At a recent business forum hosted by an embassy, business journalists were invited to cover what was billed as an energetic exchange of ideas.
On stage were the embassy’s top diplomat, visiting guests of honor from the sending state, and government officials full of energy —delivering presentations that sounded impressive, if not a tad too polished to withstand closer inspection.
The slides were slick. The promises grand. The context, however, was thin.
Once the presentations concluded, journalists did what journalists are meant to do: Ask questions. Hoping to add clarity and substance to what had been presented, they approached the embassy’s press attaché to request a short interview with the project’s task head, a Filipino official (FO) who had just taken part in the forum.
Permission was granted.
The interview began professionally, with journalists seeking details that had not been fully explained during the presentation. FO responded thoughtfully, clearly attempting to provide context and elaborate on the collaboration discussed during the event.
Then came the interruption.
Midway through the exchange, a Caucasian diplomat approached and demanded to know what was happening. The journalists politely explained that they were interviewing his colleague, FO, about the initiative presented earlier.
Instead of welcoming the chance to clarify matters, the undiplomatic diplomat (UD) appeared visibly vexed and instructed FO to stop the interview immediately.
The abruptness stunned everyone present: journalists and interviewee alike. FO, in particular, was visibly surprised, cut short mid-explanation, and placed in an awkward position in full view of the media.
The irony was unmistakable.
This is an embassy that has long promoted itself as a supporter of media engagement in the Philippines, hosting regular gatherings with journalists as part of its public diplomacy efforts. For years, members of the Fourth Estate have valued these initiatives and regarded the mission as a constructive partner.
Which is why this moment left such an unpleasant aftertaste.
More than a discourtesy to the press, observers noted, it was a public display disrespect for a Filipino colleague, one who was, at that moment, simply doing his job.
It left many quietly wondering how such conduct would be viewed by the ambassador, were the incident brought to his attention.
Diplomacy, after all, is not only about what is said on stage, but how respect is shown off it.
And by most accounts, this episode was decidedly not cricket.