As part of the continuing education program of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, the officers and staff, including its locally hired employees, completed a three-day "Refresher Course of Protocol, Social Graces, and Etiquette" on 24 July 2012.

The lecture was conducted by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Jose L. Garcia III, under the auspices of Ambassador Joselito A. Jimeno. The course materials used were provided by the DFA Foreign Service Institute.

The course provided a good opportunity for the Embassy staff to improve their knowledge on protocol, social graces, and etiquette and enhanced their appreciation on the value of learning these subjects in the foreign service.

Locally hired employees were especially grateful for being given the opportunity to develop themselves by participating in the course.

In his short remarks during the graduation ceremonies, Ambassador Jimeno revisited the progress made by the Embassy in the past ten months, including the significant improvements in the Embassy premises. The Ambassador emphasized that the ultimate goal of achieving a world class foreign service lies in crafting outstanding Foreign Service personnel. Ambassador Jimeno urged the Embassy officers and staff to continually aim for professional growth and excellence in the course of their duties. End.