In celebration of the Qatar National Day, the embassy organized a reception at the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La The Fort, Manila on Dec. 12, 2024. The reception was attended by dignitaries and guests, including Philippine government officials and members of the diplomatic corps. The Philippine government was represented by Jesus Domingo, undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs for Civil Security and Consular Affairs, as the guest of honor.
The ceremony was graced by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, President of the International Bazaar Foundation Pamela Louise Manalo, Chief Justice Alexander Jesmundo, Secretary of Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac, and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.
Also participating in the ceremony were Apostolic Nuncio and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps to the Philippines Charles Brown, and heads and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to the Philippines, in addition to media correspondents.
In his opening speech, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Philippines, Ahmed Saad Al-Humaidi, welcomed the attendees, noting that this year's celebration comes after the successful visit to the Philippines of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last April, which had a great impact in strengthening the relationship and deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
In response, the guest of honor referred to the depth of the relationship between Qatar and the Philippines, which has extended for four decades, appreciating the unique renaissance achieved by the State of Qatar, which combined heritage and modernity, stressing that through direct dialogue, the relationship can be developed in many fields, including economics, tourism, sports, and cooperation in combating the effects of climate change.
