OPINION COLUMN-ASEAN SCI | A decade of Asean science diplomacy: The rare grace of selfless service
TEN years ago, the vision of an Asean Science Diplomats Assembly was but a fragile hope, a daring belief that science could serve as a bridge across borders, cultures and institutions. Today, as we commemorate its 10th founding anniversary, that hope has crystallized into reality. Yet behind the celebration lies a narrative seldom spoken: a chronicle of struggle, of perseverance and of the quiet courage required to sustain an advocacy when recognition is scarce and support uncertain.
The odyssey of building this assembly has been neither simple nor serene. It has never been limited to the mechanics of logistics, to the labyrinth of schedules, venues or protocols. The true challenge has always been profoundly human. Too often, I have encountered individuals who measure their involvement by the calculus of personal gain. Some refused to extend their hand because I was not part of government, as though legitimacy were conferred only by title. Others demanded recognition, their names emblazoned in programs, their faces displayed on posters, as if service acquires meaning only when adorned by applause. Still, others withheld support out of jealousy or pride, preferring to linger in the sidelines, awaiting my downfall.
These experiences cut deeply. They remind us how solitary the path of service can be, how conviction may be dismissed as insignificance, and how humility is too often mistaken for weakness. There were moments when I felt invisible, branded as “nobody” because I was not cloaked in the mantle of government authority. There were times when I was snubbed, questioned, even undermined. Some confessed that it was their first encounter with the term science diplomacy, and rather than embracing the opportunity to learn, they chose indifference. Others withheld support simply because they had no direct participation, as though the worth of an initiative were measured solely by personal involvement.
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And yet, amid the thorns, I discovered the rarest gift: the beauty of selfless service. There are those who give freely, who share the advocacy without condition, who reach out to the poor, empower communities and inspire others, all without asking for recognition or reward. These individuals embody the true spirit of diplomacy: humility that disarms pride, generosity that transcends transaction and courage that endures indifference. They remind us that progress is not built upon pride but upon perseverance, not upon applause but upon conviction.
The journey has not been easy. There were nights when exhaustion overwhelmed me, when the weight of demands and disappointments made me question whether the effort was worth it. There were moments when I felt the sting of jealousy, the coldness of pride, the silence of indifference. And in those moments, I asked myself: Why continue? Why persist when so few are willing to walk this path?
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The answer came not from recognition, but from remembrance. I remembered the faces of those who stand to benefit from science diplomacy: the communities that need capacity-building, the students who need inspiration, the poor who need opportunities, the scientists and science diplomats who need support. They are the reason this assembly exists. They are the reason we continue, even when support feels scarce.
Science diplomacy is not about me, nor about those who demand recognition. It is about the vision of a region where science and diplomacy converge to uplift lives. It is about proving that collaboration can transcend borders, titles and egos. It is about showing that service, even when unrecognized, has the power to transform.
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The jealousy and pride I have encountered are reminders that human nature is fraught with contradictions. Some will resist what they do not understand. Some will envy what they cannot control. But these obstacles do not diminish the value of the work; they only highlight its necessity. For if science diplomacy were easy, it would not require courage. If service were common, it would not require conviction.
Science diplomacy, at its core, is about peace, ensuring that dialogue triumphs over division. It is about sustainability, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of future generations. It is about resiliency, ensuring that our communities can withstand disasters, pandemics and crises. And it is about security, ensuring that nations feel safe enough to collaborate, that knowledge is protected, and that trust is preserved.
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Organizing the Asean Science Diplomats Assembly has been a reflection of life itself: full of demands, disappointments and doubts, yet also rich with meaning, courage and grace. It has shown me that while it is hard to find people who give without expectation, it is not impossible. And those few who do, those who share the advocacy freely, are the ones who make the journey worthwhile.
As we mark this 10th anniversary, let us carry forward this spirit of service with renewed conviction. Let us prove, through our actions and perseverance, that science diplomacy is not about power, but about people. Let us show that the true measure of our work is not in recognition, but in resilience; not in applause, but in the quiet strength of conviction. And let us ensure that the next decade of the Asean Science Diplomats Assembly will be marked not only by achievements, but by the enduring grace of selfless service.
The Asean Science Diplomacy may not be the ultimate answer to every challenge, but it is our solemn declaration that service can be free, that advocacy can be shared, and that unity can be real. It is our promise that even when pride and jealousy surround us, we will choose humility and hope. It is our pledge that even when indifference threatens to silence us, we will continue to speak with courage, compassion and clarity.
In the end, it is not recognition that will define us, but resilience, the steadfast ability to rise after every fall, to continue even when the world does not watch. It is not applause that will sustain us, but conviction, the inner fire that compels us to serve even when the stage is empty. And it is not pride that will unite us, but humility, the quiet strength that bends without breaking, that yields without surrender and that embraces others without condition.
May this assembly endure as a living monument to that truth: that greatness is not measured by titles or trophies, but by the courage to persevere, the grace to serve and the humility to hope. May it shine as a radiant torch for generations yet to come, reminding them that the rarest gift is not recognition, but selfless service; not applause, but compassion; not pride, but unity.
And may the Asean Science Diplomats Assembly forever proclaim to the world that even in the face of indifference, jealousy and doubt, there will always be those who choose to serve freely, faithfully and with love.
Glenn S. Banaguas Sci. Dpl. is UN Sasakawa Laureate for Disaster Risk Reduction; UK’s Kindness and Leadership50 Leading Lights; Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Prize Laureate; distinguished fellow of The Royal Society of Arts; executive fellow, Geneva Center for Security Policy; chairman, US-Asean Science and Technology Fellows; chairman, Asean Science Diplomats; climate diplomat, EU-Asia Expert Panel for Climate Diplomacy and Environmental Security; Asia Leaders Awardee for Sustainability Leadership; senior fellow, Lee Kuan Yew Fellowship in Public Service; The Outstanding Filipino laureate for environment conservation and science diplomacy.
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