Manila, June 25 -- Senator Loren Legarda underscored the crucial role of the Philippine Studies Program in fostering stronger global connections and elevating the country's voice on the international stage.

Speaking at the launch of a book on the Philippine Studies Program on Wednesday, Legarda said diplomacy does not begin in embassies but in libraries, classrooms, and simple acts of curiosity.

"And it taught me this: no matter how vast the world may seem, we shape one another. Our narratives intersect, and in these crossings, we discover deeper ways of speaking and listening," she said.

Legarda, known for championing culture and education, shared that it is the conviction that inspired her to promote a form of diplomacy that uses the...