SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DAY – A RED CARPET EVENT
in PHILIPPINES
The South Africa Embassy in Manila hosted a sit down wine and dine event for 320 guests on 27 April at Sofitel Hotel, Manila to mark the 18th Freedom Day anniversary.
The event was hosted in collaboration with Gold Fields Philippines and Aerotel (representatives of South African Airways in the Philippines). The Philippines Foreign Affairs was represented by the Undersecretary for international and economic affairs, Ms Laura del Rosario. Guests included members of the Africa Diaspora; senior Philippine government officials; members of various Chambers of Commerce; representatives of the first two South African companies to invest in the Philippines, i.e. Gold Fields and Aspen Pharmacare and also representatives of Lepanto (partners of Goldfields) and members of the Diplomatic society.
Honorary Consul Vicente Carlos, Mrs. Vicky Assad and Ms. Nikki Jimenez
The event was vibrant thanks to the performance by two music groups, i.e. the current no. 1 Dinagyang Dancers from Iloilo Province of the Philippines and Baby M, thanks to the sponsorship of Gold Fields Philippines. Ambassadors also made their mark as they graced the stage and danced to the late Brenda Fassie’s songs. The Ambassadors’ dance was followed by a raffle which included a South African Airways Hong Kong return ticket and also 18 Baby M CDs courtesy of Gold Fields. The raffle brought a different and unusual vibe to the celebration. Each guest also received a protea flower as a memento to take home.
L-R: Mme. Denise Lillie, Ms. Hazel Stuart, Expat Insights Mr. Raju Madhyan,
British Ambassador H.E. Stephen Lillie and Commissioner for Climate Change Mr. Heherson Alvarez
L-R: Honorary Consul Evie Costa, Mme. Nadia Al-Batti, Mme. Sun Mi Kim, Mme. Tran Thi Lan, Mme. Marta Otero, Mme. Ulme Sarwat Razi
SA Embassy Manila, Philippines