PH Embassy in Doha Commemorates the 123rd Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Organizes a Mini-Sports Fest for the Filipino Community
Consul General to Doha Roussel R. Reyes delivers his opening remarks during the Rizal Day Celebration. (Doha PE photo)
DOHA 02 January 2020 — The Philippine Embassy in Doha commemorates the 123rd year of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal during a wreath-laying ceremony held at a football training ground of the Al Arabi Sports Club on 27 December 2019.
Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Roussel R. Reyes led the simple yet meaningful ceremony, which was attended by around 500 participants from the Embassy, Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Qatar and the Filipino community. During his remarks, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Reyes impressed upon the importance of celebrating the occasion and reflected on the works and life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, including his life as a Filipino migrant.
“Rizal was also an overseas Filipino like you, having stayed in Europe and other parts of the world for a time in his life. Some of the countries that he had visited, such as Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany, have markers or statues dedicated to him. If foreigners are able to pay homage to Rizal through these shrines and busts, we Filipinos who are Rizal’s own race should all the more honor him,” Chargé d’Affaires, a.i Reyes said.
The Embassy’s Rizal Day celebration was held back-to-back with with the Embassy mini sports festival for the Filipino community under the Hatid Saya (to bring joy) banner. Hatid Saya immediately came after the Rizal Day Celebration.
Before flexing muscles for various outdoor games and Zumba, attending participants were treated to free Filipino breakfast in keeping with the Embassy’s yearly Rizal Day tradition known as Almusal ng Bayan.
The back-to-back events were made possible with the support of the Filipino community organizations in Qatar. END
Philippine Embassy in Qatar Labor Attaché David Des T. Dicang, Consul General to Doha Roussel R. Reyes, and Vice Consul Benjamin A. Celedio (clockwise) pose for a photo after a wreath-laying ceremony on the bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. (Doha PE photo)
Hatid Saya banner with Dr. Jose P. Rizal bust at the foreground. (Doha PE photo)
Attendees fondly participating in the many fun and creational games. (Doha PE photo)
Attendees show their moves to a Zumba beat. (Doha PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar/.