It has been more than a century since Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo waved the very first Philippine flag at the balcony of his residence in Kawit, Cavite, symbolizing the hard-fought independence of our country.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we commemorate this historic event by our traditional flag-raising ceremony at the Philippine Embassy while our loved ones in the Philippines celebrate it with more festivities highlighted by the military parade at the Quirino Grandstand led by H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III.

When our president assumed office in June 2010, he committed not only to defend and uphold our freedom but also to advance our freedom from poverty through economic programs that benefit the common Filipino.

As we celebrate our political independence, we urge Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen to plan for their eventual integration into the Philippine economy to gain true economic freedom. Save what you earn while overseas and invest in our country and economy. There are many investment and business opportunities in various sectors that await any returning Filipino. 

We also invite foreign investors and business people to take a serious and deep look into investment and business opportunities in the Philippines. 

As a first step, we encourage everyone to visit the Philippines and explore its natural beauty. There are many tourist destinations that fit the interests of any visitor, Filipino or foreigner, and it is an excellent chance for everyone to learn about our country and people.  For a quick look, we invite everyone to visit our websites at www.philembassy-riyadh.org and pcgjeddah.org.