Aquino off to Brunei on Sunday for 'informal diplomacy'

MANILA - President Benigno Aquino III will engage in "informal diplomacy" by attending the royal banquet to be hosted by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei on Sunday for his newlywed daughter, Malacanang said.

"President Aquino will be attending the wedding of the daughter of the Sultan of Brunei. Given that it is important to continue to strengthen our relations with fellow Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, the President will be engaging in some informal diplomacy," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a message on Friday.

The President's Sunday trip to the sultanate is his second visit since he made an official visit to Brunei in June 2011.

While in Brunei, Aquino will be assisted by Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Nestor Ochoa, Philippine Minister and Consul General Raymond Balatbat and Philippine Minister and Consul Celeste Balatbat.

Princess Hajah Hafiza Sururul Bolkiah, 32, wed Haji Muhammad Ruzaini on Thursday. She is the fifth child of the Sultan and his wife Queen Saleha.

The President will be joined by leaders of Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand during the occasion. Other leaders and VIPs are also invited to grace the wedding ceremony.

Sunday's ceremonial wedding presentation will cap the weeklong celebrations in Brunei. (SDR/Sunnex)