A record 22 ambassadors gathered in Manila this week for THEPHILBIZNEWS Embassy Night – Year 5, marking the strongest diplomatic attendance in the annual advocacy event’s history and underscoring its rising profile in the international community.
Hosted by Hotel Okura Manila, the fifth Embassy Night brought together leaders from the diplomatic, business, and media industries for an evening that celebrated “the spirit of camaraderie, collective efforts, and continued progress.”
In his opening spiel, host and former broadcast journalist Bruce Rodriguez set the tone by acknowledging “22 of their Excellencies who have graced us with their presence for the Embassy Night – Year 5,” representing countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Among the ambassadors present were envoys from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Beyond the ambassadors, representatives from a total of 25 embassies in the Philippines also attended, highlighting the event’s reach as a platform for dialogue on trade, investment, and cooperation.
Led by its Founder and Publisher, Monsi Alfonso Serrano, THEPHILBIZNEWS “has been at the forefront of delivering stories of progress in both diplomatic & business communities” and “remains the voice of diplomacy and investment in the Philippines.”
One of the evening’s main highlights was the presentation of the “Alab ng Likha: Parangal Sa Pambansang Sining” to renowned Filipino artist Popoy Cusi.
The citation recognized his “outstanding achievements in the international arts, including his twice-earned distinction in Who’s Who in International Art (Les Grande et Nouveaux Noms du Monde Artistique d’Aujourd’hui), Switzerland” and his “exceptional contributions to THEPHILBIZNEWS Embassy Night, creating commemorative artworks over the past three years that elevate the event with his distinctly Filipino artistry — at once quiet and evocative.”
The award was presented by Serrano together with Swiss Ambassador Nicolas Brühl.
As a token of appreciation, each guest received a commemorative mug designed by Cusi, “highlighting the Filipino fiesta game, palo sebo,” as THEPHILBIZNEWS marked its own “fiesta” for its 5th anniversary.
The program also featured the launch of the book “Lessons from the Pandemic,” written by Monsi Serrano and edited by Professor Danton Remoto. The book is “timely; it can serve as a guide to how the Philippines may face and adjust to another global crisis — this time brought by the war in the Middle East,” host Rodriguez said.
Three ambassadors took turns sharing insights on their countries’ partnerships with the Philippines and the European Union’s development agenda: Ambassador Christian Lyster of Norway, Germany’s Ambassador Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, and EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro.