Press Release
PR- 075 -2014
11 June 2014
Philippine Embassy hosts Diplomatic
Reception to celebrate 116th Anniversary of
Philippine Independence
(Riyadh, 9 June 2014) The Philippine Embassy celebrated the 116th anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence on 27 May 2014 with a diplomatic reception at the Al Tuwaiq Palace in Riyadh. Around 200 distinguished guests attended, officials from the different Saudi government offices, Saudi businessmen and Ambassadors and representatives from the various diplomatic missions in Riyadh.
This year’s theme is “Kalayaan 2014: Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino, Tungo sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Pagbabago,” calling on a new generation of Filipinos to take inspiration from the lives of the Philippine revolutionary heroes and emulate their nationalistic fervor to bring about positive and lasting change in the Philippines.
The celebration was honored by the attendance of His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the new Emir of Riyadh. The Emir congratulated Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago, who in turn thanked the Emir for gracing the occasion and personally invited him to visit the Philippines.
The partnership between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia has remained strong and productive through the years, and bodes well for the warm friendship sure to endure between their two peoples for generations to come.
Bilaterally, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia continue to build on their economic ties. Saudi Arabia is the Philippines’ 12th top trading partner and ranked 32nd among the latter’s export markets. Saudi Arabia has also remained the Philippines’ 8th largest source of investments.
In terms of tourism, there has been an increasing trend in the arrival of Saudi visitors to the Philippines since 2009. A total of 38,969 Saudi visitors came to the Philippines in 2013 compared to only 19,101 in 2009, buoyed largely by the Embassy’s active tourism promotion in Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with local travel agencies.
Another landmark was set in May 2013, when the two countries signed the bilateral agreement on the recruitment of domestic workers.
Photos of the event are available online through this link:
http://ezzedin.smugmug.com/2014-Reception-for-the-116th-A (END)
