Ambassador and Madame Manuel M. Lopez Host ASEAN Christmas Get-Together in Tokyo
Ambassador and Madame Manuel M. Lopez (1st and 2nd rows, center) with guests (1st row, left to right) Philippine Embassy Minister Angelica Escalona, Madame Hadijah Hj Md Idris, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Madame Junko Yamazaki, (2nd row, left to right) Chief of Protocol Jun Yamazaki, Ambassador Chin Siat Yoon, Ambassador Mahamud Ahmad, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Jesus I. Yabes, Mr. Christian de Jesus of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Embassy Minister Josel Ignacio.
On 8 December 2014, Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan Manuel M. Lopez and Madame Maria Teresa L. Lopez hosted an ASEAN Christmas get-together at the Philippine Ambassador’s official residence, a historic building in Fujimi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Among the guests were Ambassador and Madame Mahamud Ahmad of Brunei, Ambassador Chin Siat Yoon of Singapore, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy of the United States of America and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Chief of Protocol and Madame Jun Yamazaki. Also invited was Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jesus I. Yabes, who is in Japan for an official visit.
Since their arrival in Japan in 2011, Ambassador and Madame Lopez have made it an annual tradition to host a Christmas gathering for colleagues in the diplomatic community in Tokyo. The Christmas get-together this year featured a traditional Filipino dinner, with Philippine culinary favorites such as lumpia, rellenong bangus and chicken adobo. After dinner, guests enjoyed listening to a selection of popular songs and Christmas tunes sung by an up-and-coming Japan-based Filipino musical artist, Warren de Luna.
(Left to right) Chief of Protocol and Madame Jun Yamazaki, Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Madame Maria Teresa L, Lopez and Ambassador Chin Siat Yoon
Ambassador Mahamud Ahmad and Undersecretary Jesus I. Yabes
Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez giving the toast.
Ambassador and Madame Manuel M. Lopez with US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy.
