UK's Chevening Fellowship Bestowed On Two Filipinos

Two Filipino candidates have been selected to join the prestigious Chevening Fellowship granted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom.

Reynaldo Saludares and Lucita Rodriguez are the latest recipients of this award that sponsors studies on short courses focusing on particular subjects aligned to the FCO's strategic framework. The distinction of Chevening Fellow is offered only to professionals in a position of leadership and influence in their home country.

According to British Ambassador Peter Beckingham,"Chevening Fellowships are prestigious and highly sought-after awards with stiff competition from thousands of applicants in many countries. I am delighted that yet again Filipinos are among the successful. This reinforces the growing education links between our two countries."

Ms. Rodriguez is a deputy commissioner for tax reform in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). She will be attending a short course on Reform, Regulation and Public Service Provisions at the University of Bradford. The program focuses on the role of economic institutions and policy frameworks in public sector economic reform and the promotion of sustainable growth.

Atty. Reynaldo Saludares is an Assistant Solicitor General at the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). He is slated to participate in a short course on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Security at the University of Birmingham. The program aims to provide an insight on how to balance the need to ensure national and international security with the promotion and protection of human rights.

"I am excited to learn new and sophisticated concepts on how to promote co-operation to achieve harmony, which I believe is the key to a Global Village that is peaceful and prosperous. I believe [that my course on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Security] is very relevant to the pursuit of the dream for co-operation to have harmony," Atty. Saludares enthuses.

Chevening Fellows undertake an intensive 12-week program that offers dynamic training and professional development opportunities in the UK. Courses consist of high-quality content, with contributions from leading academics and experts in the field.

Upon completion it offers the opportunity for successful candidates to maintain international policy dialogue with UK Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates. Each year there are only about 200 recipients of the Chevening Fellowship award world-wide. (Oya Arriola)