From left: Cultural Attache John Jiao, Kulinarya Qatar Chairperson Layla Bernal, UFOQ Chairman Ressie Fos, UFOQ Vice-Chairman and PIDC 2017 Organising Committee Chairperson Dr Alvin Abainza, The Look Company CEO Ed Burke, City Center Rotana Doha Events Ex
Around 20,000 visitors are expected to throng this year's Philippine Independence Day Celebrations (PIDC) which open today at City Center Rotana Doha.
Philippine Ambassador Alan Timbayan and United Filipino Organisations of Qatar (UFOQ) Chairman Ressie Fos will officially launch the event today.
The three-day event which marks the 119th anniversary of declaration of Philippine Independence will witness a wide array of events and activities.
More than 200 local Filipino artistes will entertain visitors at the event which features Philippine festival parades, ‘Lakan at Lakambini ng Kalayaan 2017’ (a search for PIDC ambassadors of goodwill), trade fair and live performances, among others.
Special guests have flown in from the Philippines to take part in the celebrations including Bianca Manalo, Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2009; Master Steve Grandeza, a Filipino World Kickboxing Federation (WKBF) champion and Michael Francis Lopez, a television personality and delegate to the 62nd United Nations General Assembly.
Grandeza will hold a training session while Lopez will conduct a journalism seminar. Twenty-four hours of free lectures and talks features this year’s celebrations.
As one of the aims of the event is the promotion of Doha-based Filipino businesses and entrepreneurs, a trade fair will be set up at the venue which will see 27 exhibitors offering Filipino cuisine as well as non-food items. A flag hoisting ceremony followed by the traditional ‘Almusal ng bayan’ (community breakfast) will take place tomorrow at the Philippine Embassy to be attended by heads of Filipino organisations and community members.
Twenty-six Filipino community organizations are participating at this year’s event which is themed ‘Beautiful Philippines’ aimed toward promoting the country’s tourism. Details of the event were announced at a press conference held at the City Center Rotana Doha. Organisers said this year’s celebration is expected to attract a huge number of visitors as it coincides with Eid Al Fitr holidays.
