PRESS RELEASE
PR-066-2016
18 April 2016

“MY MA’ASSALAMAH VOTE”
Embassy Staff Casts Vote before Returning Home

(Riyadh, 18 April 2016) – Among the overseas voters who cast his vote today was the Embassy’s own staff who cast his final vote as overseas voter in Riyadh before returning home to the Philippines in June 2016. The Embassy reiterates its call for all registered Filipinos in Saudi Arabia to cast their votes at the earliest opportunity and not wait until May 9, 2016.

Attaché Emmanuel Galvez cast his vote today at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. His vote was his second and final vote as overseas voter in Riyadh before his scheduled return to the Philippines in June 2016. Manny, as he is fondly called by colleagues at the Embassy, assumed his duties as Communications Officer in June 2010. He cast his first vote as overseas voter in 2013. He is scheduled to leave Saudi Arabia in June 2016 after finishing his official tour of duty.

“Iyan po ang aking huling boto bilang Overseas Voter sa Riyadh. Uuwi po ako ng Pilipinas nang may kumpiyansa na ginanpanan ko ang aking tungkulin bilang Pilipino at overseas voter,” said Manny.

Ma’assalamah is Arabic for good-bye. The traditional send-off by family and friends for every expatriate set to leave Saudi Arabia is also commonly referred to as ma’assalamah.

Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Ezzedin H. Tago, again urged all registered Filipinos to cast their votes ahead of the last day of elections on May 9 and also ahead of the last week. He also urged all Filipinos in the Kingdom to heed the call of duty of every Filipino overseas. “As a dutiful member of the Embassy’s staff and overseas voter, Manny cast his vote early and exercised his right to vote. I urge all registered Filipinos to also do the same. Kasali po tayong lahat dito!,” said Ambassador Tago.

The following are important details regarding overseas voting:

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