Office of the President of the Philippines Malacanang

August 13, 2007

Dear Supreme Master Ching Hai,

Thank You so much for Your heart in supporting the ASEAN Performance & Media Arts Workshop on mobilizing Cultural Diversity for the UN Millennium Development Goals. It was successfully held. The 2-week intensive program from July 26 to August 8 saw very fruitful inter-disciplinary, inter-cultural, inter-faith encounter among selected artists from the 10 ASEAN countries. We especially appreciate Your sending the Supreme Master Television crew to cover the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN that was held from the Department of Foreign Affairs to St. Paul University for the Mini Arts Fest showcasing the results of their performance and media arts creations. It was wonderful to see different countries modeling how arts can be a catalyst for unity, synergy and harmony. They came up with very inspiring creative goods that mirrored the wealth of their cultural traditions and their concern to confront social problems with hope to overcome poverty and other social ills that can be resolved particularly with partnerships and education for all.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association was most certainly a vital partner in realizing this dream. What was especially significant is ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong came to Sining Gising TV Show to personally congratulate the participants to express the vision of this significant and historic project and is concern to have it as a beginning for a continued effort. The ASEAN focus was the opening of the CineManila international Film Festival. Prince Chatri of Thailand’s epic shown for the first time outside Bangkok was a wonderful display of pride of habitat, heritage, history and language.

We are happy that You sent Chairman Lin to represent You and speak on Your behalf. He was warmly applauded by the participants as a gesture of recognizing the value of Your support to make this dream come true. We told them that You were an artist Yourself besides being a spiritual leader. We thank You for all the gifts that were given to the participants and the staff and as a little exchange of appreciation, we are sending the T-shirts that were done, including the logo of Supreme Master Television for helping provide a face of the ASEAN culturescape to the global stage. Again, our warmest gratitude for Your concern to profile the best of the cultural traditions of ASEAN.

With appreciation, affection and esteem

Cecile Guidote Alvarez

PA for Culture / Executive Director-NCCA

P.S. My husband and Joe Lad send their regards. Let us know when You plan to come, so the program intended for You can be duly executed when You visit Manila.