30 August 2013 - The Consular Corps of Guam held its monthly luncheon meeting at The President, Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort on August 28. This month’s luncheon meeting was hosted by Philippine Consul General in Guam Bayani Mangibin and attended by Palau Consul General Jeff Kenty, the Dean of the Consular Corps, Federated States of Micronesia Consul General Roberto Ruecho, Japan Consul General Hisatsugu Shimizu, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General Paul Wang, Italy Honorary Consul Roberto Fracassaini, and Philippine Consul Edgar Tomas Auxilian. The following three Corps’ members were off-island: Korean Consul General, French Honorary Consul Joelle Wainer, and New Zealand’s Honorary Consul John Scragg.
First Lady Christine M.S. Calvo was the guest of honor. She was accompanied by former Senator Telo Taitague, External Affairs Advisor of the Office of the Governor of Guam, and Ms. Janice Sablan Ada, Chief of Staff of the Office of the First Lady of Guam.
The Consular Corps invited the First Lady to its meeting to convey to her in person the group’s appreciation for her active role in enhancing the relations of Guam with the respective corps members’ countries, particularly at this time that her office handles the protocol affairs.
The First Lady informed the group of the programs and advocacies of her office and sought the cooperation of the consular corps in promoting activities in Guam and to their respective countries that will enhance their cordial relations with Guam. She discussed with the group the forthcoming Guam’s mission to Thailand for the promotion of sports tourism and expressed the hope that this could be expanded to the corps’ member countries.
The First Lady also informed the meeting that this year’s Christmas lighting event, which was held in the past at the Skinner Plaza, will now take place at the Governor’s House. She stated that she will invite, among others, the women’s groups of the Consular Corps’ respective communities in Guam to plan and ensure the success of this event. She further invited the Consular Corps to join as a group and/or as individual country/community to this Christmas lighting event.
The luncheon meeting ended with Consul General Mangibin conveying, as the host, the Consular Corps’s gratitude to the First Lady for taking time to meet with them. He considered the luncheon meeting “historic” taking into account that this is the first time that the Consular Corps of Guam met the First Lady of the Island. The group also appreciated the support and cooperation of the former Senator Telo Taitague who has been instrumental in making closer the Consular Corps to the Government of Guam. The members took the opportunity to welcome officially Ms. Janice Sablan Ada, the Chief of Staff of the First Lady’s Office, and look forward to working closely with her. END
