Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso (Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN) presents the painting to Executive Director Rezlan Jenie (right, background) and Former Foreign Minister of Indonesia Hassan Wirajuda (right, foreground).

10 April 2019 –Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso handed over a bayanihan painting as a gift to the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) Secretariat located in Jakarta, Indonesia.

During the simple handover ceremony, Ambassador Buensuceso highlighted that she found it very fitting to share this particular painting since the ASEAN-IPR, at its core, is about helping neighbors in times of need. This same spirit, she underscored, is very much aligned with the Philippine concept of bayanihan and is also reminiscent of "Gotong Royong", a term for ‘mutual aid' that is used in other ASEAN Member States, such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. 

The painting was graciously received by Mr. Rezlan Ishar Jenie, ASEAN-IPR Executive Director, and was witnessed by H.E. Hassan Wirajuda, Former Foreign Minister of Indonesia, and H.E. Artauli RMP Tobing, Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN-IPR Governing Council, during a simple handover ceremony at the ASEAN-IPR Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.