MUSLIM WOMAN AS AMBASSADOR IN PHILIPPINES

A Filipino Muslim woman made history in the diplomatic service when the Commission on Appointments confirmed her as ambassador to Bahrain. Corazon Yap-Bahjin, who was confirmed on May 20, is the first Filipino Muslim woman to serve as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported in a statement released Friday. In 1979, she also became the first Filipina Muslim to pass the Foreign Service Officers (FSO) exam, said to be one of the toughest examinations in the Philippines. That examination is needed to join the Philippine Foreign Service. Before her confirmation, she served as the assistant secretary for personnel at the Foreign Affairs home office in Pasay City. She also served as assistant secretary of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination and as acting assistant secretary of the Office of Consular Affairs. Her previous postings included Cairo, Amman (Jordan), Bangkok and Xiamen (China), where she was consul general.  Before her diplomatic career, Bahjin was an educator.