As part of the Philippine Embassy’s public diplomacy efforts to promote deeper people-to-people ties between Filipinos and New Zealanders especially among women and women’s groups representing different nationalities as well as highlight the vital aspects of Filipino culture and way of life, Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez hosted the officers and members of the Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association (Inc.) Wellington Area Group (PPSEAWA) at “Ang Bahay” (Philippine Ambassador’s Residence) on 18 May 2013.

PPSEAWA is composed of women from the Pacific and Southeast Asian regions who come together to promote greater understanding and friendship and engage in projects for the benefit of the children, youth and the local communities. Ambassador Benavidez warmly welcomed PPSEAWA’s Patron, Her Worship Celia Wade Brown, Mayor of Wellington City together with its President, Sylvia Finlay Rawle, Vice-Presidents, Dr. Gloria Hettige and Roz De Lambert, Treasurer, Teresa Hung, National President and Multi-Cultural Council Wellington (MCCW) Representative, Beryl Vincent, National Secretary and Board Member Lonie Martin, National Treasurer and Newsletter Coordinator Anne Penn, Past President and MCCW Representative Glenys Wood, National Vice-President, Life Member and Committee Member Annie Coates and seventeen members to “Ang Bahay” and shared with them the Philippines’ increasingly close friendship and cooperation with New Zealand and the Pacific island nations, the importance of forging deeper partnership with the ASEAN countries and the vital roles that women play in the well-being of peoples across the regions. PPSEAWA’s President Rawle steered the Meeting and Ambassador Benavidez presented Certificates of Appreciation to Beryl Vincent and Lonie Martin as Past Presidents and to Roz De Lambert, Teresa Hung, Joy Pearce and Kath Bell. The officers and members expressed appreciation to Ambassador Benavidez for the hospitality and the wonderful opportunity to gather in amidst the inviting atmosphere of a Filipino home and learn more about the Philippines and the Filipino people’s creativity and artistry.

During the lunch fellowship, Mayor Wade Brown spoke about Wellington’s International Relations Strategy and other projects that will further engage the diplomatic corps with communities and those that will provide opportunities for human resource development and key partnerships across various sectors in the capital city. PPSEAWA officers and members interacted with Mayor Wade Brown and Ambassador Benavidez and said that they would like to stay involved in activities and events that will contribute to Wellington City’s enrichment, dynamism and multi-faceted focus embracing unity in diversity. Mayor Wade Brown reiterated her appreciation, on behalf of PPSEAWA, for an afternoon to remember as they all admired the Filipino paintings, decorations and craftsmanship, the Filipino style of table setting and Filipino way of making guests feel special at “Ang Bahay”. They thoroughly enjoyed the Filipino gustatory delights of Vegetable and Chicken Binakol Soup in Pastry Shell, Pita bread with Red Pesto, “Ang Bahay” Caesar’s Salad, Chicken and Pork Adobo, Sizzling Shrimp Gambas, Fried Spring Roll, Tofu with Vegetables in Teriyaki Sauce, Fruit Salad in Ice Dome, Homemade Carrot Cake and Ginger “Salabat” Tea. Ms. Honie Adams rendered a beautiful Maori song as a way to show appreciation and support to everyone who attended the function and opened “Ang Bahay” for them.