04 April 2014 - Headed by Col. Reuben Basiao, the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché under the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok participated in the ASEAN Language and Cultural Event organized by the Defense Science and Technology Department, Thai Ministry of Defense, to celebrate the opening of the newly-established Defense Foreign Language Center in Bangkok.

In his opening remarks, Lt Gen Nipat Tonglek, Permanent Secretary of Defense, Ministry of Defense, highlighted the importance of understanding ASEAN Cultures and Languages as part of promoting ASEAN Defense collaborations.

Col. Basiao and the ASEAN Defense Attachés each presented their respective country briefings focusing on their respective cultures and languages.  In his briefing, Col. Basiao gave emphasis on ASEAN as a rules-based community of shared values and norms. He said that the promotion of ASEAN cultures and languages would lead to the enhancement of ASEAN Defense and Security Cooperation, which would also further contribute to the attainment of ASEAN’s Political and Security Community vision of “A harmonious and secure community living together in peace according to the ASEAN Charter and the Principles and Norms of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.” END