Closing Statement of the Chairperson 40th Session of UN-FAO Rome, Italy By Manny Piñol

When the 40th Session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ended on Friday in Rome, Italy, I was asked to deliver a closing statement as Chairperson of the Conference.

Since I was asked to do that while I was presiding the last day of the 5-day Conference attended by 2 Presidents, several Deputy Prime Ministers, 82 Agriculture Ministers and delegates from 181 countries, I had to hurriedly scribble a few notes to add to the prepared text.

I emphasized that having been elected to Chair the Conference, the first Filipino and the third farmer to be given the rare privilege, was an experience that I will.never forget for the rest of my life.

My brother and head executive assistant, Ferdinand, who backstopped me during the Conference along with Undersecretary Fred Serrano, IAD chief Boots Escandor, Agriculture Attache Jojo Lazaro, executive assistant Mayette Tudlas and the Philippine Embassy staff led by Ambassador Ding Nolasco, recorded the proudest moment of my life as a farmer and Filipino.

I dedicate this statement to Filipinos around the world and most of all to the Filipino farmer.

#ProudToBeFilipino! #ProudToBeFarmer!

(Video recording made by Bong Piñol)

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