It was, indeed, an honor to receive an invitation from the Honorary Consul of Mexico, Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde, to attend the Regional Ambassador Club of Davao’s Induction Ceremonies held last February 29, at the ballroom of the Acacia Hotel along Bajada, Davao City. It was my first time to attend an Ambassador Club special event which I am not familiar with.
“The Ambassador Club Philippines was established in March 31, 1987, when three Regional Ambassador Clubs were organized with the Regional Ambassador Club of Manila being the first. There are presently seven Regional Ambassador Clubs in the country: Davao, Ladies Circle, Quezon City, Metro South, Pasay City, Rizal and Manila. The members are professionals who take responsibility in their professions and social life; who hold their opinion founded on fact and tolerate the opinion of others and their social, cultural and religious ties,” informed the National Ambassador Club President for the year 2020, Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde.
“Members of the Ambassador Club show interest in getting to know people, to meet them open-minded and impartially, and offer them camaraderie. The Club fosters the development of one’s personality as well as those of others in private and professional fields. Club members stand by each other and help each other. We invite people who enjoy the club life and who appreciate warm social relations with others who are like-minded,” said the oh, so friendly Cherry Faye Banquil Al-ag who serves as the Club’s secretary.
The event was well-attended by professionals who were garbed in formal attires: the men in Barong Tagalog while the women wore Filipiniana attires.
The delegates from Malaysia were in their traditional batik shirts; and so was Angie Angliongto who was in a red batik shirt. Chinese Consul General Li Lin looked dapper in his suit while the Honorary Consul of Germany, Klaus Doring, was comfortable in a black-colored polo barong with white embroidery. Past National Ambassador Club President Leoncio Villa-Abrille looked dashing in a handsome piña barong Tagalog as he greeted former Japanese Consul Tomoko “Sophia” Dodo who attended the event in a summery floral outfit. From among the lady Ambassadors, as all members, male or female, of the Ambassador Club are addressed as “ambassador,” it was Amb. Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde who was the best dressed in an emerald-colored terno top matched with a Mindanaoan woven fabric for her skirt.
The new officers of the Ambassador Club of Davao who were inducted by National Ambassador Club President Amb. Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde were Amb. Arturo Milan (President), Amb. Bernard Benedicto (Vice President), Cherry Faye Banquil Al-ag (Secretary), and Amb. Pamela Pitts (Treasurer).
The Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. was the Club’s guest of honor and speaker who was introduced to the members and the guests by the Ambassador of Club Davao’s Vice President Bernard Benedicto. Oh yes, DOT USec. Art Boncato wore a Mindanaoan inspired polo barong by veteran fashion designer Alfonso “Boy” Guino-o no less.
DOT USec. Art Boncato inducted the officers of the National Ambassador Club of the Philippines namely Amb. Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde (President), Amb. Johnny Domino (Vice President), Amb. Peter So (Secretary), Amb. Victoria Fox (Treasurer), and Amb. Chris Marquez (PRO).
On the other hand, the new officers of the Ambassador Club of Davao who were inducted by National Ambassador Club President Amb. Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde were Amb. Arturo Milan (President), Amb. Bernard Benedictor (Vice President), Cherry Faye Banquil Al-ag (Secretary), and Amb. Pamela Pitts (Treasurer).
In attendance as well during the induction of officers were Ambassador Club of Quezon City Amb. Rogelio Garcia, Ambassador Club of Metro Manila President Amb. Dexter Quintana, Amb. Maria Belen Acosta, International Ambassador Rufino Antonio Mijares, Amb. Antonio Ajero, to mention some.
For those who want to become a member of the Ambassador Club who may be of any adult age and of any profession, please check the internet address www.ambassadorclub.org.
