The Philippine Embassy in Bangkok successfully hosted a reception for members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Thai public and private sectors, close friends and supporters of the Embassy, business contacts, and members of the Filipino community on 16 June 2014 at the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok.
The reception formally opened at 5 o’clock in the afternoon and promptly ended at around 8:00 p.m. One side of the entrance to the ballroom, on the approach to the receiving line, was festooned with an exhibit of colorful photos of Philippine festivals. Guests entering the ballroom were treated to this visual delight while being serenaded by a Filipino family band whose repertoire included Philippine pop music and traditional Filipino folk songs.
The guests included a member of the Privy Council, the exclusive body of advisors to His Majesty the King; the Chairman of the Thai Election Commission and two (2) of his Commissioners; representatives of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Head and Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Prayuth Chan-Ocha, the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, and the Air Chief Marshall of the Royal Thai Air Force; Deputy Commissioners of the Royal Thai Police; a former Deputy Prime Minister of the Yingluck Shinawatra government; the Chief Ombudsman of Thailand and the Secretary General of the Office of the Ombudsman; the former and incumbent Executive Secretaries of the UNESCAP; members of the diplomatic corps; officers of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and other business contacts; members of the print and broadcast media; and leaders of the Filipino community. Congressman Walden Bello of AKBAYAN Citizens’ Action Party was an honored guest at the reception.
In her National Day message, Ambassador Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia highlighted the past and present political and economic achievements of the Philippines. These include the recent signing of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, the Philippines’ active involvement in the realization of the ASEAN Community in 2015, increased bilateral trade, investment and tourism volumes between the Philippines and Thailand, recent upgrades in the country’s sovereign credit-rating by the world’s leading credit-rating agencies, and continuing attractiveness of the Philippines as a tourism destination and investment haven in Southeast Asia.
After delivering her National Day message and asking the guests to join her in ceremonial toasts to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and President Benigno S. Aquino III, Ambassador Batoon-Garcia invited the guests to partake of the delectable Filipino cuisine and treats such as adodo, lechon kawali, lumpiang sariwa, leche flan, halo-halo, and other delectable Filipino food, as well as taste the wine and beverages brought for the special occasion from the Philippines. END
(From left to right) H.E. Ambassador Luis Manuel Barrera de Sousa of Portugal; Thai Chief Ombudsman Mrs. Panit Nithithanprapas; H.E. Ambassador Chukwudi Newington Okafor of Nigeria; H.E. Mom Rajawongse Thepkamol Devakula; Khunying Kwanta Devakula; Ambassador Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia; H.E. Ambassador Robina Patricia Marks of South Africa; Khunying Kingkaew Uathavikul; Congressman Walden Bello; Charges d’ Affaires Francisco Fernandez of Timor-Leste; H.E. Ambassador Javier Becker Marshall of Chile; Mr. Apinan Pavanarit; and H.E. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood of Pakistan.
With the Chairman of the Election Commission Thailand (ECT), Mr. Supachai Somcharoen (2nd from left) and ECT Commissioner Dhirawat Dhirarojvit.
(From left) Group Captain Saravut Maolanon, Chief, Military Attaché Affairs Division, Royal Thai Armed Forces; Defense Attaché Colonel Reuben D. Basiao; General Chatree Changrien, Chief of Defense Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (official representative of General Tanasak Patimapragorn); Col. Wichai Chucherd, Deputy, Office of External Relations, Directorate of Joint Intelligence, Royal Thai Armed Forces, and his aide.
(From left to right) Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Undersecretary of the UN and Special Adviser to the UN SecGen for Timor Leste; Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, UN Undersecretary and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP; Royal Thai Army Col. Warakiat Rattananont (official representative of NCPO Head General Prayuth Chan-Ocha); Khunying Kingkaew Uathavikul; Mr. Apinan Pavanarit; and Congressman Walden Bello.
Ms. Sunantha Kangvakulkij, Executive Director, Bureau of Trade Negotiations Strategy of the Thai Ministry of Commerce, with Second Secretary Princess Tomas-Tayao (middle) and Trade Attaché Eric Elnar.
With executive officers of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
(From left to right) Minister Edgar Badajos, Filcom member Ms. Arlene Rafiq, Agriculture Attaché Ms. Anna Abejuela, Mr. Pong Visedraitoon (Chief Operating Officer for Aquaculture Business of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co. Ltd. or CF Food), Ambassador Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia, Mr. Pinij Kungvankij (Senior Vice President for Foreign Aquaculture Business Development of CP Foods), Mr. Virachai Ratanabanchuen (Chief Operating Officer for Domestic Trading of CP Foods), and Defense Attaché Col. Basiao.
Vice Consul Anna Marie Santos singing the Thai Royal Anthem and Philippine National Anthem.
Embassy group photo.
With leaders and members of the Filipino community in Bangkok.
Ambassador Batoon-Garcia (4th from right) with the officers of the Philippines Thailand Cultural Organization (PTCO) led by Mrs. Luzviminda Pama (3rd from right), PTCO President, and accompanied by Mr. Monton Chansiri (extreme right), Second Secretary of the Royal Thai Embassy in Makati.
