WASHINGTON, DC – Over 100 members and guests of the ASEAN Women’s Circle Washington DC (AWC-DC) attended the general assembly hosted by the Philippine Embassy here.
The AWC-DC members met at the social hall of the Philippine Embassy Chancery annex building late last month.
Datin Rafiah Arif (Brunei Embassy), Madame Reshanty Bowoleksono (Indonesian Embassy), Madame Siti Nooriah Ab Razak (Malaysian Embassy), Madame Kay Thi Kyi Win (Myanmar Embassy), Madame Wanchana Manawapat (Thai Embassy), Madame Hoang Bich Lien of (Viet Nam Embassy), and acting AWC-DC President Madame Soumaly Sayavongs (Lao PDR) were all present during the annual meeting.
Philippine Embassy’s Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim, Minister Patrick Chuasoto expressed the Philippines’ gratitude to all the AWC-DC members for their support and contributions to the 2016 AWC-DC activities spearheaded by 2016 AWC-DC President Madame Vicky Cuisia, and requested AWC-DC’s continued cooperation as the Philippines assumes the Chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
“The implementation and success of the 2016 AWC-DC activities would not have been made possible without the commitment and invaluable support of the Mesdames, the Country Coordinators and the members,” Chuasoto said.
“We have counted the AWC-DC members as friends. May this friendship flourish even beyond our tour of duty in Washington, DC,” Chuasoto added.
Prior to the general assembly, AWC-DC’s Executive Committee also met and elected its new set of officers for 2017.
Madame Reshanty Bowoleksono of the Indonesian Embassy was elected as the 2017 AWC-DC President while Madame Sovanntevy Run of the Cambodian Embassy was elected as Vice President. Myanmar and Philippines will continue as the lead for finance and documentation, respectively.
“I need your support and your suggestions on how we will do our activities this year. I hope that everybody is happy and that everybody can enjoy this year as much as we enjoyed last year with the Philippines’ presidency,” Madame Reshanty said in addressing the AWC-DC members.
Madame Soumaly, AWC-DC’s acting President, congratulated Madame Reshanty and expressed appreciation to the AWC-DC country coordinators and members for their continued support when she took over the presidency in the second half of 2016.
The general assembly’s program included a video presentation documenting AWC-DC’s 2016 activities, a cultural dance presentation from Myanmar entitled “Apyo Daw Yein,” a sumptuous lunch showcasing cuisines from each member country, and a raffle with a grand prize of a round-trip ticket to the Philippines courtesy of Philippine Airlines.
The Philippine Embassy’s hosting of the AWC-DC’s Annual General Assembly was organized with the generous support of the New York offices of the Philippine Department of Tourism and Philippine Airlines.