The Asean Blend

MANILA, Philippines - • The first day of the 45th annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors refused to finish quietly and ended instead in a heart pumping evening with a welcome cocktails at the SMX Convention Center opened by Mr. Pure Energy himself, Filipino singer Gary V. clad in all white attire, Gary V. took center stage and opened the night with the 90s hit Babalik Ka Rin, a song that became popular among overseas Filipinos.

 Gary V explained to foreign guests the essence of the song and urged them to come and visit the Philippines again to enjoy the warmth of its people. He went on the rock the house with hits from the 60s and 80s.

• Manila 2012 not only made the financial and monetary districts in the Philippines busy but also college students from seven universities in the Philippines: De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, Collegio de San Juan de Letran, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, University of Asia and the Pacific and the University of the Philippines. The students clad in yellow shirts and blue jackets manned the registration tables outside the different seminar rooms. Some were also assigned to escort dignitaries.

• The so-called Asean Blend perked up foreign dignitaries, guests as well as foreign media at the ADB meeting yesterday. The blend was concocted by the Asean Coffee Federation, which included beans from selected coffee plantations in the region such as Indonesia’s Lake Toba, Laos’ Bolaven Plateau, Thailand’s Doi Chang region, and the Philippines’ Benguet province.

• Photographers, usually seen in their rubber shoes and favorite checkered Kramas or the traditional Cambodian scarves came in an unusually formal wear or business attire. Some came in their creaseless long-sleeved polo or dark suits.