Philippine Embassy in Tokyo Defends Championship in ASEAN Bowling Tournament
The Philippine Embassy defended its championship title for the fourth consecutive year at the ASEAN Committee in Tokyo’s (ACT) Bowling Tournament on 7 December 2019 in Tokyo hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy.
Before the tournament, ASEAN Ambassadors, including Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V, and representatives met with Mr. Norihiro Nakayama, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Masataka Fujita, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Japan Center (AJC), and reiterated ASEAN’s desire to continue close cooperation with Japan in all aspects of ASEAN-Japan relations.
ASEAN Ambassadors and representatives with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Norihiro Nakayama and AJC Secretary-General, Mr. Masataka Fujita
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Nakayama lauded the ACT for annually organizing the bowling tournament as a venue for ASEAN embassies and staff to build friendships. He enjoined everyone that, as with the goal of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to “leave no one behind”, the tournament should aim to “leave no pin behind”.
Together with the ASEAN Ambassadors and staff, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AJC also joined the tournament, with over 80 individual players in total.
After three rounds of games, the Philippine Embassy emerged as overall team champions, defending its title for the fourth consecutive year. The Royal Thai Embassy and the Indonesian Embassy bagged the second and third place, respectively.
Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V with the Philippine Embassy Bowling Team
The Philippine Embassy was also awarded in the following individual categories based on overall tournament scores: 1st Best Male Player, M. Rolando T. Salazar; 2nd Best Male Player, Mr. Mars Zafra, and 3rd Best Female Player, Ms. Marianita T. Llenos.
The Philippine Embassy’s win in the ACT Bowling Tournament comes on the heels of the overwhelming victory of the Philippines at the 30th South East Asian Games also participated in by ASEAN Member States and Timor Leste.
