PH envoy concludes chairmanship of Asean committee

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez formally concluded his chairmanship of ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) in a meeting attended by the Ambassadors and Charge’ d’ Affaires of the ASEAN missions in Seoul on Jan. 6.

Ambassador Hernandez remarked, “As the ACS chairman, I am proud to have represented my ASEAN counterparts despite having been, at the time of my arrival, one of the newest ambassadors in the ACS and in Seoul. In many ways, the chairmanship was nothing less than a baptism of fire, an abrupt introduction to the hectic pace of diplomatic life in the Republic of Korea.”

During the meeting, Ambassador Hernandez took the opportunity to thank all the Ambassadors and other representatives of ASEAN countries for their support and cooperation to all the activities organized by the Philippine Embassy as Chairman of ACS from July to December 2014. Highlighting the Philippine chairmanship of the ACS was the ASEAN- Korea Commemorative Summit held in Busan from Dec.11 to 12, 2014, which was attended by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, all the other heads of State, government of ASEAN Members States and President Park GeunHye of South Korea.

“I consider having fulfilled my duties in the chairmanship of the ACS a great honour for myself personally and for the Philippines,” Ambassador Hernandez concluded.

The meeting was capped with a farewell luncheon in honor of Singapore Ambassador Peter Tan, whose four-year tour of duty will end in January 2015.

Ambassador Hernandez turned over the ACS Chairmanship to Myanmar Ambassador U SoeLwin.