Benilde Model United Nations (BMUN), the pioneer collegiate Model United Nations conference in the Philippines, is back to commemorate its 25th year as a training ground for aspiring diplomats, policymakers, and leaders. This year’s BMUN will be a four-day event scheduled on Feb. 28 to Mar. 2 and will feature committee sessions, side events, and a Diplomatic Banquet.
BMUN has continually promoted the practice of standard diplomacy at a national stage. For 25 years, the conference has established a unique reputation, attracting hundreds of students from all over the country to the College to participate and hone their leadership and problem-solving skills.
In an interview with The Benildean, Dr. Gary Ador Dionisio, the Dean of the School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG), considers BMUN as a pivotal moment to any participating SDG student, as it helps unlock career paths and opportunities ranging from networking to negotiating.
“This also means that our long experience and expertise were very much credited and associated with the proliferation of Model United Nations in top universities in the country,” Dr. Ador Dionisio explained.
Anchored in enriching a global community, this conference has marked itself as the groundwork for other Model United Nations simulations around the country like in the Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines Diliman, and University of Santo Tomas.
The SDG Dean also reiterated how participation in BMUN should result in real-world actions, saying that, “At the end of the day, the theory and experience that our students learned from participating in BMUN should also translate in terms of concreate plans and program and also will manifest in their behavior and actions.”
View from the forefront
Now celebrating its 25th year, its theme of “Illuminating Pathways: Forging transnational solidarity towards global advancements” is rooted towards promoting connectivity, mobilization, and transnational cooperation—allowing delegates to break plaguing barriers in order to innovate effective solutions.
Current Secretary-General Bianca Diaz shared in an interview with The Benildean that practicing social responsibility is one of the main essence of the conference. “BMUN teaches both the organizing committee and the delegates not to be individualistic—that is the core of diplomacy,” she highlighted.
Meanwhile, in an email interview with Mr. Josue Raphael Cortez, the current Faculty Adviser for the 25th BMUN, he mentioned how BMUN helps both the College and the Filipino society.
“It is important because the College, particularly the School of Diplomacy and Governance – home of BenildeMUN – has been a great shaper of some of the country’s keyplayers today, not just in the realm of [diplomacy] and [international] relations, but also in governance and public administration, and even in the [development] sector,” he said.
Mr. Cortez emphasized that BMUN is a pillar of the College’s 35-year history that “hones individuals [to become] more than ready to serve and help others. [BMUN] continues to strive to remain relevant by going beyond the confines of what is expected from a MUN conference.”
In the coming years, Dr. Ador Dionisio believes that “BMUN should continue the tradition of promoting scholarship, critical examination of global events, solidarity to the global community, inclusion, and innovation to community, which to some extent is an extension of the Lasallian values and Benildean expressions.”
As the conference will soon resume its formal session, it is now up to the delegates to continue the legacy of and illuminate the pathways towards a better future.
