CDM Fernandez pays courtesy visit on Hanoi embassy

HAnoi—philippine Sports Commission Commissioner and 31st Southeast Asian Games Chef de Mission Ramon Fernandez led a courtesy visit to Ambassador Meynardo Montealegre at the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam on Monday—the first full day of Team Philippines after their arrival at the Vietnamese capital late Sunday evening.

Montealegre and Fernandez discussed Team Philippines’ participation in the Games that offially open on Monday and end on May 23.

Fernandez thanked Montealegre for warmly receiving his team.

“We are very happy and grateful for your support to Team Philippines,” Fernandez told Montealegre.

Montealegre assured Fernandez that they are ready to support the team and reminded Fernandez that Team Philippines has a home in Hanoi.

According to Montealegre, the Filipino community in Hanoi is “very active” and that Filipino residents from as far as Ho Chi Minh and Danang have been inquiring about tickets to watch and support Filipino athletes.

There are around 7,000 documented Filipinos in Vietnam.

Fernandez turned over the list of members of the Philippine delegation for the embassy’s reference and to symbolize the delegation being under the care of the Philippine mission to Vietnam.

The PSC team is led by Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administration Merlita Ibay with Maria Luisa Ner, Caroline Tobias, Michelle Balunan, Sharon Llameda and Malyn Bamba as her staff. Fernandez’s wife Karla joined the visit to the embassy.

Deputy Chefs de Mission Carl Sembrano and Pearl Managuelod joined the first part of the Delegation Registration Meetings for Team Philippines which started on Monday and will be completed on Tuesday.