(Left photo) ASEAN Ladies’  Circle (ALC) President and ALC Philippines Patron Mdm. Maria Victoria Jose (center left) and Guest of Honor Ybhg. Datin Norlin Shamsul Bahri, Spouse of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and Overall Patron of ALC (center right), unhook the velvet ropes to signal the start of the ALC Fun Walk for a Cause.  They are joined by Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose (center), as well as the Ambassadors and ALC Patrons representing eight (8) ASEAN member nations. Behind them, an excited crowd of 336 people (right photo) prepare to cross the threshold and begin the walk.

12 November 2018 - Over three hundred thirty people from nine ASEAN member countries walked several kilometers to champion the causes of underprivileged women and children at the ASEAN Ladies’ Circle in Kuala Lumpur’s inaugural “Fun Walk for a Cause” held on 10 November 2018 at the Kuala Lumpur Botanical Gardens.

The Fun Walk for a Cause is a fund-raising project of the ASEAN Ladies Circle (ALC) in Kuala Lumpur under the leadership of ALC President Mdm. Maria Victoria H. Jose, who also serves as Patron of ALC Philippines being the spouse of Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose.  The event was organized by ALC Philippines and the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and supported by ALC Brunei Darussalam, ALC Indonesia, ALC Lao People’s Democratic Republic, ALC Malaysia, ALC Myanmar, ALC Singapore, ALC Thailand, and ALC Vietnam.

ASEAN Ambassadors and their spouses (ALC Patrons) show off their Finisher certificates at the end of the Fun Walk.

ASEAN Ladies Circle (ALC) President and ALC Philippines Patron Mdm. Maria Victoria Jose, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose (right, in teal), and Ybhg. Datin Norlin Shamsul Bahri, ALC Patron and spouse of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia (right, in fuschia) are flanked by the Ambassadors and Patrons from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.  Also present is YM Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, Deputy Secretary General for Bilateral Affairs,Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (center-right, in black).

In Mdm. Jose’s welcome remarks, she noted, “Aside from aiming to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and solidarity amongst women of the ASEAN community in Kuala Lumpur and encouraging cultural and social exchanges among its members, one of the main goals of the ASEAN Ladies’ Circle is to encourage the advancement of women and children in the ASEAN region in the fields of education, economics, and social standing.  It is for the latter objective that we have decided to target women and children as our beneficiaries of this Fun Walk.”

The proceeds from the Fun Walk will be donated to organizations that support women and children in need, namely the Malaysian Association for the Blind’s Assistance to Blind Children Center, the National Autism Society of Malaysia, and Global Street Mission’s Sarah’s Inn Women’s Rehabilitation Center and Precious Children’s Home for the Abused, Destitute, and Neglected Children.

Mdm. Jose also reminded the participants, “This is a Fun Walk, not a race.  It is meant to be enjoyed.”  Participants were not only able to exercise and mingle, but also collect tokens and gifts prepared by the nine participating ASEAN member countries as they pass through the designated country stations. Upon completion of the walk, participants received finisher certificates in addition to the tokens they have collected throughout the walk.

The event was graced by the presence of Guest of Honor Ybhg. DatinNorlin Shamsul Bahri, Spouse of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and Overall Patron of ALC.  Also in attendance were H.E. Dato Paduka Haji Alaihuddin bin Haji Mohamad Taha (Ambassador of Brunei), DatinHajah Mariani Haji Bongsu (Patron of ALC Brunei), Madam Sien Rusdi Kirana (Patron of ALC Indonesia), H.E. Houmdaophone Soukhaseum (Ambassador of Lao PDR), Madam Soutchay Soukhaseum (Patron of ALC Lao PDR), Datin Seri Hafipah Mohd Shah (Patron of ALC Malaysia and spouse of the Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), YM Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin (Deputy Secretary General for Bilateral Affairs of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), H.E. U Sein Oo (Ambassador of Myanmar), Madam Sanda Hlaing (Patron of ALC Myanmar), H.E. Vanu Gopala Menon (Ambassador of Singapore), Madam Jayanthi Menon (Patron of ALC Singapore), H.E. Narong Sasitorn (Ambassador of Thailand), Madam Chantana Sasitorn (Patron of ALC Thailand), H.E. Le Quy Quynh (Ambassador of Vietnam), and Madam Pham Thi  Hong Lien (Patron of ALC Vietnam).

For more information, visit the Embassy’s website at http://www.philembassykl.org.my or its official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PHinMalaysia/.