Negotiate tomorrow, today

Diplomacy is not born in grand halls or behind closed doors — it begins in rooms like these.

In the hum of debate, in the careful crafting of resolutions, in the passionate arguments of those who believe the world can be shaped by the words they choose and the compromises they make.

For three days at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the 26th Benilde Model United Nations turned students into diplomats, classrooms into negotiation tables and conversations into blueprints for the future.

More than just an academic exercise, it was a masterclass in international relations, with ambassadors, diplomats and thought leaders guiding young minds through the intricate dance of diplomacy.

“With the current geopolitical environment, there is no time more critical to get involved than now,” declared Benilde Chancellor Benhur Ong, setting the tone for the conference.

The world, as it stands, is complex, fraught with conflict and in desperate need of innovative thinkers — precisely the kind that BenildeMUN seeks to nurture.

At the helm of this year’s discussions was Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony, who framed Asean’s role as both an economic force and a diplomatic bridge.

Asean, he emphasized, is not just a bloc of nations but a testament to what can be achieved through cooperation, inclusivity and consensus.

“Foreign relations is acutely important in this current world and age,” he said. “It is where we can iron out differences and try to find a common ground.”

The art of negotiation — delicate, necessary and often frustrating — was further dissected by French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, who laid bare an uncomfortable truth: diplomacy rarely leaves everyone happy.

“Multilateral diplomacy is about compromise,” she stated bluntly. “We have to balance, share our views and find a common denominator. And it means indeed sometimes that it makes everyone unhappy. It doesn’t matter if in the end, we have made a step.”

Diplomacy, more than politics, is about survival. Nowhere was this clearer than in the side event Converging Tides: Enhancing Global Maritime Sustainability through Innovation, where Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson Robert Borje reminded the audience that for an archipelagic nation like the Philippines, the ocean is more than geography — it is identity, economy and fate.

“The ocean is the lifeblood that sustains communities, economies and ecosystems worldwide,” he said. And with climate change at the forefront of global crises, the need for action has never been more urgent.

The most striking gesture of diplomacy came not in words, but in action.

BenildeMUN was held for the benefit of The Hapag Movement, a program dedicated to feeding and empowering Filipino families suffering from hunger.

Because at its core, diplomacy — real diplomacy — is not just about policies and negotiations. It is about people. It is about ensuring that the words spoken in conference rooms translate into change where it matters most.

The real challenge begins for the students: To take what they have learned and carry it into the world, to question, to collaborate, to lead.

In a world as fractured as ours, it is not the loudest voices or the strongest armies that will shape the future. It is those who can sit across from an opponent, extend a hand and find a way forward.