Manila, Philippines — Top women diplomats from several member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) took center stage at the fourth edition of “The Diplomatic Dialogue Series: Women in Diplomacy”, which was held at De La Salle University – Manila (DLSU – Manila) on March 27, 2025.
Launched by former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert in 2016, the series provides a venue for women diplomats to engage in discussions, share insights, and provide a window on their respective journeys as they fulfill their diplomatic responsibilities. Its latest iteration specifically highlighted the long-standing cooperation between the ASEAN and the EU and provided a fitting bookend to the International Women’s Day celebrations held earlier this month.
“With the fourth series, we aim to foster a deeper interregional understanding between ASEAN and the EU while continuing to spotlight the unique experiences and perspectives that come with being a woman in the diplomatic corps,” said Ambassador Albert.
Nurturing future female diplomats
The highlight of the event was a panel discussion led by Ambassador Albert and which featured H.E. Raduta-Dana Matache, Ambassador of Romania; H.E. Megawati Manan, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam; H.E. See Sin Yuan Angelita Constance, Ambassador of Singapore; H.E. Marie Aude Françoise Lassalle ep. Fontanel, Ambassador of France; H.E. Emma Hickey, Ambassador of Ireland; and H.E. Saija Sinikka Nurminen, Ambassador of Finland. The Ambassador of the European Union H.E. Massimo Santoro, also participated in the event to underline that women’s empowerment benefits society as a whole and should be supported by all, including men.
Characterized by a rich and dynamic exchange between the ASEAN and European diplomatic leaders, the conversation provided valuable insights on inclusive foreign policy, peacebuilding, and international cooperation through a gendered lens.
Among the attendees were students from DLSU and De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, with a broader audience joining via livestream, including viewers from other schools and the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
“Women in Diplomacy is more than a dialogue series; it’s a commitment to inspiring and mentoring the next generation of diplomats,” shared Ambassador Albert. “Our goal is to see more young people, especially women, pursue a career in foreign service.”
In this regard, according to Ambassador Albert, the series has already made a lasting impact. Several previous student attendees have gone on to join the Philippine foreign service and even serve in key positions.
Part of a wider legacy
Since its inception, each edition of the series has tackled a unique theme. Previous sessions featured Filipino women ambassadors, retired Filipina diplomats, and women ambassadors from Asia, Africa, and South America.
The series is part of Ambassador Albert’s robust diplomatic legacy. Its launch coincided with the opening of the Albert Collection at the DLSU Learning Commons in 2016. The collection, bequeathed to the De La Salle University Libraries, features Ambassador Albert’s collection of 2,000 books and mementos from the 58 countries she visited and served in during her distinguished diplomatic career.
Meanwhile, the event also reaffirmed DLSU’s commitment to global engagement, inclusive education, and leadership development.
“We are proud to host the latest edition of the ‘Women in Diplomacy’ series, which marks our latest collaboration and partnership with Ambassador Albert,” shared <insert DLSU spokesperson>. “This event also underscores DLSU’s commitment to participate in programs that promote a deeper understanding and collaboration within the ASEAN community.”
