Friends are always a cause for celebration. This time, we celebrate our friends from Malaysia and Thailand! I was honored to join the special days for these two mighty nations.

Malaysia's 66th Merdeka (Independence) Day was a grand time of camaraderie and culture. We gathered at Makati Shangri-La and got a taste of Malaysia's iconic dishes and performances by the Melaka Heritage Institute Malaysia. Speeches from Malaysian Ambassador Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Administration Antonio Morales cemented the strong ties between our two countries.

And what better way to seal the deal than with a cake?