21 September 2016— The Philippine Embassy in Doha, through its brand movement, Kulinarya Qatar, celebrated the Eid’l Adha holiday with the 2nd edition of the Filipino Family Day and Food Festival held on September 12 to 14 at the Westin Hotel and Spa.

In celebration of the religious holiday of the "Feast of Sacrifice," which highlights the essence of sharing your blessings with family, friends, and neighbors, Filipinos joined in the holiday celebration by sharing and partaking in a variety of delectable Filipino regional and popular dishes.

The Filipino Family Day and Food Festival 2016 celebration was spearheaded by the Qatar 2016 core team, composed of community leaders and restaurant owners under the guidance of the Philippine Embassy. The aim of the event was to bring together the Filipino restaurant owners in Qatar under one umbrella and to promote the rich and colorful Filipino cuisine which is a reflection of the country’s history, culture, and heritage. The Embassy hopes to promote the Philippines through cuisine as the region’s leading tourist destination and a place ideal for doing business.

Roughly 7,000 visitors, Filipinos and expatriates alike, attended the event, which also featured celebrity guests such as Maneuvers dancer, Joshua Zamora and Sex Bomb dancer, Jopay Paguia, and other local performers. The venue also accommodated 15 food vendors and 30 non-food exhibitors, as well as booths that featured games, mascots, and general entertainment for the visitors.

“I hope that the Filipino community in Qatar will continue to support and promote Kulinarya Qatar in the years to come so that we can contribute to the growth and development of country. Through this initiative, we can promote our country as an ideal tourist and business destination,” said Ambassador Wilfredo C. Santos in his opening remarks. END