The First ASEAN Family Day held in Abuja Nigeria

 THE FIRST ASEAN FAMILY DAY

The new Philippine ambassador to Nigeria, HE Nestor Padalhin launched the first ever ASEAN Family Day. A deeply religious and family-oriented man, Ambassador Padalhin, knowing the IMPORTANCE of the FAMILY as the heart of every nation, initiated this move to gather the ASEAN diplomats’ dependents for a Family Day where the dependents actually got involved, meaning they are the stars of the show! Most of them are of school age – so the obvious activity is a quiz bee both for primary and secondary levels (the monetary incentive is most welcomed!)

Ambassador & Mrs. Padalhin hosted this first event in their official residence. This dry run seemed well-received so there is a plan to expand for all the ASEAN communities to come together as one big family.

But, will there be a Family (Day) without the First Ladies?

 

The following report was submitted by the Philippine Embassy for The Migrants’ publications.

FIRST ASEAN FAMILY DAY IN ABUJA HELD AT PHILIPPINE EMBASSY OFFICIAL RESIDENCE, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

NOVEMBER 22, 2010. – The Philippine Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the First ASEAN Family Day in Abuja (AFDA) was held at the Philippine Embassy Official Residence on Saturday, November 20,2010 from 12:30PM to 4:00PM. The Embassies of Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam and the High Commission (Embassy) of Malaysia, together with their personnel and their dependents, participated in the event.

To enhance the ASEAN character of the event, each ASEAN diplomatic mission contributed at least one dish. Indonesia contributed chicken satay; Malaysia, curry puff, mutton curry, glass noodle salad and kutsinta; Thailand, fried fish with chili; and Vietnam, fried honey chicken and papaya fruit.. As organizer and host of the occasion, the Philippines prepared all drinks, escabeche, halaya ube, palitaw, and pansit.

As a special feature of the first AFDA, the first ASEAN Quiz Bee in Abuja (AQBA), with cash prizes (totaling US$400) generously provided by United Bank of Africa (UBA), was conducted. The following were the winners:

I.               Elementary Level

First Prize     (Naira 10,000)        Sheika Shaila Bacolod       (Philippines)

Second Prize (Naira   7,000)        Onochie Akah                   (Philippines)

Third Prize    (Naira   5,000)        Zikora Akah                     (Philippines)

II.            Secondary/High School Level

First Prize     (Naira 12,000)        Catherine Mabansag                   (Philippines)

Second Prize (Naira   8,000)        Nnamdi Adrian Akah        (Philippines)

Third Prize    (Naira   5,000)        Nik Ahmad Syahmi           (Malaysia)

In his brief Welcome Remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria, Honorable Nestor N. Padalhin, thanked the ASEAN Heads of Mission and their personnel for their cooperation, assistance and support which made the first ASEAN Family Day in Abuja (AFDA) a reality. In particular, he expressed sincere appreciation for the ASEAN First Ladies in Abuja for their hard work in the preparation of the different food/dishes. Through the AFDA, Ambassador Padalhin said, “our aim is to realize a more united and stronger ASEAN presence in Abuja, Nigeria.” END