My Experience at the Consulate General of Malaysia
Davao City, Mindanao
(Below is a short article (unedited) written by one of the six On-the-Job-Training students from the Xavier Ateneo University, Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao on her experience at the Consulate General of Malaysia in Davao City, Mindanao in May 2011.)
My three week experience as an intern here in the Consulate General of Malaysia in Davao City has been a constant surprise, eventful and at the same time very educational. It was a constant surprise in the sense that the things that happened to me on my stay here are far different from what I had expected. Like for example, the courtesy call between the Consul General, International Monitoring Team (IMT), and the Eastern Mindanao Commander. I never, for the entirety of my life, imagined I could be a part of such an imposing event. People of the same profession as the high officials who were involved in that event might say that it is usual and a regular thing, but it was foreign to me. I am still a learning student, an outsider for that matter, and for me to be able to experience such a high class event at a young age is beyond my wildest thoughts. It is the kind of scene reporters writes about and for me to experience that personally is something I could never be thankful enough.
2. It was eventful in a way that every day/week, there is something new to do. Like for example that time when I thought that the courtesy call is enough experience for me to last a long time, an interview between us, the students, and the Team Site Leader of the IMT should happen. It was the first time I interviewed someone of high authority and because of that interview, I was able to know more about IMT, which was, I have to admit, I had never heard before. Now, I could actually tell other people about this and be proud I was able to meet and interview one significant leader of the group.
3. Lastly, it was very educational. Evident on what I had said above, it was obvious that my stay here was very informative and helpful in my part as an International Studies student because not only that I have learned about the IMT and the ongoing peace process that is happening between the GPH and MILF, but also I gained general knowledge on the bilateral and multilateral relations of Malaysia and the Philippines.
Prepared by:
Mary Ann R. Abuzo
(International Studies 92:
On-the -Job-Training Class)
Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan
Social Sciences Center
Cagayan de Oro,
Philippines
24 May 2011
The Consulate General of Malaysia HBS and LRS with the OJT students
Ms. Sui Jeremiah Gabales handed over a memento to Consul General
Mohammad Azhar Mazlan
Consul General Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, Consul Kamal Norfarid Kamarudin and Vice Consul Nurul Ezhar Salehuddin with Mr. Jose Anthony Octavio, OJT Adviser and the OJT Students