GOVPH

PH Embassy’s 'Yantok at Kamao: Arnis and Boxing Exhibition' Unites Sports and Art Enthusiasts in Qatar

DOHA 18 February 2023 - The Philippine Embassy in Qatar headed by H.E. Ambassador Lillibeth V. Pono showcased a combined sports and arts event entitled "Yantok at Kamao: Arnis and Boxing Exhibition" in celebration of Qatar National Sports Day at Multaqa Plaza in Education City. 

Arnis practitioners showing their impressive stick fighting skills

Ambassador Pono highlighted the unifying spirit of sports and the arts that transcends cultures, race and religion, as the program also coincided with the Embassy’s observance of the Philippine National Arts Month in February. 

Mr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Dosari, President of Activities and Events of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, Ministry of Sports and Youth, reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry in supporting sports events in Qatar by providing facilities for such programs, among others.

Guests posed while holding yantok (wooden sticks) with arnis practitioners 

(Center: Ambassador Pono)

Professional boxers from MMG Mandirigma throw quick punches and footwork

Introducing the Filipino national martial art of arnis, Guro Anthony Caindoy and his students impressed the audience with their skills in traditional stick fighting. Meanwhile, MMG Mandirigma Gym led by Coach RC demonstrated how Filipino boxers, like the one and only four-decade champion Manny Pacquiao, train before matches. Afterwards, both groups engaged the audience by teaching them the basics of arnis and boxing.

Guests tried learning the basics with arnis practitioners

Wearing white gloves, Ambassador Pono posed with Filipino boxers of MMG Mandirigma

Another treat for the audience was the section of talented Qatar-based Filipino artists Dancel Albert, Adrian Aleluya, Michael Conjusta and Arsenio Nidoy displaying their arnis and boxing-themed art pieces.

Through this event, Ambassador Pono encouraged all Filipinos residing in Qatar to continue bringing the Philippine culture, sports, arts and tradition to the world stage.

In closing, Consul Cassandra B. Sawadjaan thanked the Qatar government, Ministry of Sports and Youth, participating groups, and all partners who made the event possible. END

PH Embassy in Qatar Commemorates the 126th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

DOHA - The Philippine Embassy in the State of Qatar joined the Filipino nation in commemorating the 126th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal at an event held at the Embassy premises.

Embassy and partner agencies officials led by Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Cassandra B. Sawadjaan unveiled the new Rizal bust from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. A wreath-laying ceremony followed shortly with the participation of select members of the Filipino community.

From left: Welfare Officer Nestor Burayag; Assistant Labor Attache Don Philippe Pangcog; Vice Consul Monica Calangian; Welfare Officer Maribel Carisusa; and Charge d'Affaires Cassandra Sawadjaan;

CDA Sawadjaan read the Rizal Day message of H.E. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. while Third Secretary and Vice Consul Monica Remsy Calañgian shared the message of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs Hon. Enrique A. Manalo.

Selected Filipino students honored the Filipino national hero with a poetry reading of “To the Filipino Youth.” Later, a violin performance of “Bayan Ko” by Willie Munar, a student from the Philippine International School-Qatar, wowed the hundred or more guests hosted at the Chancery.

The Embassy personnel and guests shared a hearty Filipino breakfast to cap the event.

ASEAN Committee in Doha (ACD) Celebrates ASEAN Day

Skipping the traditional “ASEAN handshake” as a precautionary health measure, ACD Heads of Missions led by His Excellency Muhamed Bahrin Abu Bakr, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Qatar and Chair of ACD (fourth from right), together with the Chief Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (man in white Thobe), take a normal pose for a souvenir photo. Philippine Ambassador Alan L. Timbayan is seen second from the left flank. (Photo courtesy of Brunei Darussalam Embassy in Doha)

DOHA 09 September 2020 – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee in Doha (ACD) celebrated this year’s ASEAN Day on 06 September 2020, marking the 53rd Anniversary of ASEAN since its founding on 08 August 1967.   

The celebration was held and hosted by the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam that chairs the ACD.  Other members of the ACD are the Embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan, together with First Secretary and Consul General Roussel R. Reyes, attended the ASEAN Day celebration along with other ACD Heads of Missions and their officials, the Chief Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the local media.

The event was highlighted by the outdoor hoisting of the ASEAN flag and the playing of the ASEAN anthem.

In his remarks, Brunei Ambassador to Qatar, His Excellency Ambassador Muhamed Bahrin Abu Bakr reflected on the theme “Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN in 2020.”

He echoed the call of ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi to develop a robust, holistic, and pragmatic post-pandemic recovery framework to mitigate the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the peoples of ASEAN, while it continues to advance regional economic integration.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ambassador Abu Bakr described Qatar as exemplary for successfully managing the COVID-19 health crisis in the country under the leadership of His Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Ambassador Abu Bakr also aptly commended state-run Qatar Airways for its important role and efforts in repatriating hundreds of thousands of displaced and stranded nationalities all over the world at the height of the pandemic.

In closing, Ambassador Abu Bakr expressed optimism for ASEAN as countries outside the region take growing interest in engaging and developing strong cooperation with ASEAN. He said that the ASEAN Committee in Doha or ACD will continue to play its role in promoting ASEAN’s interest and in forging partnership with the Host Country on various fields.

The ASEAN Day celebration was deferred for a month to coincide with the final phase of lifting of local health restrictions in Qatar. END

During the hoisting of the ASEAN flag and playing of ASEAN anthem. (Photo courtesy of Brunei Darussalam Embassy in Doha)

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