GOVPH

23 January 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Rosario Aguinaldo hosted on 20 January at her residence the first ASEAN Women’s Circle (AWC) Contact Morning for the year.

The highlight of the event was a slide presentation on the World Heritage Sites of the Philippines.  The Ambassador spoke on the two Natural Heritage Sites: the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and on the Cultural Heritage Sites: the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, the Baroque Churches of the Philippines and the Historic Town of Vigan. The guests found the Tubbataha Marine Park and the Rice Terraces impressive and appreciated the opportunity to obtain insights into the interesting sites in the Philippines.  A few were quick to express their keen interest in visiting these two sites.

To complete the presentation on the Philippines, the guests were treated to Philippine songs performed by the Filipino band “Aksento,” a Filipino brunch and a raffle of Philippine handicrafts.

Mrs. Sranya Natalegawa, spouse of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, is the Chief Patron of the ASEAN Women’s Circle. She delivered remarks as did Datin Rusnah Binti Ismail, current AWC President and spouse of the Malaysian Permanent Representative to ASEAN.  Over forty members of AWC attended the Contact Morning, among them, Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN, Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso. 

Members of AWC are ASEAN lady Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to ASEAN; spouses of ASEAN Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives, other diplomats; officials of the Foreign Ministry and of the ASEAN Secretariat.  Membership is also open to women from the ASEAN community in Jakarta and to the spouses of Ambassadors of ASEAN Dialogue Partners.

The ASEAN Women’s Circle was established in 1975 for the purpose of promoting “mutual understanding and cooperation among ASEAN Women and to acquaint its members and the general public of the high ideals and aims of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.”  The gatherings of AWC are intended to promote ASEAN friendship through socio-cultural and other related activities.  The contact morning, hosted by rotation, is intended to promote the country and culture of the host through various forms of presentations.  END