The recent 48th  Consular Ball, an annual event that Manila's 400, diplomats, business tycoons and denizens of glamourlandia always look forward to, was a sparkling success — thanks to the indefatigable commitment of the three lady consuls, leading lights of the diplomatic circle, namely Monaco Consul General Fortune Ledesma, Zambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Ghana Consul Betty Ang, who made sure it would be well-attended, its raffle prizes worthwhile for guests to stay and dance the whole night and the food, delectable and elegantly presented.

The highlight of the evening, though, wasn't the spectacle of beauty and high fashion that the distinguished attendees possessed, but the traditional annual passing on of the torch of leadership from one dean of the consular corps to the next.

It was a most admired speech that the incoming dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Jesus Pineda, Honorary Consul of Fiji, delivered one that underscored his appreciation not just of his new title, but his "commitment to fostering strong diplomatic ties, promoting international cooperation and serving our respective countries with dedication and integrity."

He talked to the members of the Consular Corps "for entrusting me with this role, as we embark on a journey to strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding between nations. Our collective efforts will play a pivotal role in addressing shared challenges and promoting mutual prosperity."

Of this noteworthy organization of consuls, he spoke of its "long-standing tradition of excellence" while committing himself to "uphold the values and principles that have guided us throughout the years
— integrity, professionalism, transparency, accountability and dedication to service."

Finally, he pointed out, "In our interconnected world, the importance of diplomacy cannot be overstated. It is through dialogue and collaboration that we can address the challenges and opportunities that we face as a global community. Our role as consuls goes beyond simply promoting the interests of our respective nations; it is also about building bridges, fostering understanding and finding common grounds."

On his part, the outgoing dean, Spain Consul General Javier Martin Garcia, underscored the "prominent role of the Consular Corps of the Philippines, an unparalleled one that, since its foundation in 1971, has served as a privileged forum for consultation and exchange of information and ideas between the diplomatic community in Manila, and an exceptional cast of representatives of the Philippine civil society.

He pointed out, "The CCP displays its activities on various fields, all being equally important and useful — sharing experiences and best practices in consular matters, improving the efficiency of consular assistance to our respective compatriots and debating current issues on the evolution of the international scene, always with a careful look at the Indo-Pacific region."

Furthermore, he stressed "how useful our meetings are to strengthen professional and personal contacts and to deepen our knowledge of the Philippines reality, an essential task for all diplomats." 

Finally, he reiterated "our enduring commitment to supporting the education sector in the Philippines, and we have contributed to starting the construction and development of a special training laboratory for the Parañaque City College student scholars, thus strengthening our long-lasting partnership with this institution."

Throughout the night, a most visible lady on and off the stage was Consul Fortune who, at the outset, shared: When I look back on this year, I am especially moved by how the Consular Corps of the Philippines has made the most of every opportunity to animate its vision and mission, culminating in this occasion tonight."

Addressing the distinguished guests, she said, "your presence is an assurance that you are one with us in striving to promote unity and harmony among all. 

She concluded her welcome remarks by thanking the indefatigable Ball Committee whose members have given their time and talent to bring an unforgettable night, namely her co-chairpersons Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Ghana Consul Betty Chua, and the members of the committee: Belgium Consul Fabio Pompetti, Costa Rica Consul General Fausto Preysler, Czech Republic Consul Jan Krivos, Vice Dean, Fiji Consul Jesus Pineda Jr., Georgia Consul Caroline Lising, Italy Consul Antonio Gallo, Liberia Consul Nina Mangio, Montenegro Consul Vanessa Ledesma, Syria Consul General Issam Eldebs and Sri Lanka Consul William Chen.