My #APECSERYE Experience
5:30 AM
Fancy meeting you!
Like the opening lyrics of Jose Mari Chan's song "can we just stop and talk awhile," it was fancy meeting the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies.  |
| The Host Media Liaison Officers |
I was lucky to be part of the 20 host media liaison officers (HMLO) who served during the 2015 APEC summit hosted by the Philippines.
Serving as an HMLO was not easy though. While I am used to handling members of the press during Presidential visits in the regions and provinces, the experience of dealing with international media who hold various norms and who speak a different language from ours was so challenging.
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| HMLOs and foreign media delegates onboard a bus going to the PICC for the Summit |
Our days serving as HMLO were characterized by sleepless nights, exhaustion, anxiety, tension, and early morning and late-night meetings. We had our share of emotional ups and downs although I consider myself the luckiest because I was assigned to handle the Brunei media delegation. They were all so good to me and treated me like a sister.
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| Pool cards/media pass for each of the events during the Summit proper |
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| Ms. K, my counterpart from the Brunei Embassy |
The most rewarding part of being an HMLO was meeting 21 economic leaders including my crush, Justin Trudeau of Canada. And of course, the leader of the country I'm serving, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. It was also a humbling experience to show to the world the Filipino brand of hospitality.
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| Party of the National Organizing Council after the success of the PH hosting |
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