GOVPH

Filipino Places 2nd at the 2018 WPA World 9-Ball Championship

Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. Roussel R. Reyes meets Filipino Carlo Biado who won as the first runner up in the WPA 9-Ball-World Championships. (Doha PE photo)

DOHA 17 January 2019 — Filipino billiard player Carlo Biado was first runner up in the 2018 World Pool–Billiard Association (WPA) World 9-Ball Championship held at Al-Attiya Sports Arena of the Al-Arabi Sports Club in Doha, Qatar on 10 to 20 December 2018.

Considered the most prestigious prize in the sport of 9-ball, 128 of the world’s best professional pool players from over 40 countries were invited for the event.

Mr. Biado was the reigning champion who defeated his compatriot Roland Garcia, 13–5, in the 2017 final. The Filipino again reached the finals this year, defeating American Shane Van Boening in the semi-final round. However, Germany's Joshua Filler won in the final round of the event, 13–10.

Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. Roussel R. Reyes invited the Filipino players of the 2018 WPA 9-Ball World Championship to visit the Philippine Embassy in Doha and awarded the Certificates of Recognition to Mr. Biado, as well as to Filipino cue artists Johann Chua, Roland Garcia and Jeffrey Ignacio.

The World 9-ball Championship was first contested in 1990, where Qatar hosted the 9-Ball Championships for the eighth time in a row. END

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

Filipino billiard player Carlo Biado during the awarding ceremony. (Doha PE photo)

Chargé d'affaires Roussel R. Reyes awards the Certificates of Recognition to the Filipino players in the 2018 WPA 9-Ball World Championship at the Philippine Embassy, Doha from left: Jeffrey Ignacio, Roland Garcia, Johann Chua and Carlo Biado. (Doha PE photo)

PH Embassy, Filipino Community in Doha Mimic “Santacruzan” Procession During Qatar’s Friendship Parade

Philippine Embassy in Doha and Filipino Community in Qatar representatives pose for a photo before setting out for the parade. (Doha PE photo)

DOHA 15 January 2019 — To show their solidarity and support to the host government, the Philippine Embassy in Doha together with the Filipino Community in Qatar participated in the Friendship Parade, one of the many pre-event activities in the run-up to the celebration of Qatar National Day on 18 December 2018.

Coming in their Filipiniana and Malong attire, Embassy and Filipino community representatives mimicked the Santacruzan procession in the Philippines during the parade, much to the delight of spectators.

As the Philippine parade group marched and waived the Philippine and Qatar flags, they also sang and chanted Filipino songs such as “Pinoy Ako”, “Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas”, and “Leron, Leron Sinta.”

Organized by the Qatar Cultural and Events Heritage Centre at the grounds of the International Khalifa Stadium on 17 December 2018, the event also showcased cultural performances and country booths of expatriate communities in Qatar. END

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

Philippine Embassy and Filipino community representatives mimic the Satacruzan procession in the Philippines with “Reyna Elena and Constantino” leading the Philippine parade group. (Doha PE photo)

Embassy officials and Filipino community leaders pose for a photo at the Philippine booth.  At the center (wearing blue Barong) is Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Roussel R. Reyes. (Doha PE photo)

Former Secretary Albert Speaks at 2018 Doha Forum in Qatar

DOHA 17 January 2019 – Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Ambassador Delia D. Albert was one of the panelists at the Doha Forum 2018 held on 15-16 December 2018 at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel. 

Ambassador Albert took part as a guest panel speaker for the topic “Gender and Mediation: The Role of Women in Conflict Resolution.”

During the event, Ambassador Albert mentioned the importance of working together and having men as well as women in forging peace deals. She highlighted the success of the Bangsamoro Peace Process, drawing attention to the fact that women sat in the negotiating table.

A parallel session was held day two of the forum to determine which aspects of international mediation could be improved by increasing the profile of women, and what can be done to increase women representation in the leadership ranks of mediation efforts.

His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the forum, entitled “Shaping Policy in an Interconnected World,” which discussed current issues throughout the plenary sessions well as in the breakout sessions.

The forum saw the attendance of many foreign dignitaries, leaders, experts, executives and academicians.

2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad was among those in attendance. Japanese Foreign Minister Tarō Kōno gave the closing remarks for the first day, while United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres delivered his remarks keynote to end the two-day conference. END

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

Right to Left: Ambassador Delia D. Albert, Ecuadorian Ambassador to Qatar Ivonne Baki, US Institute of Peace Senior Advisor Dr. Ann Phillips, Women in Security Conflict Management and Peace Director Meenakshi Gopinath, and Head of Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies Mely Anthony (moderator) of S. Rajaratnam School for International Studies.