Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo-Aragon assumed the presidency of the ASEAN Ladies Circle of Los Angeles (ALCLA), for a term of one year, in a simple ceremony held recently at the Indonesian Consulate. Ms. Elga Sharpe, Chief of Protocol of the City of Los Angeles, administered her oath of office together with the members of ALCLA’s executive committee.  

The ALCLA presidency is rotated among the wives of the Consuls General or Lady Consul General of ASEAN member countries in Los Angeles.

Another highlight of the evening ceremony was the awarding of a check donation of ALCLA to the people of Bangladesh affected by the recent cyclone to Consul General Mohammed Abu Zafar of Bangladesh.

The ALCLA executive committee is composed of Consul General Mary Jo Aragon (Philippines)-President; Madam Kamolrat Boon-Long (Thailand)-Vice President; Madam Norzelah Mohd. Zakaria Anwar (Malaysia)-Patron; Madam Haryati Subijaksono (Indonesia)-Patron; Rowena Sierra (Philippines)-Secretary I; Wendy Wagner (Thailand)-Secretary II & Information Section Leader; Islina Ismail (Malaysia)-Treasurer; Ruzi Lindstrom (Malaysia)-Cultural Section Leader; Mahdiana Mosher (Indonesia)-Social Section Leader; Yvonne Paredes (Philippines)-Sports Section Leader.

Members of the executive committee pose after the induction.  From L-R:  Liza Salvador (Philippines), Yvette San Agustin (Philippines), Mahdiana Mosher (Indonesia), Wendy Wagner (Thailand), Madam Norzelah Anwar (Malaysia), Consul General Mary Jo Aragon (Philippines), Madam Haryati Subijaksono (Indonesia), Islina Ismail (Malaysia), Suaidah Bakhtiar Ahmad (Malaysia), Malee Muanraksa (Thailand), and Rowena Sierra (Philippines).  Not in photo: Madam Kamolrat Boon-Long, Ruzi Lindstrom (Malaysia), Yvonne Paredes (Philippines), and Rowena Namay (Philippines).

ALCLA is a non-profit organization. It was formed by the wives of the Consuls General of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine and Thailand on 8 May 1991 to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among ASEAN women and to acquaint its members and the general public with the ideals and aims of the ASEAN.  It holds regular gatherings among its members and friends to promote ASEAN friendship through socio-cultural and other related activities. # # #