“The Philippines is an important partner for Qatar in various areas. Qatar is a home for more than 260,000 Filipinos, whose total remittances to the Philippines amounted to $895.33 million in 2022. Qatar believes that the Filipino community plays vital role in the country’s development and progress.” — Qatar Ambassador Ahmed Saad N.A. Al-Homidi
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-KOI
- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
SHANGRI-LA AT THE FORT, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (SDN) — On December 12, 2024, the Arab State of Qatar celebrated its 146th National Day here with foreign diplomats in attendance led by United States Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo led local diplomats from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at the event’s venue here.
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also attended the celebration.
Official of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) led by Commissioner Dalisay Macadawan, Deputy Executive Director Jehan-Jehan Lepail, acting director of the Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs (NCMF-BMCA) and others, local Muslim community leaders, former Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla and his son Omar Guinomla, Director Samira Gutoc from the Office of Senator Robinhood “Abdulaziz” Padilla, business leaders, other Arab nationals, former NCMF-BMCA Shari’ah Education and Training chief Rueda Ebos Usman, and friends of the Embassy of Qatar joined the celebration, among many other guests.
Qatari Ambassador Ahmed Saad N.A. Al-Homidi, host of the event, along with other embassy officials, welcomed the guests who started coming in at around 5 p.m. for the celebration that opened at 6:30 p.m.
On hand also to meet the guests was the embassy’s Sulaiman Alamin, who is already a known figure among Filipino journalists.
In his speech at the event, Ambassador Al-Homidi congratulated the leaders of his country.
“Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Qatar by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Al-Thani, I am honored to extend my sincere congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, “may Allah protect him”, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, may Allah protect him, and to his Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, Deputy Amir of the State of Qatar,” he says.
Ambassador Al-Homidi also conveyed his warmest felicitations to all his countrymen in his home country and those in countries living in different parts of the world.
Qatar’s top diplomat in the Philippines recalled the visit of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Philippines this year.
“This year’s celebration of Qatar National Day highlights the successful and fruitful visit of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, may Allah protect him, on April 21-22, 2024, and his meeting with his Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Jr., as the first stop of his Asian countries trip,” the ambassador says.
He adds that the Amir’s (King) coming to Manila “contributed to strengthening the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries and greatly helped in enhancing the cooperative relations between them, especially since the signing of several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) for Cooperation.”
The ambassador emphasized that the visit of His Highness also contributed to the intensification of the two countries’ engagement resulting from their “mutual and sense of, as important and vital regional and global players, especially that both countries have concluded more than 20 agreements in various fields of cooperation, and established a mechanism for political consultation, as well as economic, trade and technical cooperation”.
Ambassador Al-Homidi also spoke about this year’s logo of the National Day, saying it embodies loyalty, solidarity, unity and pride of Qatar’s national identity. At the same time the logo draws inspiration from the values derived from Qatar National Vision 2023 which represent inspiration, participation, innovation, and transparency.
SDN – SciTech & Digital News learned that the celebration is a tribute to Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani who lived from 1825 to 1913 and is known as “The Founder” of Qatar.
The Arab State’s founding is traced back to December 18, 1878, the date of the emir’s succession. Qatar gained its independence from the British in September 1878. He succeeded his father, Emir Mohammed bin Al-Thani. The successor was a “senior politician and deputy to his father, Sheikh Mohammed, who “is considered the first leader to unite Qatar into a single country.” (per Wikipedia).
More from Wikipedia:
- Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani was known for his knowledge of religion and was considered pious and honorable.
- He was passionate about knowledge and the dissemination of information, and published several books.
- He was a keen follower of events in Arab countries and maintained ties with enlightened thinkers.
- He was involved in many charitable and endowment projects in Muslim countries.
More photographs SDN captured at the event:
His people and those who came to know him described him as “courageous, eloquent, firm, and knowledgeable.”
Qatar’s National Day celebration is based on his succession to the throne in December 1878. (✓)