40 years of diplomatic fellowship

(From left) US Consul General Donna Blair, Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa, Monaco Consul General and incoming consular corps Dean Fortune Ledesma, Tanzania Consul Betty Chua and Japanese Embassy Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission and outgoing consular corps Dean Tetsuro Amano.

The celebration of the consular corps’ Ruby Jubilee year, held at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La Hotel, was a success.

Guests were treated to a wonderful program, which included a special waltz number by some members of the consular and diplomatic corps, and numerous dignitaries from the diplomatic community, including ambassadors, eminent personalities of Philippine society and media friends.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and his wife Gretchen were the guests of honor at the event.

Monaco Consul General Fortune Ledesma gave her acceptance remarks as incoming Dean of the corps for 2016. She also presented outgoing consular corps Dean Tetsuro Amano, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan, with an Award of Merit for leadership of the corps in 2015.  An Award of Merit was also presented to Estonia Honorary Consul General Juan Peña as a co-founder and past Dean of the corps and for having chaired the annual Consular Ball for 32 years.

The top major donors of the ball included Auto Nation Group Inc. president Felix Ang and wife Grace; Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman emeritus and Peru Honorary Consul General Dr. Francis Chua and his wife Ball co-chair and Tanzania Consul Betty Chua; president of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association Arthur Lopez; and PeopleAsia publisher Babe Romualdez.

Consular Ball co-chair and Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa made the evening more exciting with a fantastic array of valuable prizes that were raffled off to lucky winners.

Congratulations to the entire Consular Ball committee on a very remarkable Ruby Jubilee celebration!

Greetings

Happy birthday to our celebrator today, Winnie Go.

Advance birthday greetings to Jayelles Holdings (Philippines) Inc. vice president Allan Litton and Gen. Ismael Villareal, Jan. 12; Conrad Calalang, Jan. 13; Dingdong Eduque, Jan. 14; FCCP’s Nena Casimiro, Jan.15.

So, how was your week?

(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)

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