Doha, 13 July 2024

In harsh summer season in Qatar, the vibrant Filipino community activists organised a get-together under Family Day in collaboration with Kate Mall, Doha

The full day's celebration was attended by invited Filipino families in Qatar who enjoyed various games, fun-filled activities and features of the 1-km long shopping Center being the centerpiece of The Commercial Avenue Strip.

In addition to Filipino food offerings, attractions included cultural clothing, travel previews, health products, wellness merchandise, Philippine property & investment, insurance services and education initiatives.

Sponsored by the KATE Group, Creative Event Management, Kobeco Concept, and SM Development Corporation (SMDC), the property arm of the SM Group being the largest shopping mall operators in the Philippines, and in cooperation with The Commercial Avenue & Waseef, the Kate Mall Family day was organized by the Makulay ang Kalayaan 2024 (MAK 2024) Executive Committee.

The event was formally opened by Ms. Jihane Bou Haidar, Kate Mall Manager Ms. Ma. Antionette P. Lizardo, Assistant Vice President of SMDC, QIMRA CEO Dr. Jeanette Gotangogan and other dignitaries in a lavish ceremony highlighted with a spectacular rendition of the Bagong Pilipinas Hym by the Sacred Voices Choir duly authorized by the Philippine Presidential Communications Office in support to Malacanang Memorandum Circular No. 52 issued by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr

Antonia Caba, Administrative Officer of the Philippine Embassy in Qatar graced the occassion with an inspiring message on behalf of Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Lillibeth V. Pono.

Segments of the MAK2024 being one of the 126th Philippine Independence Day Celebrations (PIDC) in Doha were also held during the event starting with Cosplay performances by Cosplay Off Duty, Filipino Art Displays by BCSG Best Club & Diecast 168, a town forum on the acceptance of Filipino students by Beta Cambridge School in cooperation with Superfuture Academy, the finals of the Kwentong Pinoy vlogging competition and the Ginoo & Binibing Agila ng Kalayaan (GBAK) fashion pagaent.

Written Messages from Philippine Vice President Sarah Duterte and Senator Lito Lapid were shared while video messages from Senators Loren Legarda, Christopher Lawrence Go and Ronald Dela Rosa as well as from Congresswoman Marissa Del Mar Magsino were also shown.

MAK2024 Filcom Organizing Chairman Joseph Timothy Rivera, DHum hc paid his gratitude to the event's sponsors led by Kate Mall & SMDC for including the said segments of MAK2024 in the activities of the Kate Mall Family Day as he thanked the Filipino community for their continued support.

Dr. Rivera also presided over the education townhall forum together with Superfuture Academy CEO Jeniffer Tongol and admission consultant Abdul Hassan Gandaruza

Im her remarks, Ms. Haidar was pleased to welcome the Filipino community as she presented the great features of Kate Mall as a new events destination not only for the Filipino residents in Qatar but for the rest of ASEAN community as well.

Ms. Lizardo also delivered presentations on Philippine property investments in collaboration with Kate Real Estate.

GBAK chairperson Eng. Danica Alcantara underscored the importance of advocacies beyond beauty and fashion while Ms. Kamila Bellamlih, Operations Director of Creative Events and Kobeco Concepts concluded the day's festivies with emphasis on social corporate responsibilities alongside progressive entrepreneurs in Qatar.

The Kwentong Pinoy Vlogging Competition was bagged by Ms. Dianne May Tangarte while John Henry C. Alamag and Ms. Kyla Pontellas were crowned as grand winners of the Ginoo & Binibining Agila ng Kalayaan.

The Kate Family Day also enjoyed performances by Brian Joseph Sales of the Maharlikan Vocal Ensamble, Keith Bugahod, Jasmine Salvo and the 911 Performers together with the support of Lulu Hypermarket for the prizes, QIMRA, Keith & Lane, Alpha Omega Travel, Die Cast Land, Metlife, Uno Cafe, Big Diners, K Dragon Mart, Al Yaqout Flowers and various Filipino business and social community Groups.