Asia House, is a non-profit, non-political Pan-Asian organisation in the UK. It was founded in 1996 by a small group led by Sir Peter Wakefield,^[1] a former diplomat who died aged 89 in December 2010.^[2] The current acting CEO is Sumantro Ghose.

Since 2005 Asia House has been housed in an 18th century listed building in London's Marylebone.

Mission[link]

The publicly stated mission of Asia House is to build dynamic links between the diverse communities of Europe and Asia. The organisation seeks to achieve this by promoting a greater understanding of the distinctive and varied cultures, arts, religions and commercial opportunities presented by the growing vibrant economies of Asia.^[3]

Asia House runs public events programmes covering arts and culture, business and economics and policy and politics covering 40 countries form the Persian Gulf to the Pacific. Highlights of the annual programme include the Pan-Asia Film Festival in March, the Festival of Asian Literature in May and the Asian Business Leaders Summit in October. Historical and Contemporary art from Asia is displayed in a varied exhibitions programme running throughout the year.^[4]

Cultural Programmes[link]

Asia House Cultural Programmes feature lectures and discussion, exhibitions, film and performance, from or about 40 countries of Asia from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific annual events such as the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature,^[5] the Asia House Pan-Asia Film Festival,^[6] the Connecting Contemporary Cultures series,^[7] and a broad program of talks, debates and discussions.

Business and Policy Programmes[link]

The Asia House Business and Policy Programmes include outstanding business intelligence through lectures, seminars and major conferences delivered by high-profile business and political leaders. Asia House works with Asian heads of mission in the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Trade & Investment and UK corporations.

Examples of its activities are the Ambassadors/High Commissioners programme through which Asia House provides a forum for regular economic and political updates from British and foreign diplomats through informal breakfasts and luncheons, the Visiting Dignitaries programme, offering a platform for Asian leaders and other high-level ministers to deliver their latest economic and political messages,^[8] and a "CEO round table" program, which provides a forum for debate and policy review at a senior level by hosting round-table discussions with speakers including UK government ministers and other international figures.

Headquarters[link]

Asia House's headquarters at 63 New Cavendish Street, London is a Grade II* listed building, originally planned by Robert and James Adam on the Duke of Portland’s Marylebone Estate in the 1770s. By 1775, however, the Adams’ attention had turned to the creation of Portland Place, and neo-classical architect John Johnson took over the site, erecting the townhouse that has since been redeveloped as Asia House. The rooms retain many of their original features – including bookcases designed by Sir John Soane and plaster cornicing – while other parts of the building have been modernised to create café and gallery spaces.

In November 2010, Asia House expanded its mission to fully embrace the reemergent Silk Road region as a landbridge between Asia and Europe with the launch at the House of Lords of the Central Asia and South Caucasus Association (CASCA). The new association will expand and amplify Asia House's business and cultural programmes to include Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), the Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) as well as Mongolia, a region broadly defined in prior centuries as Inner Asia.

Awards and recognition[link]

In 2005, Asia House received the Charity Finance Award for Arts, Culture & Heritage.^[9]

External links[link]

• Official website

References[link]

1. ^ PERSONALITY PROFILE - Peter Wakefield, Japan Times April 23, 2000
2. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/8182588/Sir-Peter-Wakefield.html
3. ^ About Asia House - asiahouse.org
4. ^ Asia House - Exhibitions
5. ^ Michael Binyon looks forward to the second Festival of Asian Literature - Times Online, April 25, 2008
6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8395498.stm ref>Preview: Festival Of Asian Film, Asia House, London The Independent, 20 August 2008
7. ^ Kestity Pringgoharjono: A role model for arts patrons, Jakarta Post, 20 August 2008
8. ^ G20: the schedule of events, Times Online, March 26, 2009
9. ^ [1]

Coordinates: 51°31′11″N 0°08′46″W / 51.5196°N 0.1462°W / 51.5196; -0.1462

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2011)

Janno Ronaldo Gibbs (born September 16, 1969) is a Filipino singer-songwriter and actor–comedian. He is a regular host of GMA Network television shows SOP Rules, Nuts Entertainment, Eat Bulaga, Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5?, and Power of 10 . He played as Geron Agular in Codename: Asero. Gibbs started out in 1986 as one of the members of the teen variety show That's Entertainment on GMA Network.

Gibbs released a Vicor Music single called "Miss". His recordings include "Ipagpatawad Mo", "Ikaw Lamang,", "Fallin'" and other ballads.

He was cast in a musical play, Kenkoy Loves Rosing.

Gibbs then played some minor film roles for Viva Films. Gibbs was co-host of the TV show "Small Brothers" in 1990.

Discography[link]

• Bulong
• Another Chance
• Sa 'Yo
• Viva Silver Series: Janno
• Divas & I
• Seven
• Seven (Special Edition)
• Little Boy
• Little Boy (Special Edition)
• ORIG
• The Janno Gibbs Anthology

TV shows[link]

• That's Entertainment (GMA Network)
• Ober Da Bakod (GMA Network)
• Haybol Rambol (GMA Network)
• Young Love, Sweet Love (ETC 9)
• Dobol Inkredibol (TV5)
• Beh! Bote Nga! (GMA Network)
• Magpakailanman: The Ricky Reyes Story (GMA Network)
• Nuts Entertainment (GMA Network)
• Marinara (GMA Network)
• Lupin (GMA Network)
• SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare) (GMA Network)
• Eat Bulaga (GMA Network)
• Eat Bulaga's Holy Week Special (GMA Network)
• Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5? (GMA Network)
• Codename: Asero (GMA Network)
• Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5? (Season 2) (GMA Network)
• Power of 10 (GMA Network)
• Talentadong Pinoy (TV5) - guest judge
• Party Pilipinas (GMA Network)
• Show Me Da Manny (GMA Network)
• Pilyang Kerubin (GMA Network)
• Protégé: The Battle For The Big Break (GMA Network)
• Alice Bungisngis and her Wonder Walis (GMA Network)

Singles[link]

• Fallin (Full House Theme Song)
• Ikaw Lamang (with Jaya
• Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako
• Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo
• Umagang Kay Ganda
• Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko
• Heart Of Mine
• Ipagpatawad Mo (Original by VST and Co., now covered by Mayonnaise)
• Lazy (the version of Bruno Mars)

External links[link]

• Janno Gibbs at the Internet Movie Database
• Janno Gibbs on iGMA.tv