“The Kingdom firmly believes that its security, stability, and prosperity are intrinsically linked to international peace and cooperation. This conviction has been reflected in its active contributions to regional and global organizations, and in its humanitarian and developmental initiatives that have reached all corners of the world — underscoring its noble mission of serving humanity at large.”

Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-SzK

• By EDD K. USMAN| X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News

MANILA, September 24, 2025 (SDN) — Hundreds of guests, such as members of the foreign diplomatic community, Philippine government representatives, business leaders, Muslim Filipino officials, friends of the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and others joined Saudi Ambassador Faisal Ebraheem Al-Ghamdi at the 95th National Day celebration on Tuesday, September 23.

The guests, virtually elbow-to-elbow, packed Ballrooms A and B of Makati Shangri-La Hotel as they enjoyed the food, culture, sights and sounds of Saudi Arabia, and met with many of the Kingdom’s citizens who came all the way across the seas to be with the top diplomat of Saudi King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Al-Ghamdi welcomed the guests as they arrived and entered the venue as early as 6 p.m. with the space quickly filled to the brim.

“It gives me great pleasure and distinct honor to welcome you all most warmly on this blessed day, as we celebrate the 95th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — the day on which our nation was unified under the banner of Tawheed, through the vision and resolve of the Founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud — may Allah bless his soul — who laid the foundations of unity, stability, and modern statehood, grounded in faith, work, and achievement,” the Saudi envoy to the Philippines says.

Among the dignitaries at the event included Archbishop Charles John Brown, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines; the ambassadors representing some member-countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), some of them are Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Malaysia, Brunei, and others; National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim; Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega; DFA Assistant Secretary Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan, Office of Middle East and African Affairs (OMEAA); NCMF Economic Affairs Director Saleha Pangarungan Sahar and many others.

Dizon-De Vega in her remarks at the event conveyed the felicitations of Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and the DFA as the Kingdom celebrated is milestone of 95th National Day.

As Al-Ghamdi continued his speech for the celebration, the ambassador emphasizes the Kingdom’s “intrinsic link” to international peace and cooperation,” describing it as a conviction seen in its active contributions to regional and global organizations, and in its humanitarian and developmental initiatives reaching the globe’s corners as the Saudi Arabia remains constant in its noble mission of serving humanity at large.

“”In this spirit, the relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the friendly Republic of the Philippines stand as a distinguished model of genuine partnership, founded on mutual respect and shared interests. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1969, strengthened by the opening of embassies in Riyadh and Manila in the early 1970s, our relations have grown steadily, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and social dimensions,” Al-Ghamdi underscores.

NCMF’s Abdurahim, on behalf of Muslim Filipinos, congratulates Saudi Arabia on its milestone

He said the deep human and spiritual bonds between the two countries have been going on for over 50 years, citing Filipino pilgrims and Umrah performers to Mecca — Islam’s holiest place — to fulfill their sacred rites in the Kingdom with ease and comfort.

The ambassador also took note of what he said are over one million Filipinos contributing to development of the Kingdom along with their Saudi brothers and sisters. It is “shining testament to human and civilizational cooperation,” he adds.

Al-Ghamdi revealed as well that the Saudi Embassy in the Philippines has already issued 150,000 visas of various kinds because of an increasing number of Filipino tourists visiting the Kingdom to discover its rich history and authentic culture.

Abdurahim, on behalf of the NCMF and the local Muslims, congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its milestone of 95 years of being the Ummah’s beacon as well as to the global spiritual sphere.

The NCMF head, a native of the island province of Tawi-Tawi in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), conveyed his thanks and gratitude to the Saudi leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohamed bin Salman as well as to the Al-Ghamdi for being a benefactor of Muslim Filipinos all these years.

Abdurahim cited the Saudi Embassy’s big role in the pilgrimage to Mecca of Filipinos performing the annual Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, and the Umrah, the minor pilgrimage.

“We will be forever grateful to the Kingdom and its leadership for facilitating the pilgrimage of our brothers and sisters from the Philippines,” he adds, saying this year around 5,000 Filipinos performed the Hajj in Mecca, Arafah, and Mina.

Abdurahim lauded the succession of Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques — Mecca’s Masjidil Haram and Madinah’s Masjidil an-Nabawi — for the expansion and continued improvement of the two grand mosques to make the guests of Allah (God in Arabic) safe and more comfortable.

As Al-Ghamdi continued his speech for the celebration, the ambassador emphasizes the Kingdom’s “intrinsic link” to international peace and cooperation,” describing it as a conviction seen in its active contributions to regional and global organizations, and in its humanitarian and developmental initiatives reaching the globe’s corners as the Saudi Arabia remains constant in its noble mission of serving humanity at large.

“”In this spirit, the relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the friendly Republic of the Philippines stand as a distinguished model of genuine partnership, founded on mutual respect and shared interests. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1969, strengthened by the opening of embassies in Riyadh and Manila in the early 1970s, our relations have grown steadily, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and social dimensions,” Al-Ghamdi underscores.

He said the deep human and spiritual bonds between the two countries have been going on for over 50 years, citing Filipino pilgrims and Umrah performers to Mecca — Islam’s holiest place — to fulfill their sacred rites in the Kingdom with ease and comfort.

The ambassador also took note of what he said are over one million Filipinos contributing to development of the Kingdom along with their Saudi brothers and sisters. It is “shining testament to human and civilizational cooperation,” he adds.

Here’s some photographs of the well-attended event:

King Salman’s top envoy to the Philippines, Al-Ghamdi, noted what he described “the most touching examples” of the Kingdom’s humanitarian cooperation through the 35 years conjoined twin programs that already separated over 160 conjoined twins from poor families across the world, mentioning the third Filipino beneficiaries, Kleah and Maurice Ann Misa.

“Furthermore, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center continues to implement 16 humanitarian and development projects in the Philippines, with a total value exceeding 5.8 million US dollars, targeting vital sectors across the archipelago,” the Saudi ambassador notes.

As he concluded his celebratory remarks, Al-Ghamdi conveyed the leadership of the Kingdom’s greetings to the Philippines under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as he they wished “for continued progress and prosperity…relations continue to advance for the mutual benefit of our two friendly nations and peoples.” (/)

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