ASEAN Business leaders take time for tea with First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos

As Southeast Asia’s heads of state gathered in Jakarta during the first week of September, select guests from the region’s biggest businesses took the afternoon off to enjoy afternoon tea with Philippines First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos

It was a delightful afternoon filled with warm and friendly conversation as the First Lady joined the heads of the ASEAN private sector and their spouses for a delightful afternoon at The Peacock Lounge of The Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia last Sept. 5, 2023. Also present were some of the winners of the recently concluded ASEAN Business Awards.

ASEAN BAC Indonesia legacy project lead Pandu Sjahrir shares a light moment with the ladies of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN). Flanking Liza Araneta are KADIN vice chair Carmelita Hartoto (left) and Go Negosyo trustee Marissa Concepcion.

The event brought together leading personalities from the ASEAN’s business sector. Presidents and CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam enjoyed the afternoon as they took a break from the series of high-level meetings held as part of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. Indonesian harpist Regina Handoko provided the entertainment for the small gathering.

The event was hosted by Joey Concepcion, who heads the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines, and co-hosted by Arsjad Rasjid, chair of ASEAN BAC Indonesia. They were joined by the other chairmen of the ASEAN BAC, the organization which was set up to provide private sector feedback and guidance to boost the region’s efforts toward economic integration.

Liza Marcos (center) cheerfully stands for pictures with (from left) Vi Group CEO Kaydee Velasco, Bounty Fresh’s Carl Chung and Arif Rachmat and Yovel East’s James Amparo at the afternoon tea held in her honor in Jakarta, Indonesia last Sept. 5.

Seen at the event were Universal Leaf CEO Winston Uy, W Group founder Rosalind Wee, GCash president Martha Sazon, Lionheart Farms CEO Christian Moeller, Angkas CEO George Royeca, ASEAN BAC’s George Barcelon, Yovel East president James Amparo, WomenBIZ president Mylene Abiva, PT Andhika Lines president and KADIN vice chair Carmelita Hartoto, PT Unilever president Ira Noviarti, PT Pertamina president Nicke Widyawati, Sintesa Group president Shinta Kamdani, ASEAN Women Network chair Dyah Anita Prishapsari, Indofoods’ Axton Salim, Bank OCBC CEO Parwait Surjaudja, PLT Blue Bird president Noni Sri Ayati Purnomo, Ambassador Jayceelyn Quintana, and former Ambassador Delia Albert