It is autumn in Paris and the cold can be biting. The members of the Philippine delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) general conference slowly and steadily unbundled themselves from the 15-hour flight to prepare for the country’s quest for a seat in the prestigious and powerful executive board. It has been four long years since the country was last represented.

Unesco, founded in 1946 in the aftermath of the disastrous Second World War, now has 193 member-states, bigger than the main United Nations body. It declares, “It is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” For the 34th meeting, a total of 2,000 delegates are present with about 100 heads of state and ministers in attendance to realize the vision of “full and equal opportunities for education for all.” The Philippine team is bannered by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and Education Secretary Jesli A. Lapus with Ambassadors Jose Abeto Zaide and Preciosa S. Soliven.

As the plenary session opens, the scene is as grand as a page from Napoleonic times with the endless fluttering of the national colors and people of amazing diversity pour into the august chambers. A sense of awe and gratitude descends; a spirit of pride and happiness lifts amid the tension and expectation for what lies ahead.

The night before, the whole delegation gathered at the embassy quarters for a briefing on the program and daily schedule. The focused staff led by Atty. Igor Bailen quickly dished out the crucial updates to bring everyone up to speed. Needless to say, the quest for the board seat was the central theme. Battle lines were drawn for countries supporting and sympathetic to our cause. We are a nation 90-million strong with a strong overseas presence in our hardworking OFWs and with a mission to radically alter the education landscape to develop our full human potential. Not to detract from the well-run campaigns of the other ten contenders, the end of the two-hour meeting was marked by Pinoy-style pasta spaghetti and grilled chicken with melon and porto wine. As the principals retired for the night to review policy and intervention speeches, the support group worked till midnight for contingency scenarios. The reward for the extra effort was the sudden view walking home of the yellow and green Eiffel Tower basking under the Parisian moon.

Today, Secretary Lapus assumed as one of the vice-presidents representing the Asia-Pacific region. The main agenda item is the Medium-Term Strategy from 2008-2013 to guide the organization’s thrusts. The key points that are relevant for the Philippines are: programs aimed principally at meeting the major goals and international commitments such as Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals to which our government is fully committed. Another is the prioritization of gender equality. Did you know that of the world’s 1 billion poorest, 60 percent are women and girls? Or that 75 percent of the 130 million children who are out of school are girls? Given the fast approaching 2015 deadline, suddenly all these works become even more significant. What can we do to make sure that we are not left behind?

As day one unfolds, the old saying rings truer: a good preparation is half the battle won. Regardless of the numbers and the final outcome, the Philippine delegation is ready and in the trenches for the election. Even with differing national agenda, the team is united with the rest in the purpose to “contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms.” The country’s quest for all these precepts continues tomorrow, dateline Paris. (Editor’s update: RP won the seat.)