Tag: Sonia Brady

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files

Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady suffered a stroke in Beijing this week.

“Amb. Brady suffered a stroke and is hospitalized where her condition is being monitored closely,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario confirmed Brady’s condition in a text message to VERA Files.

Update DFA statement Aug. 25, 2012:

Foreign Secretary del Rosario was in Beijing Saturday to visit Amb. Sonia Cataumber Brady who is recovering well after a stroke.

While in Beijing, Sec. del Rosario also met with his Chinese counterpart Yang Yiechi. Discussions between Sec. del Rosario and Minister Yang were productive and issues of mutual concern were discussed in a positive atmosphere.

An official statement released by DFA Spokesman Raul Hernandez late Friday evening said:

“Amb. Sonia Brady was brought to the hospital last Wednesday after she passed out in her residence in Beijing. She is undergoing tests and waiting for the results. Her condition is stable but she is under observation. ”

“She is better now than when she was brought to the hospital last Wednesday,” Hernandez added in a later text advisory.

Update:Brady confirmed

There are times when things have a way of falling into place.

Malacañang has announced the appointment of a China old hand, Sonia Brady, as ambassador to China which was made possible by the withdrawal of businessman Domingo Lee, whose primary qualification was a friend of the President’s parents.

Sen. Serge Osmeña, a member of the Commission on Appointments, had raised questions about Lee’s competence for the important position. Lee has been given the title of special envoy to China for tourism affairs. A perfect position for him while he sports the title “ambassador.”

Another Fil-Chinese businessman, Cesar Zalamea, has also been named special envoy for trade affairs.
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President wanted “someone who is already familiar with the politics and culture of that country. That person can hit the ground running.”

GMA News
As Panatag boils, Aquino appoints career diplomat as envoy to China

During one of the Philippines’ worst diplomatic crises in recent history, a stand-off with Asian superpower China, talks have been hobbled by the lack of an ambassador in Beijing.

President Benigno Aquino III has finally appointed one, career diplomat Sonia Brady, a China veteran who had already been ambassador there from 2006-2010, as well as a young consul in the 1970s.

She is also a former ambassador to Myanmar and Thailand.

Aquino’s previous appointee, family friend Domingo Lee, could not be approved by Congress’ Commission on Appointments because some senators had questioned his qualifications.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday Aquino appointed Brady to be the ambassador to China with concurrent jurisdiction over North Korea and Mongolia.