Kris Aquino honored for being UNCHR's Goodwill Ambassadress for Asia

Actress-TV host Kris Aquino was undoubtedly in high spirits over her appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador for Asia of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

During her morning show, “Kris TV” on Tuesday, the presidential sister was brimming with pride as she expressed her gratitude for the title, something that she considers an honor, and that puts her in the ranks of Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and celebrated Italian designer Giorgio Armani.

"What brings this appointment big honor is that it's not just for the Philippines. Ako po ang representative ng Asia. Ang American representative ay si Angelina Jolie, tapos mayroong representative na I think sa France or Norway galing...basta from Asia, eh, Pilipinas ang napili nila at ako ang tatayo para sa ating lahat," Aquino said.

"Kaya maraming maraming salamat po kasi karangalan ito na ibinigay niyo, ‘di lang sa akin, hindi lang sa pamilya ko, kung hindi karangalan po sa bansang Pilipinas. So thank you, United Nations. Thank you, UN, for the trust you are giving me and the Philippines," she added.

The youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino III said that she learned of the news only a few days ago.

"'Yung totoo po niyan was earlier this year ay nakipag-meeting po kami ni Boy Abunda about this. Nawalan na ako ng pag-asa kasi ten months na ‘di pa rin sila bumabalik. Then I found out a week ago...noong nagmi-meeting ang UNHCR sa Switzerland," she shared.

"I don't have the papers yet, magmi-meeting kami next week po, again with the United Nations representatives."

According to a previous Bulletin Entertainment report, presidential adviser for political affairs Ronald Llamas just got on Monday from Geneva, Switzerland from the executive committee hearing of the UNHCR. It was Llamas that broke the news to the media that Aquino has been tapped for the post mainly because their family had once become political refugees during the dictatorial of Ferdinand Marcos.

The UNHCR website has described the Goodwill Ambassador as "the public face of the UN refugee agency."

“UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassadors have all either worked with UNHCR or shown a keen interest in refugee issues before taking up the appointment. They must be approved by the High Commissioner, before being formally appointed by the UN Secretary-General. They generally sign a contract for a certain period of years,” the agency said.

According to UN’s website, the sole Filipino to be appointed as UN Goodwill Ambassador in the past was Lea Salonga and that was for the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Salonga’s appointment only happened in October last year.

By MAUREEN MARIE BELMONTE
Manila Bulletin

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