GOVPH

Young Filipino Musicians Perform at Qatar National Library

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth performs one of several classical favorites before a crowd of around 200 spectators at the Special Events Area of the Qatar National Library in Doha. (Doha PE photo)

DOHA 05 November 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Doha, through the initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of International Economic Relations and in cooperation with Ang Misyon Inc. (AMI), hosted the first international performance of the full 69-member Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) in Qatar National Library on 25 October 2018.

The group made its debut appearance in the Special Events Area of the Qatar National Library, a 45,000-square-meter building located at the heart of Education City in Doha.

Under the baton of Maestro Joshua Dos Santos, the ensemble performed “Nabucco Overture” by Giuseppe Verdi, “Batuque Danza di Negri” by Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez, “Pasadoble” from the Opera “El Gato Montes,” “Venezuela” by Pablo Herrero and José Luis Armenteros, “Danzón No. 2” by Arturo Marquez, “Pizzicato Polka” by Johann and Joseph Strauss, “Rhapsody for Orchestra” by Yuzo Toyama, “Medley Perez Prado” by Eugenio Toussaint, and the well-known Filipino classic “Kayganda ng Ating Musika” by Ryan Cayabyab.

The one-hour event was open to the public and enjoyed by spectators of all ages, who swayed and clapped along to the festive music of the orchestra.

The library project was founded by Qatar Foundation Chairperson Sheikha Moza bint Nasser on 19 November 2012.

The Qatar National Library was granted the status of National Library on 20 March 2018, and was officially inaugurated by Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on 16 April 2018. END

Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan welcomes guests at the premier international performance of the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth. (Doha PE photo)

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth captures the attention of spectators at the Special Events Area of Qatar National Library. (Doha PE photo)

For more information, visit www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar.

PH Embassy in Doha Holds Civil Service Exam in Qatar

Civil Service examinees while taking the professional and sub-professional level exam. (Doha PE photo)

DOHA 23 October 2018 — With the aim to of helping empower overseas Filipinos in Qatar and to provide them with an opportunity to enter government service, the Philippine Embassy in Doha, in cooperation with the Civil Service Commission of the Philippines, conducted the first-ever Career Service Examination-Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) for Professional and Sub-Professional levels in Doha, Qatar on 12 October 2018.

A total of 397 Filipinos took the Civil Service examinations. 364 examinees took the Professional Examination while 33 examinees took the Sub-Professional Examination that was held in the Philippine International School-Qatar.

This initiative of the Philippine Embassy in Doha, headed by Ambassador Alan L. Timbayan, was supported by the Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III and Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go.

The conduct of the examination in Qatar, which hosts more than 230,000 Filipino, will also help strengthen the government's reintegration program by way of offering suitable alternative to overseas employment.

The Career Service Professional Eligibility, which will be given to those who will pass the professional level examination, may be used for both first level and second level positions which do not involve the practice of profession. On the other hand, the Career Service Sub-Professional Eligibility, is appropriate only for first level (clerical) positions. END

For more information, visit www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar.

Civil Service examinees look for their room assignment during the examination day. (Doha PE photo)

Ambassador Alan L. Timbayan meets with Officials of the Civil Service Commission, headed by Director Fernando Porio, during their visit to Qatar. (Doha PE photo)

Mr. Jeffrey Siy from the Civil Service Commission conducts a briefing for the teachers of Philippine International School Qatar who will serve as proctors during the examination.

Undersecretary Arriola Pitches for Migration Agenda, Commends Qatar for Labor Reforms

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola meets with Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary General Dr. Ahmed. (online source)

DOHA 20 October 2018 —  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) highlighted the importance of the migration agenda it commended Qatar’s positive steps during in addressing issues related to migration. 

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola stressed the importance of the migration agenda as she met with officials from Qatar government during her four-day visit to the Gulf country from 11 to 14 October 2018.

Undersecretary Arriola was in the country to meet with Qatar government officials, Philippine Embassy in Doha officials, and Filipino Community leaders in view of recent reforms made by Qatar on the labor front, which will stand to benefit the Philippines as a labor-sending country.

The Undersecretary mentioned in her meetings that the Philippines has been active in the negotiation on the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), and called on Qatar for its support as the GCM convenes anew in Marrakesh, Morocco in December 2018. 

Undersecretary Arriola explained that President Rodrigo Duterte attaches great importance to the cause of Filipino migrants in view of their significant contribution to the Philippine economy.

  “The remittances of our 10 million Overseas Filipinos across the globe account for 10 percent of our total Gross Domestic Product,” the Undersecretary underlined. 

In keeping with the objectives of the GCM, the Undersecretary asked Qatar for availability and flexibility of pathways, such as an amnesty, which would allow for regularization of undocumented Filipino migrants in the country.

She thanked and commended Qatar for major labor reforms, such as the abolition of exit permit for 95 percent of the total expatriate workers in Qatar, the establishment of visa processing centers in labor-sending countries such as the Philippines, where capture of biometrics data, medical examination, issuance of Residency Permits, and signing of employment contracts will be done before workers are deployed to Qatar, and putting up of government-sponsored shelters for women, among other reforms.

During her visit, Undersecretary Arriola met with Secretary General of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Hamadi, Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Eissa Saad Al Jaffali Al Nuaimi, Director General for Public Security of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, and MOI’s Search and Follow-Up Department Director Brigadier General Abdullah Jaber Al-Labda.

Joining the Undersecretary in the meetings were Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan, Vice Consul Benjamin A. Celedio Jr, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Principal Assistant Laser Blitz B. Sumagaysay, and Office of the Secretary Adviser Peter John V. de la Fuente. END

For more information, visit www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola meets with Qatari Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Eissa Saad Al Jaffali Al Nuaimi. (online source)

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola meets with Director General for Public Security Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi. (online source)