Stratbase Institute President and CEO Prof. Dindo Manhit led the discussion with the Canadian Forces College – National Security Program (NSP) for their Experiential Learning Visit (ELV) at Fairmont Makati. He was joined by Stratbase Non-Resident Fellows Gen. Manny Bautista (Ret.) (former Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines), Dr. Renato de Castro (Trustee and Program Convenor, Stratbase Institute; Professor, De La Salle University), and Mr. Don McLain Gill (Lecturer, De La Salle University). 

The NSP is the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Senior Course designed to prepare selected military, public service, international and private sector leaders for future strategic responsibilities within a complex and ambiguous global security environment.  

This was the first time that the NSP has visited the Philippines. Joining the delegation were Canadian Armed Forces Colonels, Naval Captains and Civilian Executives and international students from Lithuania, Ukraine, Malaysia, Mexico, and Jordan. 

Prof. Manhit and the Stratbase fellows talked to the group about the current challenges the Philippines is facing in the geopolitical space and how Philippines and Canada can further strengthen its Indo-Pacific relationship and advance defense and trade and security cooperations between the two countries. 

Ms. Geneviève Binet, Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Affairs for the Government of Canada, concluded the discussion by thanking Stratbase for their continued support and for sharing their insights with the delegation.