A member of Batch 2022 of the Philippine Science High School - Central Luzon Campus (PSHS-CLC) in Clark, Pampanga has been recognized as the best delegate in the United Nations’ oldest simulations for students in the world "for exhibiting critical thinking, effective communication, and diplomatic negotiation skills.”
The PSHS System announced on Wednesday, June 2, Josiah C. Garcia’s feat in the North American Invitation Model United Nation (NAIMUN) Southeast Asia III held virtually on May 28-30.
"Garcia and his teammates tackled the 2018 Simulation Crisis Committee of Donald Trump's Cabinet on how to navigate the economic dispute on unfair trade practices between this contentious relationship with China while protecting Americans from economic hardships,” the PSHS said in a Facebook post.
Garcia said as a delegate, he primary learned how to compromise. "Diplomacy is not about getting what you want. It is about getting what the majority wants,” he said.
"Another realization is that despite all of us having the same goal in mind, it doesn't mean that we are going to agree on the means of reaching it. Balancing your personal goals, others' opinions, and the greater good is what being a delegate is all about.”
He said his experience in the NAIMUN, which has been a cornerstone of American Model UN since 1963, was challenging because they "have to think on the spot of our stance about the matter on hand, intended solutions for those problems, and the significance of our roles as cabinet members.”
NAIMUN has so far attracted 3,000 delegates from diverse backgrounds.
"It was a great learning opportunity for me. it was also a very fun experience because you get to interact with students all over the world who embody different cultures, different ways of living, and therefore, different opinions. The formality, and the meticulousness of the procedures also stunned me because for us to create a sound and effective directive, we have to compromise sometimes our views,” Garcia said.
NAIMUN SEA, in particular, will push delegates from Southeast Asia "to think critically, debate effectively, and negotiate diplomatically across four committees focused on tackling the most pressing issues of the day."
The PSHS noted that the recent NAIMUN SEA III was its third iteration, and was attended by more than 100 international students.
The global event was co-hosted by MUN Inc. and the Georgetown International Relations Associations (GIRA).
MUN Inc. is a regional education provider in Southeast Asia (founded in 2014) which focuses on developing Model United Nations, the PSHS said.