PRESS RELEASE
WDC-51-2023
03 November 2023
Embassy Press and Information Section
WASHINGTON D.C. – The ASEAN Spouses Circle Washington D.C. (ASC-DC), together with the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW), hosted the ASEAN Culture Day on 30 October 2023 at the Dean Acheson Auditorium of the U.S. State Department Harry S. Truman Building.
The Embassies of ASEAN member countries showcased the rich and diverse culture of the region through a range of performances. These presentations featured performances from Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
The program commenced with a warm welcome from Mme. Ayu Heni Rosan, the current President of the ASC-DC and the spouse of Indonesian Ambassador to the United States H.E. Rosan Roeslani. During the event, she formally transferred the Presidency of the ASC-DC to Mme. Tran Thi Bich Van of Viet Nam. Simultaneously, Mme. Bich Van transferred the Vice Presidency to Datin Seri Haflin Nazri Aziz of Malaysia for the year 2024.
Renowned Filipino-American tenor, Mr. Allan Palacios Chan, captivated the audience with a live vocal performance of the Kundiman titled “Mutya ng Pasig.” Kundiman is derived from the Tagalog phrase “Kung hindi man,” which translates to ‘if it weren’t so.’ It is a traditional Filipino love song or serenade which is typically characterized by their heartfelt and emotional lyrics, often expressing ones yearning for a beloved or homeland.
The event was graced with the presence of ASEAN Ambassadors to the United States and their spouses, US State Department personnel, and other members of the diplomatic corps.
The ASEAN Spouses Circle, Washington D.C. (ASC-DC) is an independent group created to complement the work of the ASEAN Committee in Washington D.C. (ACW) composed of ASEAN Ambassadors to the United States. It aims to forge an ASEAN identity amongst ASEAN members; strengthen friendship and solidarity among ASEAN members in line with a people-oriented ASEAN, committed to socio-cultural development; and to promote mutual understanding between ASEAN members and the American people. ###
