ANKARA, 08 September 2022 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara joined the ASEAN Ankara Committee (AAC) in celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 08 September 2022.
Ambassador Maria Elena P. Algabre (first row, leftmost), AAC Heads of Missions with Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General of Multilateral Political Affairs for Asia and Coordinating Ambassador for the Asia Anew Initiative H.E. Kezban Nilvana Darama Yıldırımgeç (third row, leftmost) and Director General for Southeast Asia and Pacific Region H.E. Esra Cankorur (third row, rightmost)
The ceremony was led by H.E. Apirat Sugondhabhirom, Ambassador of the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara and Chairperson of the AAC, at the Residence of the Indonesian Embassy. In his remarks, he underscored the friendship and partnership between ASEAN and Türkiye in areas of mutual interests, from tourism, renewable energy, science, and technology to trade and investment.
ASEAN flag-raising ceremony
H.E. Kezban Nilvana Darama Yıldırımgeç, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General of Multilateral Political Affairs for Asia and Coordinating Ambassador for the Asia Anew Initiative, graced the celebration as the Guest of Honor. In her speech, H.E. Yıldırımgeç said that this year marked the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-Türkiye sectoral dialogue partnership. She further remarked that the ASEAN, since its founding, had achieved remarkable economic growth and social progress while becoming the engine of peace and stability in South East Asia.
ASEAN Ankara Committee (AAC) Heads of Missions, representatives of Dialogue Partners, and officials from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The event was attended by Ambassadors and representatives of ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, Turkish government officials, members of the academe, the business sector, and the media.
The Philippine Embassy team led by Ambassador Maria Elena P. Algabre (second row, center)
After the program, guests sampled dishes from the ASEAN countries, including kalderetang Baka (a Filipino tomato-based beef stew) and ginataang halo-halo (a Filipino dessert made from glutinous rice flour balls and coconut milk).
(Left) Mr. Oliver S. Ong, Attaché, posing with his specialty, kalderetang baka, prepared for the event (Right) Mr. Ong and Ms. Sheila H. Solas, Attaché, preparing the ginataang halo-halo as Mr. Francis R. Villamin, Attaché, looks on
As part of AAC’s commitment to strengthening the relations between ASEAN and Türkiye, in the coming weeks, AAC and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs would organize several events and activities under the theme of “ASEAN Week” in the upcoming period to mark five years of relations. ##
