PH Embassy in Manama Hosts 125th Philippine Independence Day Reception
Left photo: Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Anne Jalando-on Louis with Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular and Administrative Affairs Undersecretary H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ali Bahzad, ASEAN Bahrain Council Chairperson H.E. Shaikh Daij bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Jordan Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps H.E. Rami Saleh Wriekat Al Adwan at the cake-cutting ceremony during the Philippine National Day Reception held at Bahrain Conference Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel, on 07 June 2023. Behind Ambassador Louis is Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Miyamoto. Right photo: The program for the reception included a performance by the duo, The Nightingales, including a medley of Philippine folk songs. (Manama PE photo)
MANAMA 19 June 2023 — Philippine Ambassador Anne Jalando-on Louis and spouse, Dr. D. Gerard Joseph Louis, hosted a National Day Reception at the Bahrain Conference Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Manama, Bahrain, on 07 June 2023 to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. At the same time, the event highlighted the celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of Philippines-Bahrain Diplomatic Relations this year.
The event was attended by around 260 guests comprising Bahraini Government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, the private sector and business community, the academe, local and Filipino media, and members of the Filipino community.
Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular and Administrative Affairs Undersecretary His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Ali Bahzad was the Guest of Honor.
In her speech, Ambassador Louis noted the Philippines’ long history of upholding democratic ideals and principles, universal human rights, justice, rule of law, and the values of freedom and sovereignty. She also highlighted the commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations of the Philippines and Bahrain this year and looked forward to enhancing the Philippines’ partnership with Bahrain through continued collaboration and cooperation across various areas.
Undersecretary Bahzad congratulated the Philippines on its Independence Day and underscored the major strides that the Philippines has achieved since its independence. He also reaffirmed the Bahraini Government’s commitment to further enhance its relations with the Philippine and wished that the friendship between the government and peoples of both countries will continue to flourish in the years ahead.
The reception included an exhibit of original coins and copies of Philippine stamps, banknotes, coins, documents, and publications from the private collection of Mr. Hafedh Abdulghaffar, a Bahraini national, who has been collecting items from the Philippines for the past 40 years. As a retired journalist, Mr. Abdulghaffar had interviewed former Philippine Presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph E. Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as well as other senior Philippine officials.
Filipino culture, arts and music were also featured through the performances of the singing duo, “The Nightingales” and the Filipino Community Band.
The Nightingales composed of Ms. Bernadette Mamauag and Katrina Marie Saga, enthralled the guests by rendering a 20-minute performance including the Arabic song, Aatini Al Nay, to the delight of the audience.
The visit of The Nightingales to Bahrain from 06 to 11 June 2023 to participate in the Embassy’s Independence Day activities was made possible through the support of the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
The Filipino Community Band is composed of Filipino musicians based in Bahrain. They played the national anthems of the Philippines and Bahrain and accompanied The Nightingales when they sang a medley of PHL folk songs.
The Embassy also partnered with the Philippine Airlines (PAL) and World Travel Service to feature Philippine tourism destinations and tour packages that were developed by PAL for promotion to the Bahraini market. These tour packages include destinations like El Nido, Bohol, Cebu, Boracay, and Siargao. Philippine Airlines also sponsored a roundtrip business class ticket for a lucky draw for foreign guests at the reception.
The guests at the reception also enjoyed the Philippine-made Magnolia Gold Label ice cream courtesy of the Lulu Group. The Philippine products carried by the Lulu Group in the Kingdom of Bahrain were also displayed at the reception.
The guests at the reception also took home Oishi products courtesy of Liwayway Corporation. END
Left photo: Philippine Ambassador Louis gives her speech at the Philippine National Day Reception. She notes the Philippines’ long history of upholding democratic ideals and principles, universal human rights, justice, rule of law, and the values of freedom and sovereignty. She also noted the excellent ties between the Philippines and Bahrain. Right photo: In his speech, Undersecretary Bahzad noted the longstanding relations of the Philippines and Bahrain and reaffirmed the Bahraini Government’s commitment to further enhance its relations with the Philippines. (Manama PE photo)
Left photo: Mr. Hafedh Abdulghaffar, a Bahraini national and collector of Philippine stamps, banknotes, coins, documents, and publications, talks about his PHL stamp collection exhibited at the Reception to a guest. Right photo: Ambassador Louis and spouse, Dr. Louis, accompany Undersecretary Bahzad in viewing the exhibit. (Manama PE photo)
The Nightingales enthralled guests with their repertoire of arias, Philippine folk songs, a standard classic, and the Arabic song, “Aatini Al Nay”. (Manama PE photo)
The Filipino Community Band played the national anthems of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Bahrain during the National Day Reception. The Band also accompanied The Nightingales when they sang a medley of Philippine folk songs. (Manama PE photo)
Left photo: The Philippine Airlines photo booth highlighting Philippine tourism destinations. Right photo: Ambassador Anne Jalando-on Louis and Ms. Haifa Oun, General Manager of World Travel Service, during the draw of the lucky winner of a Philippine Airlines’ roundtrip business class ticket to the Philippines. (Manama PE photo)
Left photo: Ambassador Louis with the Filipino employees of Lulu Hypermarket, which provided Philippine-made ice cream for the guests to savor. Right photo: Lulu also put up a display of Philippine products that are available in their branches throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain. (Manama PE photo)
Bahraini guests at the National Day Reception receive Oishi products courtesy of Liwayway Corporation. (Manama PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.manamape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinBahrain or https://www.instagram.com/phlinbahrain/.