AASC-091- 2019

ASEAN Women Circle of Los Angeles (AWCLA) Celebrates ASEAN’s 52nd Founding Anniversary

27 August 2019, Los Angeles – The ASEAN Women Circle of Los Angeles (AWCLA), led by its 2019 Chairperson and spouse of Philippine Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, Madame Catherine Amon Cruz, held a fundraising Bazaar in celebration of the 52nd Founding Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Consul General’s official residence in Arcadia, CA on 24 August 2019.

The 2019 ASEAN Women Circle of Los Angeles (AWCLA) Patrons and Committee Members (Photo Credits: Mr. Benjamin Ascue and Mr. Bobby Crisostomo)

Above (L): Mme. Catherine Amon Cruz, 2019 AWCLA Chairman and spouse of Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, delivers her welcome remarks during the 2019 AWCLA Bazaar. (R: from L-R) Consul General Cruz; AWCLA Patron Mme. Dyah Krisnawan of Indonesia; 2019 AWCLA President, Madame Catherine Amon Cruz; AWCLA Vice President, Madame Kamolpatr Pratoomkaew of Thailand; AWCLA Acting Patron, Madame Myint Myat Phyu of Myanmar; AWCLA Honorary Patron, Consul General Devrin Jeck of Malaysia and Consul General Tin Yu of Myanmar.

The Bazaar, which was organized by the spouses of the Consuls General of the ASEAN consular missions in Los Angeles namely, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, aims to promote the arts and cuisine of ASEAN, as well as to raise funds for AWCLA projects, including a monetary donation to a chosen charitable institution in Southern California. In her opening remarks, Mme. Cruz highlighted the invaluable friendship, which the association has nurtured throughout the years, enabling AWCLA to realize its mission and widen its network in the city of Los Angeles and beyond. She also extended her sincere appreciation to all her fellow Patrons and AWCLA Committee Members for their dedicated service, which has been instrumental to AWCLA’s success. Several booths were put up by the participating ASEAN consular missions in Los Angeles to showcase their country’s authentic cuisine, fashion, arts and handicrafts.

(Clockwise): Booths of the Consulates General of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand showcase their country’s authentic cuisine, fashion, arts and crafts during the 2019 AWCLA Bazaar.

Around 400 guests from the ASEAN community in Los Angeles, including members of the local government, consular corps, chambers of commerce, the business community and media in Los Angeles County attended the event. Filipino-American appointed officials who graced the event were Commissioner Cris Liban of the Board of Transportation of the City of Los Angeles and Commissioner Abraham Lim of the Investment Committee of the City of Montebello. The whole-day event was made even more festive with the dance presentations from Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar; cooking demonstration by Thailand; fashion show by Indonesia; and song renditions from the Philippines.

(L-R): Filipino singer Mr. Felson Palad regaled the guests with his rendition of the 2017 ASEAN theme song entitled, ASEAN Spirit; the Network of Myanmar American Association performs Myanmar Folk dance titled, Began Dance; Thai Chef Kanokkorn demonstrates the process of preparing Thongtai or Papaya salad.

(Above: L) Members of the Malaysian Community in Los Angeles perform Malaysia’s folk dance, titled, Dikir Barat Satu Malaysia; (R) Female members of the Indonesian Community in Los Angeles showcase the summer clothing collection of various Indonesian fashion designers in Los Angeles.

The Bazaar featured products from the Philippines’ Gawad Kalinga, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Mambo International Kitchen, Toto’s Lechon and Auntie Dee’s Pastries.

AWCLA was established on 08 May 1991, drawing inspiration from the ideals of ASEAN friendship and unity. It is a socio-cultural association of women composed of the spouses of the heads of mission, female members of the ASEAN consular corps and ASEAN community in Los Angeles. It aims to promote awareness about ASEAN as an organization, and people-to-people contacts through various activities. The Bazaar is one of AWCLA’s most important projects as it enables the Association to continue with its charitable work. Recipients of proceeds from AWCLA’s previous bazaars include The American Red Cross, Smile Train, and typhoon victims in the Philippines. END.