Marking the resounding success of its participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai, the Philippines celebrated 11 February as its National Day with series of activations highlighting and promoting tourism, culture, and investment opportunities in the country.
As the first world expo held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 Dubai is one of the biggest global events with 192 participating countries, including the Philippines. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) spearheaded the country’s participation as the organizing committee, together with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines.
“My appreciation goes to the organizers for making the Philippines National Day Celebration a memorable and fun event where Filipinos in Dubai and the UAE were joined by various delegations from other countries in showcasing our cultural heritage and pride of place. As we continue to look for ways to level up our country’s tourism and trade industries, our presence at the Expo 2020 Dubai proved to be worth all our efforts to keep up us in the consciousness of travelers from our source markets,” said TPB COO Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones.
The National Day celebration kicked off with a Philippine Business Briefing led by DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez which gathered together investors and business decision-makers to discuss the benefits and opportunities of doing business, as well as to promote export and investment opportunities in the Philippines.
“This [event] is made for the Filipinos here in UAE, back home and all over the world. The theme Bangkota represents our overseas Filipino workers, doing their share to our society. It is certainly a joy to be part of this entire Expo Dubai 2020 as a way of our support to the UAE government for its great care to the Filipinos staying, living and working here,” said DTI Secretary Lopez.
Ramping up the day, a flag raising was held at the Philippine Pavilion followed by a festive parade at the Avenue of Nations and cultural performances at the Al Wasl Plaza.
Highlighting the Philippines – UAE strong relations and keen friendship that have persisted for nearly five decades, the colors of the Philippine flag lighted the world’s biggest 360-degree projection at the expo site. The dome was filled with Pinoy pride, through an original production, Daluyong ng Diwa (Tides of Our Soul), with exceptional content created to complement the essence and design of the Philippines Pavilion: Bangkóta.
To conclude the Philippines National Day, TPB and DOT hosted a dinner reception at the Club 2020 Expo Site, attended by around 200 foreign diplomats, expo pavilion directors, Philippine delegation, UAE trade and tourism partners, Dubai-based media and cabinet members.
Moreover, in support of the country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, DTI, through DOT and TPB, organized a Philippine Food Festival, a three-month long business and cultural event that celebrated the Philippine culinary culture to the global audience in the Expo 2020 Dubai. With the end goal of promoting the Philippines as the preferred tourism destination through a celebration of Filipino Halal Cuisine, successfully encouraged the international participants and foreign visitors in Expo 2020 Dubai to mainstream Filipino food in their home country and create collaborative opportunities that will immerse their fellow-citizen in Philippine culinary culture.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed his congratulations to the UAE for the successful staging of the Expo 2020 Dubai and to the Philippine Organizing Committee for its noteworthy participation. “I am proud of our participation to the Expo 2020 Dubai. We are proud of our nation. Please continue to do well and to bring honor to our nation. We still have many things to do as we build a better Philippines and a better world. We assure that your government is committed to do everything for our people, our kababayans,” said President Duterte.
The country’s participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai is in line with the commitment of the DOT, TPB, and DTI to promote the best of Philippine tourism, trade, and investments. The country’s pavilion is open for public viewing until March 2022. For more information about the expo, visit the official website www.expo2020dubai.com.
