In a heartwarming display of international camaraderie, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated 25 tons of dates to the Philippines. The generous gift was handed over during a ceremony at the Saudi Embassy in Makati City on Monday, February 10, 2025. Abdullah Saad Al-shahri, the Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the Saudi Embassy, described the donation as a ‘message of love’ symbolizing the strong bond between the two nations.
Dates, a staple in the Saudi diet for centuries, were presented as a special product of Saudi Arabia. Al-shahri emphasized that this donation is just one of many gestures of goodwill from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines, highlighting other initiatives such as the successful separation surgery of Filipino conjoined twin sisters Ayeesha and Akhizah Yusoph, facilitated by the Saudi government in 2024.
The ceremony was attended by notable figures including National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim, Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Middle East and African Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Dinno Oblena, and representatives from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, Abdulrahman Almogren and Mohammed Alhamar. This act of kindness not only strengthens the ties between the two countries but also showcases Saudi Arabia’s commitment to humanitarian efforts worldwide.