Philippine Embassy In KL Spearheads International Charity Bazaar, Raises US$13,439

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur spearheaded the first International Charity Bazaar of the Association of Spouses of Diplomatic Missions (SOHOM), here, recently. The embassy in a statement Thursday said the one-day bazaar saw the participation of some 40 diplomatic missions in the country and raised around US$13,439 (RM60,000), which would go to a Malaysian charity organisation. According to the wife of the Philippine ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Rena Cristina Koa-Malaya, she was heartened with the reception from the SOHOM members, who took the challenge of staging a charity bazaar project during the Christmas season. "Truly, friendship and understanding among countries and people are enhanced not only through political cooperation and economic engagement, but also through people-to-people interaction, or in this case, a bazaar, where the proceeds will make life a bit better for its charity beneficiaries," she said. Also present at the bazaar held on Dec 7 were Siti Rubiah Abdul Samad, who is the wife of the Malaysian Foreign Minister, and Rohayazam Kamaruzaman, wife of the Foreign Ministry's secretary-general. -- BERNAMA