New Australia Ambassador Steven Robinson AO and wife Rhonda hosted their first Australia Day reception at Makati Shangri-La. The ballroom was filled with Manila’s political, business and social leaders.
Joining the ambassador for the traditional toast were Foreign Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre of the Office of Asia and the Pacific, and Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia. Senior cabinet officials and secretaries also attended.
In his remarks, Ambassador Robinson highlighted the broad partnership between Australia and the Philippines, in defense, security, law enforcement, trade, business, education, development assistance and disaster preparedness.
Trade is also part of the ambassador’s priority, and the many Australian businesses were represented that evening, including a showcase of the best Australian wine, cheese and coffee. —CONTRIBUTED
Australia consul general Darran Roper, Erin RoperHungary Ambassador Jozsef Bencze, European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen, United Nations resident coordinator Ola AlmgrenAustralia consul Gavin Evers, Kim EversAustralian embassy first secretary for development cooperation Francesca Lawe- Davies, Australia deputy head of mission Mat KimberleyAustralia defense attaché Capt. Ian Gold, Kim WhitneyPapal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Australia Ambassador Steven Robinson AO, Foreign Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre of the Office of Asia and the PacificAlex and Marixi Prieto, Australia second secretary Ben EsguerraReni Sanchez,Mexico deputy chief of mission Ricardo Sanchez, Sirintra Ruangprateepsaeng of ThailandDefense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, US Ambassador Sung Kim, Thailand Ambassador Vasin RuangprateepsaengMonaco consul general Fortune Aleta-Ledesma, Australia Ambassador Steven Robinson AO, Rhonda RobinsonJapan Ambassador Koji Haneda, Ihoko HanedaGambia consul Agnes Huibonhoa,Angola consul Helen Ong, Ambassador Antonio Villamayor, Fobap president Robert YoungBangladesh Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Adriana Ureta, Argentina Ambassador Jose Nestor Ureta, South Africa Ambassador Martin SlabberVietnam Ambassador Ly Quoc Tuan, Lilia de Lima, Korea Ambassador Han Dong-manAustralian embassy liaison officer Benjamin Stevens, second secretary and consul Kathryn Hammond, second secretary defense in Manila warrant officer Peter McGarry
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