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Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Foreign envoys welcomed in Dagupan
By Dino R. Zabala
MAYOR Benjamin S. Lim said the presence in Dagupan City of foreign ambassadors and other diplomats has made the city a "virtual United Nations".
Lim thanked the visitors for making Dagupan, known as the Bangus (milk fish) Capital of the World, "your official residence while you are here to join the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landing."
The VIP visitors, billeted at the Lenox Hotel last Saturday for an overnight stay, were given a red carpet welcome by the City Government.
"Tonight is a rare occasion for us since we seldom tender receptions for foreign diplomats. And also tonight, we will provide you with a barrio fiesta dinner and entertainment, as we would like you to experience our unique kind of hospitality," the mayor said during the welcome dinner held at the People's Park.
He added that historically, Dagupan City has been fortunate to have been at one time, the site of the headquarters of General Douglas McArthur where his bathtub, of all facilities, is yet well preserved, located at the West Central Elementary School.
Lim said for a fact, witnesses could testify that General McArthur landed at the city in 1945. And perhaps, few years from now, they too, might again come to celebrate the Lingayen Gulf Landing in Dagupan City, he said.
"But that is not the reason we have welcome you with a red carpet. We just would like you to take this opportunity to share light moments with you and to let you try for yourselves our grilled bangus which we insist to be the tastiest in the world," he said.
Lim also informed the diplomats that last year, the City captured the Guinness World Record for the world's longest barbecue grill extending to a total length of 1,007 meters and with the simultaneous grilling of 10,000 pieces of bangus.
Libyan Ambassador Salem Adam, who is the most senior among the visiting diplomats, expressed his thanks and appreciation for the "excellent reception and hospitality given them."
Adam said their trip to the city was educational and that he has learned a lot about Dagupan.
"We assure to you that we will not only just eat your tasty bangus, but we will also bring home your bangus to our respective countries," the Libyan ambassador stated.
The diplomats were delighted with the local food served during dinner wherein all of them ate grilled boneless bangus. They were also impressed by the songs and dances presented.
The University of Luzon Theater and Dance Company and Koro de Collegio de Dagupan provided the cultural presentations and entertainment.
The visitors were also shown an audio-visual presentation of the programs and projects the City Government has undertaken, including trade and investment opportunities.
Apart from Adam, ambassadors who also arrived in the city were Francis Joseph Ricciardone of the US, Yehoshua Sagi of Israel, Dinh Tich of Vietnam, Ryuichiro Yamasaki of Japan, and Christian Tanghe of Belgium.
Other foreign officials who attended the affair were Jennifer Van Trump, vice-consul of the US Embassy; Ruth Seizler, commercial counselor of Canada; Deputy Chief of Missions Shamma Tain-India; Mr. Sanusi of Indonesia; Meckham Silykhoune of Laos; Jim McMillan of New Zealand; Robert Bailey of the United Kingdom; Colonel Chris Burns of Australia; Navy Captain Dennis Williams of the US; and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) deputy resident representative Kyo Naka.
(January 11, 2005 issue)
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