Sabaidee, I am Jena and I am the Assistant General Manager and this Plandara Inthavong

and we are your Emcees for today.

First and foremost, I would like to extend a big appreciation to Madame Siamphone
Silattangkoun from the Lao Women Union, Madame Chanthachone Vongsay, the president of
the Lao Businesswomen Association, Madame Chanhpheng Sivila, the president of Lao
Disabled Women Development Center and the owner of Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel,
Madame Orlathay Santikhongkha for their presence here today.

We would also like to thank our fellow representatives from the diplomatic community for
being here with us today and a big thank you to each and every one of you for coming
together in celebration of International Womens Day here at Landmark Mekong Riverside
Hotel.

Established in 1911, International Womens Day is a major day of global celebration for the
economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. It is a day in
which women from around the world unite in thoughts, prayers, struggles, hopes and
dreams.

Today in Landmark Hotel, we are gathered here to celebrate the women in our lives.

We are gathered in spirit with all our sisters to acknowledge:

Those living in mud and straw thatched homes, small remote villages, large urban cities,
and rural countryside;
Those in the workplace, the poor, the rich, and the unemployed;
Those who are mothers, working women, and those who do both;
Those who are single, married, divorced or widowed;
Those who are young, older or physically disabled; and

Today we honor:

The women of the past: those who stood up for change and fought for the rights that we
live and enjoy today;
The women of the present: those who are in this room today and those women around
the world who uses their voice to help make our world a better place for women; and
The women of the future: those who will continue to champion womens voices, to break
barriers and keep visible womens achievements and plights.

This year, we at Landmark are proud to join hands with the Lao Womens Union and
Lao Businesswomen Association, to show our appreciation and support for Madame
Chanpheng Sivilas tireless efforts in her cause for championing the education,
training, and betterment of disabled women.
For 14 years, Madame Chanphengs Lao Disabled Womend Development Center
has helped numerous young girls and women in overcoming poverty, illiteracy,
physical hardship and oppression.
Thus our month-long campaign this year is dedicated to help Madame Chanpheng
and her LDWDC sisters to raise more funds, and help the organization to build more
business relationships with companies that are looking into purchasing tokens for
their corporate clients and events.
With this, it is my great pleasure to call upon Madame Chanthachone Vongsay, the president
of the Lao Businesswomen Association on stage for her opening speech.

Thank you Madame Chanthachone.

Up next, please help me welcome Madame Chanpheng Sivila, the president of LDWDC on
stage.

Thank you Madame Chanpheng.

And last but not least, the owner of Landmark Hotel, Madame Orlathay Santhikhongkha,
whose generous support and encouragement is crucial in making this fundraiser campaign
possible.

Thank you Madame Orlathay.

Today in Landmark, we unite to make the women of the past proud, the women of the
present inspired, and provide the women of the future with vision.

Our message for this womens day celebration is The Beauty of Imperfection. The essence
of beauty should not be bound by one dimensional social stereotype of catalogue models
and Photoshop, nor cosmetic adjustments; beauty is a light that resonates from within, an
amalgamation of empathy, courage, integrity, character, values, tenacity and strength. It is
the combination of these qualities beyond the surface of our skin that we ourselves should
celebrate, encourage our fellow sisters to embrace, and teach our younger daughters to
embody.

Today, The Beauty of Imperfection spreads the message of self-acceptance and

self-love first, for being without, it is impossible to muster the tenacity, strength and
courage to speak up and empower others who are without voices. In circumstances
where sometimes, we who are without resources and capabilities to become burning
candles that emits light in the dark, we can choose instead, to be mirrors to help
reflect its luminosity to help others forge on.
Thus, without further adue, please help me welcome the candles and mirrors of this
event unto the stage. Please give a round of applause to all of our partners whose
dedication, generosity and heart that made this fundraising campaign possible.
Representing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Revlon- Mrs. Nikki Phetsavan, Product Manager,

Chic Hair- Ms. Apple
Pheonix
108JOB Magazine
Mahason Magazine

We are also thrilled to be introducing all of our featured designers, who have been
so generous in giving their time and their dresses for this event in support of our
LDWDC sisters..
Please help me welcome:
1. Khang

2. Elegant- Ms. Tamong Visouthivong, who has been active in the local fashion
scene for 8 years. Miss Tamong will be showcasing her latest collection of
batik and hemp fabric designs for the charity auction.
3. Lo-King Fung- Ms. Elodies fashion brand after her last name. Elodie has been
working as a designer in Paris for 10 years and now lovingly calls Laos her
home.
4. ??
5. ??
Thank you. We are glad to inform you that we are working on confirming for more
designers to join us for the fashion show finale. For now, and until the 31 st of March,
our LDWDC sisters will be here to showcase their products, together with the
designers collection and we hope that the Vientiane community will come over to
Landmark to show their support for our LDWDC sisters. Most of the products on
display can be bought on sight. However, for more specific and larger orders, as
well as the dresses on display, feel free to speak to anyone of us at the exhibition
for pre-orders.
May I now call upon all our association partners, our fashion and media partners, as
well as all of our designers on stage for a picture. Our LDWDC sisters have prepared
a red champa as a token for the entire month, with the color red to represent love,
and champas to represent all women in the nation, for they are the beautiful flowers
of Lao PDR. We hope that we can each wear it on the left, as a symbol of solidarity
for all our sisters.
Thank you to all our esteemed guests. We now invite you to join us for a tea break.
On behalf of Landmark and all our partners today, we wish you a Happy Womens
Day.