Learning in and from the UN – again!

I stood in awe. Reveling. One foot ready to enter, one hand quite reluctant to tap my ID. What if the gate does not open? But it did. I entered the sprawling grounds and in reverence gazed at the blue United Nations flag, hoisted maybe 10 times more than my height fluttering impressively, blended amidst a backdrop of the bluest sky on a winter day.

It was my first visit to the UN headquarters along First Avenue in New York.

Taking my sweet time, l went from one wing to another. Reading descriptions of rooms and halls, skimming through posters of the vision, advocacies and landmark projects of the UN hanging on the walls and examining paintings, tapestries, mosaics, glass-encased artifacts and sculptures donated by UN member-states, I thought of how perfect and peaceful the world would be if the messages embodied in these objects come to life.

Upon entering the lobby I glimpsed at a gallery of what I mistook as paintings of the Secretaries-General of the UN but when I scrutinized the frames they were tapestries made of fabrics similar to Persian carpets. Why not? These portraits of the great gentlemen who led the UN over the years – from Trygve Lve to Ban Ki Moon – were crafted in and bequeathed by Iran. I pondered on how pictures of the gentle faces of the esteemed leaders of the UN were passionately and intricately woven by seasoned artisans, who were perhaps quite oblivious of their symbolic and enduring contribution to the preeminent organization in the world that champions peace.

As a young public school student, I looked forward to October when UN month was celebrated. As participants in the quiz we reviewed and memorized acronyms, dates, countries and their flags and anything and everything about the UN. On the day of my visit, all these came to life. A long corridor where flags of UN member-states are alphabetically mounted on poles leads to the General Assembly Building. In this august hall, major speeches of the UN Secretary-General, the current one being Antonio Guterres, and world leaders are delivered and interventions of diplomats on matters ranging from migration, clean water, food security, health, education to gender issues are presented.

What I found most interesting, second to the sublime meditation room, is the place where the Security Council convenes. I once read that the Security Council is possibly the most powerful institution in the world because it could decide on war and peace. With no intention to eavesdrop whether there would be declarations of ceasefire in conflict zones and aware that entrance to meeting rooms are restricted, I treasured my time appreciating the meaning-filled decorations of the hallway of the Security Council room: a captivating mosaic of the liberation of Nobel Peace Laureate Nelson Mandela, a sophisticated tapestry from Ukraine, a copy of the edict of Cyprus, a gleaming silver cup from Myanmar and more. Subsumed in these storied artworks is the reality that peace is fragile. Yet painful as it may seem, the quest for harmony is something that we can actually promote and hope for, individually. In the very words of the legendary Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, “Our work for peace must begin within the private world of each of us.”

Beside the glass stained Sleeping Child frame from Poland hangs a painting of our very own Manuel Baldemor depicting the Philippine skyline. While the notable artist’s obra is a classic in its own right, I think it would be more profound to bestow another souvenir for the UN from the Philippines. In an era when our world-class talents and overseas Filipino workers are hailed, would it be a good idea to have one of our sculptors – maybe the exceptional Ramon Orlina, the talented Toym Imao who is following in the footsteps of his late National Artist father Abdulmari or the promising Ronald Castrillo – commission a piece acclaiming our modern day heroes? Symbolically, the sculpture could embody our country’s cooperation with the UN’s joint agenda on migration.

A day is not enough to explore the building and refresh my knowledge about the UN, firsthand. But I did not let the day pass without discovering the bustling basement by following the welcoming waft of brewed coffee. If the upper halls are for diplomats and delegates to meet, the coffee shop is where they converge and chitchat over coffee, tea and pastries. I enjoyed a cup of medium roast paired with a crusty almond puff pastry. All for a reasonable fee, of course!

Down the hall are the bookshop, gift center, visitor center and post office – delightful stops for bookworms, souvenir collectors, interested guests and philatelists. Yes, one can have a guided tour of the headquarters and send a postcard straight from the UN! I chanced upon a group of students listening attentively to the guide and a family exploring the place on their own.

There is so much more to absorb and impart about the 77-year-old organization represented by 193 countries and two observers and located in what may be called the diplomatic capital of the world. At the bookshop I bought a copy of The Cookbook in Support of the United Nations for People and the Planet. It features 75 sustainable international recipes shared by chefs, farmers and indigenous communities. Joan Carling, an indigenous cook from the Kankanaey community in the Philippines, shared her nourishing “white beans with chayote and spinach,” which I plan to cook one of these days. In case my version does not turn out to be as palatable as it should be, I will keep on trying until I achieve the meal’s precise taste. If it still turns out to be what my children call an “epic fail” I will simply negotiate with my diners to eat it anyway – all in the spirit of peace and diplomacy.