CDA Marcos A.S. Punsalang (2nd from right) join in cutting the ASEAN cake alongside other ASEAN Heads of Post and guests from the Chilean government.
CDA Marcos A.S. Punsalang (2nd from right) witness as Ambassador Philemon Arobaya and CDA Nguyen Minh Anh (Vietnam) raise the ASEAN Flag as the ASEAN hymn is sung by attendees.
Embassy officials and personnel pose at the Philippine cultural, tourism and trade booth: L to R Ms. Josefina Abenoja, Consul Dennis Briones, CDA Marcos Punsalang, Finance Officer Jeany Macadangdang, and local hire Francisco Sepulveda.
Members of the ASEAN Committee in Santiago Working Group and Embassy Deputies (PHL represented by Consul Dennis Briones – rightmost) pose for a group photo at the end of the event.
The Philippine Embassy’s Ms. Ferlina Camento manage the sampling of Filipino (pancit and lumpia) and other ASEAN cuisine to invited guests.
(Santiago, 08 August 2018) – The Philippine Embassy in Chile with the embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam celebrated the 51st year of the foundation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a flag-raising ceremony and cultural and gastronomic showcase held at the Vietnamese Embassy in Providencia, Santiago.
The Philippines organized the event with the other members of the ASEAN Committee in Santiago (ACS)—with Vietnam as current chair of the group’s rotating chairmanship.
The activity-filled day began with the raising of the ASEAN flag while the ASEAN hymn was being sung by participating ASEAN embassies, the diplomatic corps, Chilean officials, the academe, and tourism and business groups. In his speech, Vietnamese Embassy CDA Nguyen Minh Anh recalled highlights of ASEAN’s rich history, including the many milestones that led to the profound solidarity ASEAN members now enjoy. He also thanked Chile for its ready cooperation with ASEAN.
Similar to past ASEAN celebrations, the Philippines and other ASEAN embassies showcased their respective traditional products and best cuisine. The Philippine booth featured handwoven bags made from sinamay and tinalak, seashell and wooden merchandises, pearl and brush earrings, and other examples of Filipino artisan work and craftsmanship. Also given away were tourism materials and catalogues featuring Cebu, Bohol and other top tourism attractions of the country. The ASEAN buffet section served pancit and lumpia alongside other popular Southeast Asian cuisine.
The Philippines and the rest of ACS have many other cultural, tourism and trade events planned within the year, including a film showing, painting exhibitions and sporting events. END
