A writer from the Philippine Information Agency based in Dumaguete City was among 20 journalists from the Association of South East Asian Nations’ countries who visited India for a week, a PIA press release said.
Information officer 2 and regional news editor of PIA Rachelle Nessia was one of two representatives from the Philippines at the ASEAN-India Media Exchange Program recently. The other Filipino writer was Lily Ramos of the Philippines News Agency based in Manila.
The other journalists were from Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, LAO PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, the press release added.
The program aims to promote better understanding of ASEAN-India relations, while improving connectivity between India and its Asian neighbors.
The journalists had a tour of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the 363-year-old Taj Mahal, and its sister monument, Agra Fort, in Agra City.
They also sat in during the Delhi Dialogue IV Summit in New Delhi, India and paid a courtesy call on India’s External Affairs Minister Shri Khrishna, the press release said.
Khrishna said the Indian media is also keenly looking forward to visiting the ASEAN countries.
The journalists also flew to Bangalore, India where they were briefed by key officials of the Indian Institute of Science, Infosys and Biocon.
In her blog, Nessia said her trip to India was a life-changing experience. “After staying in India for eight days, there is one thing I know for certain, and that is I will be going home a different person.”
