SINGAPORE, 22 April 2025 – Close to forty (40) third-year students from Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Tourism Management Class of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy are in Singapore for an academic excursion to deepen their understanding about the tourism sector and transportation system of Singapore, which included a visit to the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo G. Macaraig.

Ambassador Macaraig welcomed the students and their faculty advisors at the Embassy on Monday, 21 April 2025. He likewise shared valuable insights on Singapore’s efficient public transportation, complementing what the students learned in their earlier engagement with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore. Second Secretary and Consul Jhullie Anne A. Beniahan, Head of the Political and Economic Section, then gave the students an overview of  the Embassy’s functions, and the Philippines’ dynamic bilateral relations with Singapore, through a short video highlighting the depth and breadth of the countries’ bilateral relations, reflected through the commemorative activities in 2024, when the Philippines and Singapore celebrated the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

The students had the opportunity to engage with Ambassador Macaraig on current global issues, and learn about the future directions of the Philippines’ engagement with Singapore during the Open Forum. Ambassador Macaraig shared that the Philippines has partnered with Singaporean firms in the development of New Clark City, including a  civil aviation complex around Clark International Airport, which aims to be developed into a global hub inspired by the Changi Airport. It was also underscored that the Philippines and Singapore regularly collaborate on transportation- and tourism-related concerns through technical cooperation, agreements and dialogue, among others.

Ambassador Macaraig expressed his appreciation for the students’ enthusiasm and growing interest to be fellow public servants and be part of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He encouraged them to take the Foreign Service Exam and join the growing Philippine foreign service corps. /END