PRESS RELEASE

ASC-0972017

PHILCONGEN PARTICIPATES IN ASEAN GOLDEN CELEBRATION AND GALA BALL

18 September 2017, Los Angeles – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles took part in the ASEAN Golden Celebration and Gala Ball organized by the ASEAN People’s Association (ASEAN PAC) in Los Angeles on 09 September 2017 at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills.

In his welcome remarks, Consul General Cruz talked about how ASEAN began and how it blossomed to become the 6th largest economy in the world. He drew attention to how ASEAN members value the importance of dialogue and cooperation in promoting its goals of regional peace and prosperity. He also talked about the six priorities of the Philippine’s ASEAN Chairmanship.

Post sponsored the cultural presentation featuring the various regional dances of the Philippines, interpreted by the Philippine cultural group known as the Kayamanan ng Lahi.

Among those who attended were His Royal Highness Tengku Amir Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Sha Al-Haj, the Crown Prince of Selangor, Malaysia, Dr. A.K.P. Mochtan, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Congressmember Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Ms. Nina Hachigian, former U.S. Ambassador to the ASEAN, as well as Ambassadors and Consuls General from ASEAN member countries in the U.S.A. END.

Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz delivers his welcome remarks.

At the cake cutting ceremony of the ASEAN Golden Celebration and Gala. From left to right: ASEAN Gala Co-Chair, Mr. Aung Min Naing; Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz; Ms. Nina Hachigian, former U.S.

Ambassador to the ASEAN; His Royal Highness Tengku Amir Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Sha Al-Haj, the Crown Prince of Selangor, Malaysia; Dr. A.K.P. Mochtan, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs; and Mr. Nellsen Young, Founder and President of ASEAN People’s Association of Los

Angeles.

The Ambassadors and Consuls Generals representing ASEAN countries doing the traditional ASEAN handshake. From Left to Right: His Excellency Dato' Serbini Ali, Ambassador of Brunei; Hon. Kim Chha Hout,

Honorary Consul General of Cambodia; Consul Pendekar Sondakh , Consulate General of Indonesia; His Excellency, Mai Sayavongs, Ambassador of Laos; Consul General Raja Saifful Ridzuwan of Malaysia;

His Excellency Aung Lynn, Ambassador of Myanmar; Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz of the Philippines; Ms. Kershing Goh, Regional Director of the Singapore Tourism Board; Consul LT. Gunpirom Vichathorn of the

Royal Thai Consulate; and His Excellency Pham Quang Vinh, Ambassador of Vietnam.

One of the Philippine dances featured at the Gala- the tinikling, performed by the Los Angeles-based Filipino-Amercian cultural group called Kayamanan ng Lahi.

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(L-R): Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz; Madame Catherine Cruz; Ms. Sonia Bermejo of ManilaUp; Vice Consul Dyan Kristine Miranda-Pastrana and Ms. Wilma Bautista, Cultural Officer.