A series of cultural performances marked the 50th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) anniversary celebration yesterday at the new campus of the Philippine School of Doha (PSD) in Abu Hamour.
Groups of PSD student performers enthralled the crowd with traditional songs, dances, and shows. The event was attended by ambassadors and embassy officials from Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia; and hundreds of PSD students, teachers, and school officials. Students built a number of traditionally-designed booths to showcase the rich cultural heritage and uniqueness of each of the Asean countries to the visitors.
The programme also highlighted the flag-raising ceremony apart from the cultural presentations of each country staged by PSD students, and other group and individual performances.
Speaking at the event, Thailand ambassador and Asean Committee in Doha (ACD) chair Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum encouraged the youth to represent Asean by “striving to excel in their studies, work hard and show their talents.”
“This will be fully recognised, appreciated and impressed as the image of an Asean citizen,” the envoy stressed. He also urged them to extend their friendship with Qatari friends and other nationalities, and “bring them around to visit Asean countries and learn more about Asean way of life.”
The ACD has been exerting efforts to promote Asean in Doha by holding tourism events and activities. Chaiyindeepum congratulated PSD officials, led by its principal Dr Alexander Acosta, on the school’s 25th founding anniversary celebration scheduled next month, extending his well wishes for its achievement and success. In his speech, Philippine ambassador Alan Timbayan paid tributes to the people who laid the foundations of Asean and worked hard to achieve “its collective dreams and aspirations.”
“The entire Filipino nation joins our brothers, and sisters in Southeast Asia in reaffirming our commitment to Asean that works for positive change in the lives of our people – an Asean that is proactive, relevant and transformative,” he added.
Acosta echoed this statement saying the alliance continues to forge friendship that builds promoting diverse communities, idealisms, and beliefs grounded on the three pillars: political-security, economic and socio-cultural.
“PSD remains faithful and active in celebrating Asean’s founding anniversary,” he said. “This is not only to give our highest respect and admiration to our leaders whose efforts resulted in the formation of this alliance but also to assume our moral responsibility to keep our students well informed of the Asean’s very reason of existence as a community,” Acosta added.
Asean ambassadors lead the 50th Asean founding anniversary celebration at PSD yesterday.