we can practice in order to enhance our country’s tourism. With this seminar, I learn to use my social networking in a useful manner wherein I could be more supportive of my country by encouraging my foreign national friends in coming here in our country and experience the exquisiteness that our country has to offer.
References:
(2004)Michael McClellan Counselor for Public Diplomacy: “Vienna Diplomatic Academy” US Embassy, Dublin retrieved October 14 from http://www.publicdiplomacy.org/45.htm
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