GOVPH

His Highness The Amir Set to Undertake Historic State Visit to the Philippines

DOHA 20 April 2024 – The Philippines looks forward to welcoming His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, as he undertakes a historic State Visit in the coming days to the maritime and archipelagic nation upon the invitation of His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

His Highness the Amir’s State Visit is expected to serve as a platform to reaffirm the two nations’ mutual commitment to further elevate the already robust ties between them.

Her Excellency Philippine Ambassador to the State of Qatar Lillibeth V. Pono said the Amir’s upcoming State Visit is historic as it marks the first time that the current Amir will be visiting the Philippines.

“I thank HH the Amir for accepting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s invitation for him to visit the Philippines,” Ambassador Pono said. “Such a high-level visit is a strong indication of flourishing relations between our two countries. It also provides an excellent opportunity for the two sides to have a personal exchange of views on bilateral issues and foster greater engagement arising from a shared sense of responsibility as regional and global actors.”

The last time a sitting Amir undertook a State Visit to the Philippines was in 2012, when Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, then the Amir of the State of Qatar, met with the late President Benigno Aquino III in Manila.

High on the agenda for the upcoming meeting between the two leaders are the conclusion of agreements and discussion of measures intended to ramp up trade and investment, expand areas of cooperation across various fronts, and combat climate change and human trafficking.

“The Philippines and Qatar have concluded over 20 agreements covering a broad range of thematic areas, including on investments, taxation, air services, labor, establishment of a political consultation mechanism, agriculture, as well as economic, commercial, and technical cooperation,” Ambassador Pono said.

“We are hopeful that during the visit of HH the Amir, we are able to conclude more MOUs on other key areas of cooperation, particularly in the field of trade, climate change, consular matters, sports, and youth,” she added.

The relationship between the Philippines and Qatar is founded on robust people-to-people ties. As of date, there are over 270,000 Filipinos from across various sectors and industries who call Qatar their home and who collectively contribute to the economic vibrancy and dynamism of the peninsula. Their welfare remains a priority for both the Philippines and Qatar.

The relationship between Manila and Doha is also anchored on trust, mutual confidence, and shared values.

“The Philippines regards Qatar as a trusted friend and a reliable partner,” Ambassador Pono said. “As such, the Philippines will continue to collaborate with Qatar in reinforcing rule of law, equality, and mutual respect as the foundation for the kind of global action that overcomes differences among nations, promotes an inclusive and just society, and facilitates sustainable and just response to challenges such as public health emergencies, humanitarian crises, and climate change.”

For more information, visit dohape.dfa.gov.ph, facebook.com/PHinQatar, or instagram.com/phinqatar.

3rd Filipino Gymnast Secures 2024 Paris Olympics Berth through Uneven Bars Silver in Doha

DOHA 19 April 2024 — The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Doha congratulates Filipino gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar for securing a berth at #Paris2024 Olympics by claiming silver in the uneven bars finals in the Doha leg of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup on 19 April 2024.

Jung-Ruivivar will be joining fellow Filipino qualifiers Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan to the quadrennial sporting event.

Yulo is looking to climb atop the podium himself as he is set to compete in the parallel bars and vault finals in Doha later today, 20 April 2024.

Meanwhile, another Filipino gymnast, Emma Malabuyo, also has a shot at making it to Paris, depending on the outcome of the women’s floor finals.

For more information, visit dohape.dfa.gov.ph, facebook.com/PHinQatar, or instagram.com/phinqatar.

PH Embassy Launches Photo Exhibit on Fall of Bataan, Death March in Commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan

DOHA 14 April 2024 – In commemoration of the 82nd Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the State of Qatar launched a photo exhibit entitled, “A Beacon to All the Liberty-loving Peoples of the World,” on 08 April 2024.

Mounted at the new chancery of the Embassy, the exhibit features select photographs showing key moments, artifacts, and personalities from the Fall of Bataan in 1942 and the infamous Bataan Death March.

The title of the exhibit is drawn from the Voice of Freedom radio broadcast announcing the Fall of Bataan, in which Third Lieutenant Normando Ildefonso Reyes, reading the elegant prose written by Captain Salvador P. Lopez, declared, “Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand – a beacon to all the liberty-loving peoples of the world – cannot fall!”

In her welcome remarks, Her Excellency Ambassador Lillibeth V. Pono said, “This exhibit highlights the horrors of wars and the collective trauma of a subjugated nation.”

She added, “Having attained our freedom, we should be able to look back at the tragedies of the past, learn from them, and recall the courage of our forebears to whom we owe so much of the liberties we cherish today.”

Held every 9th of April of each year, Araw ng Kagitingan commemorates the Fall of Bataan to Japanese troops on 09 April 1942.

On that day, Major General Edward P. King, Jr., an American, defied orders and decided to surrender between 75,000 and 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers to the Japanese troops. This event served as a prelude to what is now known as the infamous Bataan Death March, during which over 10,000 soldiers perished, about 90 percent of whom were Filipinos.

The photo exhibit runs until 18 April 2024.

For more information, visit dohape.dfa.gov.ph, facebook.com/PHinQatar, or instagram.com/phinqatar.