The Embassy of the Philippines concluded its Chairmanship of the ASEAN Brussels Committee (ABC) in a meeting held at the Chancery on 25 June 2020. The chairmanship covered the period January to June 2020 and rotates every six months among the heads of the ASEAN diplomatic missions in Brussels.

The Philippine chairmanship of the ABC by Ambassador Eduardo José de Vega has been a unique experience as over half of it covered the period of the unprecedented lockdown due to COVID-19. Consequently, the Embassy arranged the first ever videoconference meeting of the ABC last 28 May 2020 to enable the ASEAN Heads of Missions to continue working on their common concerns such as developments in ASEAN-EU relations, updates on cooperation and trade agreements and the EU-led response to the pandemic.

Present during the meeting were H.E. Ambassador Abu Sufian Haji Ali of Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Ambassador NOM Piseth of Cambodia; H.E. Ambassador Yuri Octavian Thamrin of Indonesia; H.E. Ambassador Phoukhong Sisoulath of Laos; Chargè d’ Affaires a.i. Mme. Prisheela Prakas of Malaysia; H.E. Ambassador Soe Lynn Han of Myanmar; H.E. Ambassador Jaya Ratnam of Singapore; H.E. Ambassador Manasvi Srisodapol of Thailand; and H.E. Ambassador Vu Anh Quang of Vietnam.

At the face to face meeting, due consideration was given on social distancing measures. Ambassador de Vega thanked the ASEAN Heads of Mission for their cooperation and active participation during his chairmanship as he handed over the ABC chairperson’s gavel to Ambassador Jaya Ratnam of Singapore.A Plaque of Recognition was also presented to Ambassador Yuri Octavian Thamrin of Indonesia who is ending his tour of duty in Belgium at the end of the month.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Post also arranged a special program to make the ABC chairmanship turn-over ceremony more meaningful and memorable, featuring Post’s very own soprano singer, Ms. Mary Madeleine Denopra, and Cultural Officer Liza Jane Estalilla as piano accompanist, who gave a rendition of Pilipinas Kong Mahal, followed by Singapura Oh Singapura in honor of the incoming Chairmanship, and finally the ASEAN Hymn, marking the ending of the successful ABC Chairmanship by the Philippines despite the challenges of the pandemic and ensuing confinement measures.

Concluding the meeting, Ambassador de Vega stated simply, ”It has been a pleasure to serve as your Chairman. Not even the COVID-19 virus can break our bond. This is the ASEAN Way.”

Philippine Ambassador Eduardo José A. de Vega holds his last meeting as Chairperson of the ASEAN Brussels Committee (ABC) at the Chancery’s Bulwagan ng Mga Pangulo on 25 June 2020. 

Ambassador Eduardo José A. de Vega handing over the ABC chairperson’s gavel to his successor, Ambassador Jaya Ratnam of Singapore.

Ambassador Eduardo José A. de Vega presenting the Plaque of Recognition to Ambassador Yuri Octavian Thamrin of Indonesia who is ending his tour of duty in Belgium on 3 July 2020.

The ASEAN Brussels Committee (ABC) Members in the their ASEAN solidarity pose cum social distancing

The ASEAN Heads of Mission with Brussels PE’s support team at the conclusion of the ABC meeting held at the Chancery’s Bulwagan ng mga Pangulo on 25 June 2020