'Friendship knows no boundaries and knows no time.'These were the words spoken by Madame Lourdes Locsin, wife of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locisn Jr., during her short remarks at the farewell and thanksgiving tea party given for her by the Spouses of the Heads of Mission (SHOM) led by its president Rhonda Robinson, wife of Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson.

Mrs. Locsin, or Louie as she is fondly called, serves as the chair of the International Bazaar Foundation (IBF) and the Asean Ladies Foundation (ALF), organizations affiliated with the Department of Foreign Affairs. The IBF hosts the annual International Bazaar that has for 56 years raised funds to help uplift the lives of the less privileged.