The Philippine Embassy in Beijing hosted a ceremonial handover of the chairmanship of the ASEAN Ladies’ Circle (ALC) on 27 February 2024 with over 40 guests from ASEAN embassies in Beijing, including Timor Leste.
Mme. Ana Elena S. FlorCruz, spouse of Philippine Ambassador Jaime A. FlorCruz, delivered the opening remarks commending ALC’s role in encouraging camaraderie and mutual learning between ASEAN embassies through culture and the arts. She thanked fellow ladies from the Philippine Embassy for their work towards a productive ALC chairmanship in the past six (6) months. She also thanked other ASEAN Embassies for their steadfast support during this period.
As Timor Leste’s ASEAN membership is underway, Mme. FlorCruz welcomed the representative from the Timor Leste Embassy, marking its ALC debut as an observer.
First photo: Mme. FlorCruz during her opening remarks in front of the members of the ASEAN Ladies Circle Beijing. Second Photo: Mme’s and VIP representatives of ALC taking a group photo during the event (From left to right: Cambodia’s DCM Zin Mar Htwe, Spouse of Thailand’s CDA, Mrs. Samamon Sukanjanajtee, Laos’s Mme. Phonekham Phyathep, Indonesia’s Mme. Wiwik Oratmangun, Philippines’ Mme. Ana Elena S. FlorCruz, Singapore’s Mme. Sim Siew Eng, Timor Leste’s Third Secretary Agata Boavida and Malaysia’s DCM Norfarina Mohd Azmee)
Later in the program, Mme. FlorCruz formally turned over the chairmanship to Mme. Sim Siew Eng, Spouse of the Ambassador of the Republic of the Singapore, H.E. Peter Tan Hai Chuan. Mrs. Elwisi Oratmangun, Spouse of the Ambassador of the Republic of the Indonesia, and Mrs. Norfarina Mohd Azmee, Deputy Chief of Mission of Malaysia, stood as witnesses.
First photo: Members of the ALC discussing the schedule of ALC Tea Gathering in 2024. Second Photo: Members of the ALC are raising their hands during the bidding for the monthly hosting of ALC tea gatherings.
ALC members proceeded to discuss and finalize the group’s calendar of monthly activities for 2024.
First photo: Cheng Lin and Lucy Luan, special guests of the event, performs using Chinese Traditional instruments Erhu and Guzheng. Second Photo: Cheng Lin shares the history of Erhu and some stories behind the playing of the traditional instrument.
Afterwards, they witnessed a special mini-concert by renowned Chinese musicians Ms. Cheng Lin and Ms. Lucy Luan who gave a skillful and elegant performance playingthe Chinese string instruments Erhu and Guzheng.
Finally, they all partook in Filipino refreshments such as Buko Pie, Kutsinta, Puto and Otap.
ALC is an organization of female diplomats and spouses of personnel of ASEAN Embassies in Beijing. Its chairmanship rotates alphabetically among ASEAN embassies. The Philippine Embassy took on this responsibility from September 2023 to February 2024.
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