Considering the country as his second home, out-going Ambassador Thaung Tun of the Union of Myanmar said the other day that he and his family plans to stay here in the country once he retire from his colorful career as diplomat.
The ambassador, who will be Rangoon’s next ambassador to Belgium, was joined by his wife Madam Sandar Lwin in a quick 2-day vacation here on his final week in the country.
Thaung Tun said topping his lists of possible places to spend some time or live permanently is the city of the Hundred Islands and other coastal cities in the Visayas region.
The ambassador told Mayor Hernani A. Braganza during a courtesy call at the latter’s office that he was very surprised by the splendor of the city after watching Living Asia.
He said he became so interested about the Hundred Islands and I started to read more about the city through its official website.
Thaung Tun stressed “we could entice more tourists from other in Asian nations like Myanmar to visit Hundred Islands once an airport is built here.”
“(With an airport) Alaminos will soon become a gateway to other amazing places in this country,” he added.
“I think it will be good if we neighboring countries will have a cooperative effort in terms of tourism promotion, adding that Myanmar is also slowly working on it.”
The former Director-General of Political Department also expressed appreciation to the visions and programs of the Braganza administration for its natural wealth.
“I hope you will be very successful in your future endeavors for the city and more power to you,” the ambassador told the hardworking city.
Fascinated by the way the marine environment is being truly preserved, the ambassador even vowed to encourage sister city arrangement between Alaminos and key cities in his birthplace.
“When we come back, we are no longer after the beauty of the place but (more importantly) on the peoples’ warmth, the culture and Filipino food.”
The ambassador was the first member of the diplomatic community to visit the city this year and now part of the long lists of ambassadors experiencing the real Adventure Hundred Islands.
In 2006, Charge D’ Affaires of Embassy of Nigeria S.A. Dada Olisa and top Cambodian officials were also here for an eco-tour and team building.
Only last month, two more foreign dignitaries visited and saw the huge potentials of the city in areas of tourism, trade and commerce and agriculture.
Here to initially discuss sisterhood ties and investment ventures for Alaminos were Chinese consul Chen Lai Ping and His Excellency Ambassador His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Y.A. Al-Mutawaa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Qatar.
The city government is also set two welcome the top tourism officials of the Kingdom of Bhutan who will be having a study tour at the famous national park late this month.
Pundits say that the unprecedented influx of foreign tourists and envoys in the city was attributed by the sustained tourism promotions of the city and the timely visit of members of the diplomatic corps here in 2005.
It was on the same year that Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo granted the wish of the 85, 000 Alaminians- with the Hundred Islands National Park finally back to the arms of the Alaminos government.
Executive Order No. 436 was signed by the President giving full authority, control and supervision of the national park to the people of Alaminos. (CIO)