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.
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