81 countries confirm attendance at Noynoy's inauguration

MANILA, Philippines - Eighty-one countries and organizations have confirmed attendance at the inauguration of president-elect Benigno Aquino III and vice president-elect Jejomar Binay today, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The DFA said at least 21 states are sending high-level delegations.

Eduardo Maglaya, DFA chief of protocol, said a foreign minister is the highest official to attend presidential inaugurations.

“Usually, Presidential Inauguration Day protocol dictates there should not be any other heads,” he said.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, the first dignitary to arrive on Monday, will lead his country’s delegation.

A close friend of the Aquino family, Horta was also present during the interment of former President Corazon Aquino.

Maglaya said numerous countries and organizations have expressed interest to send an envoy to the inauguration.

“We have received a lot of requests from the international community to allow them to attend the inauguration ceremonies,” he said. 

“Confirmations were easy to secure from those whom we invited.”

A total of 110 seats at the Quirino Grandstand have been assigned for diplomats and foreign dignitaries, Maglaya said.

The south side seats are for diplomats and foreign dignitaries, the middle seats for Aquino’s family and relatives, and the left side for Binay’s family and relatives.

The seats behind them are for the Cabinet and friends of the president-elect and vice president-elect.

The United States will be represented by Trade Representative Ron Kirk. 

China’s delegation will be led by National People’s Congress Vice Chairman Yan Junqi.

Japan will send State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Osamu Fujimura and Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, who is also a close friend of the Aquino family.

The Holy See’s representative is Apostolic Nuncio to South Korea Osvaldo Padilla, a Filipino born in Sogod, Cebu.

Spain will be represented by Minister of Defense Enrique Mugica, and Jose Eugenio Salarich, director general for foreign policy for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Singapore will send Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo, while Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar bin Abaid Madani will lead Saudi Arabia’s delegation.

Brunei Darussalam will be represented by Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma, Cambodia by Minister of Information Khieuk Kanharith, and Indonesia by Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare H.R. Agung Laksono.

Other guests of ministerial rank are South Korea’s chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection Kim Hwang-Sik, Laos’ Chief of Cabinet to the President Souban Srithirath, Malaysia’s Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Senator Dato’ Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Thailand’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ongart Klampaiboon, and Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

Members of Parliament attending the inauguration include Australia’s Julie Owens, Canada’s Jim Abbott and New Zealand’s John Hayes.

The Organization of Islamic Conference will be represented by Assistant Secretary-General Samir Diab, while Peru will be represented by Ambassador to Indonesia Jorge Castañeda Mendez.

Representatives of international organizations attending the inauguration include the United Nations’ Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Babcock, Food and Agricultural Organization’s Kazuyuki Tsurumi, International Committee of the Red Cross’ Jean-Daniel Tauxe, International Labor Organzation’s Linda Wirth, and International Monetary Fund’s Dennis Bothman. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Rudy Santos, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jaime Laude