In celebration of the National Day, the Embassy organized a reception at the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-Bonifacio– Global Hotel, Manila. On Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, the reception was attended by a large number of 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 attended by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo; Pamela Louise Manalo, president of the International Bazaar Charitable Foundation and wife of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Chief Justice and Supreme Court Justice Alexander Gesmundo; His Excellency Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of Migrant Workers; and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.
Also participating in the ceremony were Ambassador Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps to the Republic of the Philippines, and a number of heads and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to the Philippines, in addition to correspondents of the Philippine media.
In his opening speech, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Philippines, Ahmed Saad Al-Humaidi, welcomed the attendees, noting that this year's celebration comes as a after the successful visit of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, "May the Almighty Allah protect him," to the Philippines, and his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos, last April, which had a great impact in strengthening the relationship and deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
In his speech, 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 economic, tourism, sports, and cooperation in combating the effects of climate change.
