Does a diplomat have to give up his artistic pursuits to be called worthy of public office? Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes talks about his passion for singing and keeping it real while being a respectable leader of the Filipino community in the emirates. “Advised to scale down on my singing and be a ‘Congen,’ I thought about how much of myself I must divest to be an authentic public servant. As Consul General, I play the role of my ‘kababayans’ last ray of hope, their role model, and their de facto leader. Where does authenticity lie in the context of these roles? What does being true to oneself mean for those of us in the Foreign Service?”