The Embassy of Malaysia had its Family Weekend at Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro from 20 to 22 May 2011. The event was attended by His Excellency Dato Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of the Philippines, Madame Datin Seri Dato’ Zainab Abdul Kader; and more than 60 of the Embassy’s officers, staff and locally recruited staff (LRS); and their family members.
H.E. Ambassador and the entourage departed Makati City on 20 May 2011 to the port of Batangas to board the ferry to Puerto Galera. On the same day upon arrival at Puerto Galera, H.E. Ambassador, accompanied by three Embassy officers paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Jim Delgado, the town’s Vice Mayor.
The courtesy call was followed by a visit by H.E. Ambassador to the Muslim Community in Puerto Galera. As part of the Embassy’s Public Outreach Program, H.E. Ambassador also presented a donation of Yassin (prayer books) and Tasbih (prayer beads) at the local Mosque to the town’s Muslim Community.
In the evening of 20 May, H.E. Ambassador hosted a dinner in honour of the Vice Mayor at Luca’s Restaurant at Puerto Galera which was also attended by some of the town’s Municipal Officers; members of the Muslim Community; and the Embassy’s officers, staff, LRS and their families.
21 May saw the Embassy’s officers, staff, LRS and their families participate in various games at Luca’s Beach Resort such as tug of war, beach volleyball and sack racing. After lunch, the activities were more of an aquatic nature with snorkelling, jet skiing, banana boating and island hopping. Others just chose to relax by the beach with sun tanning and swimming by the resort.
Dinner on 21 May was followed by a Karaoke competition amongst the Embassy’s officers, staff, LRS and their families which was won by Mr. Shafieq, son of Ms. Sharimah Yusof of the Embassy with a melodic rendition of a modern Malay rock song. Dinner was also followed by the presentation of prizes by H.E. Ambassador and Madame Datin Seri to the many winners of the family games played in the morning.
H.E. Ambassador, Madame Datin Seri and the Embassy’s officers, staff, LRS and their families also took the opportunity to attend a concert at White Beach showcasing local talent on the night of 21 May.
After a morning of activities on the beach, H.E. Ambassador, Madame Datin Seri and entourage took the scenic ferry ride in the late morning of 22 May from Puerto Galera to Bantangas Port. From Batangas port, the group travelled by road back to Makati City.
The Embassy’s Family Weekend 2011 was a resounding success whereby the Embassy’s officers, staff, LRS and their families enjoyed themselves and bonded over the weekend as one large extended family. The participants returned to Makati from their weekend at Puerto Galera with fond and happy memories of the sun, sea, sand and great company.
Embassy of Malaysia
Republic of the
23 May 2011
