PH-Indonesia Embassies Hold First ASEAN Day in Syria

Charge d’ Affaires Alex V. Lamadrid and Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Djoko Harjanto lead the linking of arms among officers and staff of both embassies. (Damascus PE photo)

DAMASCUS 10 September 2018 – The Philippines and Indonesian Embassies in Damascus, the only ASEAN Missions in Syria, celebrated the 51^st anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by staging a cultural and musical night at the Indonesian Embassy grounds on 30 August 2018. 

Indonesian Ambassador Djoko Harjanto expressed his gratitude to Chargé d'affaires Alex V. Lamadrid for initially floating the idea of a gathering to celebrate ASEAN Day, making it the first-ever ASEAN day celebration in Damascus.

Ambassador Harjanto also noted that the said gathering will not be the last gathering of such kind, while expressing hope that other ASEAN countries will also be present in Syria in the future.

Chargé d'affaires Lamadrid expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian Ambassador for graciously hosting the ASEAN Family Night gathering, and provided a brief backgrounder on the founding of ASEAN.

“We are thankful that our relationship with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Damascus has become resilient and has only ever grown stronger.  Our event tonight proves that the bonds of ASEAN endure wherever and whatever the circumstances are,” Chargé d'affaires Lamadrid said.

Also dubbed as ASEAN family night, the event was attended by embassy officers and staff, with their families. Traditional Philippine and Indonesian cuisines were served while songs from Indonesia and the Philippines were performed. END

For more information, visit www.damascuspe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSyria/

Officers and staff of the Indonesian Embassy sang traditional and contemporary Indonesian songs. (Damascus PE photo)

Officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus led by Chargé d'affaires Lamadrid performed Filipino, English and Spanish songs accompanied on the keyboard by Indonesian Ambassador Djoko Harjanto. (Damascus PE photo)