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From January 15 to 17, friends and alumni of the East-West Center (EWC) and the East-West Center Association (EWCA) will converge at the Manila Hotel for their biannual conference.

Themed 鈥淏ridging Diverse Cultures Towards an Inclusive Asia Pacific Community,鈥� the three-day event will present its alumni an opportunity to reconnect with old acquaintances and meet new friends.

President Benigno S. Aquino III is also expected to attend the event at 2:00 p.m. on Friday to deliver his keynote address before the conference.

The EWC is an organization dedicated to fostering increased cooperation and understanding between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.

EWCA Philippine Chapter president Ramon L. Clarete welcomed the guests during his opening remark.

鈥淢abuhay! Welcome to Philippines, and we鈥檙e very proud to welcome you here to host the 16th International Conference of the East-West center and the East-West Association.鈥�

Clarete hoped that the guests will find the conference to be not just informative and helpful, but also an opportunity to 鈥渞each out to old friends who have not seen each other for several decades.鈥�

鈥淭his is a momentous event for us, having you here at the Manila Hotel for the next few days,鈥� Clarete added.

The Philippine Chapter of the EWCA is hosting the three-day conference.
East-West Center Board of Governors Chairman Rick Tsujimura gave a glowing account of their reception in the country.

鈥淲e are blessed by the hospitality and friendliness of the people of Manila. They are truly pearls of the orient.鈥�

With 43 chapters present at the conference, EWCA President Edward J. Shultz could not help but comment on the growing diversity of the organization.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking more and more like the United Nations,鈥� Shultz quipped. IDL