Philippine Embassy in Oman Holds 126th Philippine Independence Day and Nationhood Reception

MUSCAT 27 June 2024 — On the occasion of the 126th Philippine Independence Day and Nationhood, the Philippine Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman hosted a Diplomatic reception at the Sheraton Oman Hotel on 12 June 2024. The event brought together at least 200 esteemed guests from the Oman government, diplomatic missions, businessmen, Filipino community leaders, and key figures supporting the Embassy’s efforts in promoting Philippine interests and the welfare of OFWs in Oman.

The reception served as a demonstration of the rich Filipino heritage, culture, and talent. Part of the celebration included an exhibit displaying the Filipina-inspired paintings by Madame Ana Algabre-Hernandez and a Filipino artist, Michael Rañola.

Prepared by a Filipino chef, the following Filipino food were served at the buffet:

Several Filipino restaurant owners and businessmen in Oman were also invited to set up booths and showcase their specialties or best-selling Filipino food/products for the event. 

The ceremony commenced by welcoming the esteemed guests for the evening and by acknowledging the presence of the guest of honor, His Excellency Qais Bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. Other members of the Official Delegation sent by the Oman Foreign Ministry for the event include:

• Hon. Dr. Hamood Darwish Salim Al Hasani (Member of State Council);
• Hon. Dr. Rashid Mohammed Juma Al Ghailani (Member of State Council);
• H.E. Abdulaziz Hamdan Abdullah Al Balushi (Member of A’Shura Council);
• H.E. Yousuf Salim Nasser Al Mukhaini (Member of A’Shura Council);
• H.E. Khalid Hashel Mohammed Al Musalhi (Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Administration and Financial Affairs);
• H.E. Ambassador Najeeb Yahya Al Balushi (Head of the Protocol Department at the Foreign Ministry);
• Ambassador Sheikh Abdulaziz Mohammed Saif Al Hosani (Head of Asia and Pacific Department at the Foreign Ministry); and
• Counselor Dr. Sheikh Salah Salim Jaaboub (Deputy Head of the Protocol Department at the Foreign Ministry)

The national anthem of the Sultanate of Oman and the national anthem of the Republic of the Philippines were played, followed by the Independence Day address of the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Raul S. Hernandez.

In his address, Ambassador Hernandez remarked, “Today, we not only celebrate a momentous milestone in Philippine history, but also the enduring spirit of resilience, unity, and progress that defines the Filipino people.” He highlighted the presence of over 50,000 Filipinos in Oman with careers in the medical field, engineering and construction, education, retail, trade, hospitality, and household service work. “Our people are the friendliest - one of the many things we share with the Omanis. Our talented young population, marked by world class hospitality, competitive education and training, and determination to succeed, makes the Philippines an ideal place to grow businesses.” He also expressed gratitude to the government of Oman for extending much-needed support and assistance to the Philippine Embassy’s attached agencies - the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). He also highlighted the strong economic growth of the Philippines, mentioning that in the first quarter of 2024, the Philippine economy was once again a frontrunner in the ASEAN region, posting the highest growth of 5.7 percent.

Acknowledging that a significant number of tourists from Oman visited the Philippines in 2023, images highlighting key tourist attractions in the Philippines (i.e. Baguio, Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Manila) were shown on screens around the ballroom while the Ambassador was mentioning these locations in his speech. Tourism and investment videos promoting the Philippines were also played afterwards. A ceremonial cake-cutting by Ambassador Hernandez and H.E. Al Yousef followed, as well as a photo opportunity onstage with the VIP Guests. The Embassy also gave the Guest of Honor and each of the official Oman delegation members  a bag of  fresh ripe mangoes from the Philippines. These mangoes have been sourced by Post with the help of our partners from the Department of Agriculture and Oman Air.

The participation of the following Filipino restaurants and businesses were likewise acknowledged. Listed below are the food/products they have showcased in their booths during the event:

The Filipino band “Nomads” serenaded the guests for the rest of the night with a  setlist including famous and award-winning OPM songs and lively English and Filipino music. Meanwhile, our official event photographer for the night was sponsored by Silvershots Photography, which is also a Filipino owned/managed business in Oman. The flower decorations for the stage, podium, cocktail tables, and the presidential table were also all arranged by Charmz Flowers and Gift Shop, a Filipino owned flower shop in Muscat.

The Embassy also distributed leaflets containing sixty (60) Filipino-owned businesses in Oman (Filipino Community Resource List) ranging from restaurants, retail establishments, logistics companies, to beauty and wellness businesses, to name a few. The leaflet is likewise published digitally in Post’s online channels. 

The event was successfully concluded with a heightened appreciation for Filipino culture, food, and heritage, made possible by the joint efforts of the Philippine Embassy, Migrant Workers Office, and by the participating Filipino community in Oman. END

For more information, visit https://www.muscatpe.dfa.gov.ph  or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinOman/.