Philippine Embassy Inaugurates The “Siazon Hall”
27 January 2017 – Charge d’Affaires a.i. Eduardo Martin R. Meñez led the inauguration ceremony of the “Siazon Hall” together with the spouse of the late Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon, Jr., Madame Kazuko Siazon. The ceremony was also graced by the presence of representatives from the Japanese government, business, the academe and diplomatic missions in Japan as well as friends of the late Secretary and Ambassador.
CDA Meñez, in his remarks, stated that “As we unveil the ‘Siazon Hall’ marker and enter the hall in a few minutes, let us remember as well that Honorable Siazon spent the best years of his professional life in this beautiful country. He found his way here in the early ‘60s as one of the first Filipino scholars in Japan, studying in the prestigious Tokyo University of Education… He was encouraged by his boss to take the Foreign Service Examinations, which he of course passed as one of only five persons who succeeded in 1966. His marriage to Madame Kazuko, a scion of a prominent Japanese family, only further cemented his love for Japan. The years he spent as a young diplomat… honed him to eventually become a policy expert, a skilled negotiator, a dynamic international figure as Director General of UNIDO for two terms and later on, to become the country’s first career diplomat to become Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the only two-time Ambassador to Japan.”
CDA Meñez and Madame Siazon officially unveil the “Siazon Hall” marker at the entrance of the Hall. (Photo by Mr. Mark Akim)
Madame Siazon, for her part, donated seven (7) pieces of Jack C. Salud paintings to be on permanent display inside “Siazon Hall.” Jack C. Salud is a leading proponent of pointillism in the Philippines who held two (2) exhibitions in Tokyo, first in 1999 at the newly-opened Embassy in Roppongi and second in 2006 during the celebration of the 50th Year of Philippines-Japan Diplomatic Relations. His paintings are known for being “colorful and bringing a relaxing mood to the eyes” and were part of Madame Siazon’s personal collection. END
Madame Siazon looks back at the life and career of her late husband, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon, Jr. and mentions her donation to the Embassy of some of the late Ambassador’s favorite paintings by Jack C. Salud. (Photo by Mr. Mark Akim)
