Manila celebrates 皇冠体育app Queen's 90th birthday
皇冠体育app British Ambassador hosted an event to mark 皇冠体育app Queen's Birthday, 70 years of UK-Philippines relations and 400 years of Shakespeare.
It was A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream in June as British Ambassador Asif Ahmad hosted a Shakespeare-themed event at the British School Manila in honour of Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 90th birthday.
It was a triple celebration as the British Embassy also marked 70 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and the Philippines and 400 years of William Shakespeare鈥檚 life.
Ambassador Ahmad and his partner Kim del Mundo arrived in a sleek Bentley Mulsanne. As they made their way through the red carpet they stopped by the decorative displays by British companies Arup, Aston Martin, Bentley, Dyson, Etihad Airways, HSBC, Jaguar Philippines, JCB, Marks & Spencer, MINI, Pru Life UK, Quorn, Shell, Standard Chartered, STI, Twinings, Unilever (Magnum Ice Cream) and Whyte and Mackay (Dalmore), as well as participants British Chamber of Commerce Philippines and the British Council.
Repertory Philippines actors clad in fairy-inspired costumes and Elizabethan wear welcomed VIPs into the venue filled with lush foliage reminiscent of scenes from the Bard鈥檚 famous play. A display of iconic commemorative coins featuring 皇冠体育app Queen and William Shakespeare adorned the stage. 皇冠体育app Manila Philharmonic Orchestra provided the entertainment which completed the ethereal ambiance.
Onstage for the traditional toast were the Ambassador, Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Giuseppe Pinto, with Deputy Ambassador Nigel Boud as Master of Ceremonies. Among those that joined the celebration were Vice President-Elect Leni Robredo, Senator-Elect Risa Hontiveros, Senator Sonny Angara, Peter Coyiuto of PGA Cars, Wellington Soong of Jaguar/Land Rover and Former President Fidel V Ramos.
Asia鈥檚 best female chef Margarita Fores served a delightful assortment of British favourites, among them Scotch Eggs, Shepherd鈥檚 Pie, Fish & Chips, Yorkshire Pudding and Eton Mess.
鈥淗ere in the Philippines when good friends meet, we like to eat, drink and be merry,鈥� the Ambassador concluded. 鈥淎nd to that sentiment, I add a famous Shakespeare line: If music be the food of love, play on.鈥�
Read the full transcript of the British Ambassador鈥檚 speech here.
Photos of the event may be found on the .