Once a year, leaders or representatives of 193 countries and two observer states of the United Nations convey their countries’ message to the world.
It is a message that encapsulates every nation’s agenda and initiatives as they align with the overall goals of the UN and articulated during the annual UN General Assembly.
At the New York Public Library, I enlisted in an event where the first ladies of two Nordic countries, who in their capacity as authors, advocates of reading and literacy, gender equality and environment issues, spoke about these subjects. Apart from being in a milieu of learning, I thought that to participate in these events was to somehow feel the UNGA mood.
Clad in distinguishable barong, Secretary Manalo in his speech detailed our country’s achievements and priorities in terms of issues ranging from the value of “rule of law as a collective responsibility,” our united stand for “climate action and climate justice,” his stance that “sustainable is attainable,” “human rights as an achievement of the UN” and the “Philippines as a partner, pathfinder, peacemaker.