Phl-Vietnam friendship association organized

A group of professionals, representatives from various sectors of society and from the academe, have recently formed a Philippine-Vietnam Friendship Association to “cement further our historical and cultural bond with Vietnam and cultivate further our friendly relation and business reciprocity.”

Co- founder Eddie Ilarde, a former senator and practicing mediaman, in his letter to the Vietnam ambassador to the Philippines said that “the great country of Vietnam and our country have auspiciously began mutually profitable commercial endeavors and in that spirit we hope to contribute our talents in cementing this people to people fellowship for lasting friendship.”

In his response, ambassador to the Philippines Troung Trieu Duong said: “We welcome your proposal which undoubtedly would strengthen the ties between our countries. We also consider the establishment of a Viet Nam – Philippine Friendship Association and together we work hand-in-hand for true friendship and mutually productive endeavors.”

“Vietnam and our country can look back to centuries of friendly relations transcending ideologies and cultural differences. As Southeast Asians, we share similar historical events in our struggle for freedom and foreign incursions,” Dr. Gonzalo Jurado, a former United Nations consultant said. Businessman Luis Arriola, editor and publisher of Asian Times for his part said that “thousands of Vietnamese expatriates in the Philippines welcome this opportunity to contribute their share in projects that shall redound to both our country’s welfare.” “We also envision successful cultural and educational exchanges between Manila and Hanoi in the near future,” former

Manila Times editor-in-chief Alfredo de la Rosa added.

Co-founder and members of the board of directors of the association aside from Sen. Ilarde are: Dr. Gonzalo Jurado vicepresident of Kalayaan College, Alfredo de la Rosa, editorial consultant of the

Manila Times, Ernesto Banawis, freelance PR practitioner, businessman Luis Arriola, president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Prof. Ricardo Wagan, president emeritus of the Laguna State Polytechnic University, Atty. Rod Domingo Jr., Atty. Luis Ma. Uranza and Victoria Orara.