Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Spouses of the foreign ministers attending the five-day 40TH ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and 14th ASEAN Regional Forum got a glimpse of Philippine art and culture during a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila along Roxas Boulevard.
Rosie Lovely Romulo, wife of Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, led the ASEAN officials‘ spouses in a tour of the museum while their husbands were discussing regional issues.
Those who joined Romulo in the cultural tour were Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah (Brunei), Pacharin Pibulsonggram (Thailand), Datin Seri Sharifah Aziah Binti Syed Zainal Abidin (Malaysia) and Irene Ong, wife of ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong.
Eric Zerrudo, director of the Metropolitan Museum, accompanied the ASEAN officials‘ spouses during the tour that included a visit to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas gold gallery located at the basement of the Museum.
The gold gallery features a collection of gold adornments, ritual pieces and barter rings and pottery from the 8th to 13th century, including exquisitely woven gold belts, and a 4.9-meter long golden necklace, the biggest ever found in the country.
The spouses also got a chance to see some paintings and sculpture by famous names in Philippine art as they passed through the Damdam and Hidalgo collections
source: www.allheadlinenews.com (4 Agustus 2007)
