Brunei's Second Minister Hosts Farewell Luncheon for PH Envoy
Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Meynardo LB. Montealegre (left) handing over a copy of the Philippine Embassy’s photo book, “Nurturing Philippines-Brunei Ties: Economic and Cultural Diplomacy Program of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Brunei Darussalam, 2015-2017,” to Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd. Yusof, during the farewell luncheon for the Ambassador. (Brunei PE photo)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 16 May 2018– Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd. Yusof (Dato Erywan), hosted a farewell luncheon for Philippine Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre at the Tarindak D’ Seni restaurant in Bandar Seri Begawan on May 14, 2018. Present during the event were officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT) and Heads of Diplomatic Missions in Brunei.
During the event, Ambassador Montealegre thanked Dato Erywan and the MoFAT for the warm friendship and steadfast support extended to the Philippines, the Philippine Embassy and the Ambassador over the years. He also congratulated the MoFAT for successfully organizing the ASEAN@50 Celebrations in August 2017, and lauded the Ministry for organizing the annual MoFAT Family Day with ASEAN and other Diplomatic Missions, as well as the MoFAT Open House during Hari Raya.
The Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the MoFAT for assisting the Philippine Embassy during high-level exchanges and visits between the Philippines and Brunei, especially during the State Visit of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Brunei in October 2016 and the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty The Sultan’s Accession to the Throne in October 2017.
He also thanked Brunei’s Government for its full support to the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship last year, and for its active participation in the ASEAN Summits and related meetings held in the Philippines.
Ambassador Montealegre likewise conveyed the Philippine Government’s appreciation for the Brunei Government’s continued and active involvement in the peace process in Mindanao, particularly its participation as a member of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).
For his part, Dato Erywan congratulated the Philippine Government for its successful Chairmanship of the ASEAN last year. He also expressed his appreciation to the Ambassador for the latter’s contribution in fostering the warm and excellent ties between the Philippines and Brunei during the more than three years of his diplomatic assignment in the country. END
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Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre (center) being congratulated by his fellow Heads of Missions in Brunei and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the farewell luncheon.
Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre (4th from right) posing for a group photo with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd. Yusof, and fellow Heads of ASEAN Missions in Brunei Darussalam during the farewell luncheon.