DIPLOMATIC LEAGUE

GLOBAL SECRETARIAT
In partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand
50 Hobson Street, Thorndon 6011, Wellington, New Zealand

DELEGATE PRIMER ON THE DIPLOMATIC

LEAGUE AND DLGS
A short introduction to the Diplomatic League and the Diplomatic League Global Summit
Prepared by: Diplomatic League Secretariat and the Department of Foreign Affairs

What is the Diplomatic League (D League)?

Founded in 2014, the Diplomatic League or D-League is the youth engagement platform of the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). It aims to empower the youth to become practitioners of
diplomacy – as future professionals, advocates or volunteers. Moreover, D-League believes
that the youth plays a vital role in advancing the global peace, development and humanitarian
agendas. D-League is administered by a Secretariat composed of professionals and students in
the field of diplomacy operating as part of the “Universal Diplomacy” programme of the
Philippine Embassy to New Zealand and the Pacific (Wellington PE) and with the support of the
DFA Office of Strategic Communications & Research (OSCR)

What is DLGS?

The Diplomatic League Global Summit or DLGS is the largest Philippine-based gathering of
students and young professionals who are studying or intend to pursue careers in diplomacy.
Held annually at the DFA in Pasay City, it is the highlight of D-League’s calendar of activities,
The Summit consists of a series of sessions and trainings on diplomacy and international
relations. These include talks by veteran Ambassadors, preparing for the Foreign Service
Officer exam and DFA careers, other international affairs professions, etc. D-Leagues Model UN
Academy (DLUNA) holds “Model Embassy” which simulates foreign service operations, while
“Model UN 2.0” delegates develop real cooperation based on the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) et al. Training for conference simulations, i.e. UNGA, ASEAN Summit, etc. is
also given. The Summit encourages participants to pursue Youth and Volunteer Diplomacy in
the spirit of Universal Diplomacy, and provides training to qualify as “Youth Ambassadors”
(#YAMBA). Furthermore, DLGS promotes networking and solid partnership among individuals
and institutions represented during the Summit.

Who can join DLGS and D-League?

University / Tertiary students and young professionals may join individually but do not
necessarily need to be diplomacy or international affairs majors. All disciplines are welcome –
only a strong interest in diplomacy is needed. Full D-League members train to become “Youth
Ambassadors”. Schools may also affiliate with D-League as “Chapters” to develop programs
and projects that will help their students develop as potential diplomats. Other school and youth
organizations may be D-League “Partners.”

What are the major projects and program of D-League?

Website: Diplomacy.ph/diplomatic-league
Email address: dleague.secretariat@diplomacy.ph
Facebook: /DiplomaticLeague | Twitter & Instagram: @DLeague_PH
The D-League gives strong emphasis to empowering the youth through diplomacy. It seeks to
complement the existing projects and programs in diplomacy organized by the different
diplomatic offices and universities globally. The programs include, inter alia

Diplomacy Orientation on New Diplomatic Trends

The field of diplomacy is still evolving and new ideas are developed every day. The D League
offers orientation on diplomacy as a practice and science with its existing developments e.g.
Universal Diplomacy and Global Diplomacy. With its wide network in the diplomatic practice, D
League also offer talks on other relevant diplomatic topics with strong emphasis to youth
engagement and the global goals.

Diplomatic League UN Academy (DLUNA)

The D League in its support to the UN and its ideals organizes DLUNA in its conferences or
even separately. The DLUNA is an extensive training on UN Rules of Procedure anchored on
the actual UN Processes with the guidance of DFA outstanding diplomats and reference
materials from UN. It includes discussion on the technical UN General Assembly (UNGA)
structure, actual flow of a UN Session and Committee Meetings (informal-informals to formal
plenary meeting), the Rules of Procedure, implementation and review aspect, leadership of the
Chairman and members of the Bureau (technical term in the UN for Chair/President, Vice
Chairmen/Vice Presidents, Rapporteur, and Secretary), properly drafting of resolutions based
from UN applied rules, negotiations, and delivery of speech. The DLUNA usually comes with a
simulation of the whole process. The DLUNA may be organized and refocused based on the
need and preference of conference host as long as it doesn’t deviate with the accepted UN
Process.

Foreign Service Career Seminar and other Diplomatic Careers

Diplomacy students are primarily expected to join Track 1 diplomatic offices. The Foreign
Service Career Seminar gives an overview on how to enter the DFA from Foreign Service
Officer to Foreign Service Staff Employee. The program also offers an extensive overview of the
Foreign Service Officer Examination (FSOE) and how to pass it. Lastly, the program gives
appreciation on other diplomatic careers e.g. UN Career and International Organization options.
Diplomacy is a very broad profession and students may practice it beyond Track 1.

Sustainable Development Goals

The D League is very keen on contributing to the achievement of the global goals and thus
offer/may co-organize with a YAMBA any project/program that contributes to the SDGs e.g. D
League Tree Planting with DENR in Norzagaray Bulacan and Community of Practice
Engagement with UN OCHA: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Baguio for SDG 13
Climate Action.

Foreign Policy Discussions

With the student membership and support of the DFA, the D League organized the first Foreign
Policy Discussion. The FPD marked the first formal gathering of diplomacy students from Luzon
to Mindanao to discuss recommendations on solutions to existing foreign policy issues in the
Philippines and globally. The recommendation from the diplomacy students is a fresh
development on civil society and academe engagement on policy making. This proves that
students of diplomacy are concerned and also seeks to contribute to the solution in a manner
that is applicable to diplomacy students.

Website: Diplomacy.ph/diplomatic-league
Email address: dleague.secretariat@diplomacy.ph
Facebook: /DiplomaticLeague | Twitter & Instagram: @DLeague_PH
Diplomatic Volunteer Activities
Not everything can be achieved through government policy making as the process tends to be
gradual and exclusive. The Youth Ambassador (YAMBA) program of the DFA offers a wide
variety of options on volunteerism. In YAMBA, students may join or organize personally their
own projects and program of interest with the guidance of the DFA and D League Secretariat.
The recommendations are solutions of the students may not be adopted on a policy level forum
but still may be realized through Diplomatic League Volunteer Activities. Furthermore, the D
League network offers other relevant options on volunteerism from applicable diplomatic offices
and other avenues for engagement.

Diplomatic Ball and Fair

From its founding the D League after a big conference started the practice of having a
Diplomatic Ball and Fair. Contrary to Diplomatic Dinner Simulations the D League Ball and Fair
is informal and more social than traditional as it seeks to express the dynamism of the youth in
diplomacy. The Diplomatic Ball and Fair is relevant as apart from research and technical
knowledge socializing is an integral part of diplomatic practice. As discussed in the DLUNA
training of negotiations, agreements are done 90% informally. The Diplomatic Ball in the last
DLGS2018 was participated by over 15 embassies and consulates that gave an overview and
appreciation of their represented country through cultural exhibitions, reference materials are
also given to the students participating the Summit.

Invitation from Different Diplomatic Offices Globally

The D League with its network in the field of diplomacy often receives invitation to the projects
and programs of different diplomatic offices in the Philippines and globally, e.g. diplomacy
seminars of the embassies and consulates, film expositions, cocktail gatherings at the embassy
and residence of the Ambassador, UN workshops, and DFA seminars and launching activities.
The D League also receives request globally on sending delegates to other countries, e.g. the
government of Bahrain through the DFA Office of Middle East and African Affairs extended an
invitation to the D League and the National Youth Commission to send students to the first SDG
Youth Conference in Manama all expenses paid.

How to join the Diplomatic League?

Unlike traditional organizations D League is very flexible on engagement as universal diplomacy

cannot be categorized with traditional options.
 Students may individually engage and gain better appreciation of D League through
participation in one of its conferences, e.g. DLGS, Diplomatic League Conference Cebu
(DLCC), and Diplomatic League Conference New Era University (DLCNEU). After the
conference attendees are given YAMBA forms to fill up not just as membership form but
to understand interest and priorities of the person applying. The D League membership
is flexible and subject to the interest and priorities of the member.
 A program/organization may also engage with D League as a partner though a formal
meeting with program/organization management and D League to explore areas of
cooperation and engagement.
 Lastly, a school may set-up D League chapters upon consultation with their
management and the DFA.

To contact D League, you may send a message to the options provided below.

Website: Diplomacy.ph/diplomatic-league
Email address: dleague.secretariat@diplomacy.ph
Facebook: /DiplomaticLeague | Twitter & Instagram: @DLeague_PH