Ambassador Tago's remarks came during the celebration of the 126th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence under the theme 'Freedom - Future - History', held at the Embassy of the Philippines in Cairo on Tuesday.

The event was attended by Ambassador Ahmed Shahin, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Affairs; Ambassador Nabil Habashi, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Protocol Affairs; and members of the diplomatic corps.

Tago highlighted that the Philippine embassy in Cairo was the first Philippines diplomatic mission established in the Middle East and Africa. 

"Based on this foundation, we are fully committed to pushing forward our bilateral relations in various fields," he noted.

The Philippines ambassador thanked the Egyptian government for its continuous humanitarian positions - especially during the recent conflicts in Sudan and Gaza. 

Egypt has helped the Philippines evacuate Filipinos from Sudan and Gaza into safety as Egypt continues to extend help and hospitality to everyone, added Tago.

"For decades, Muslim Filipinos have studied at Al-Azhar University and about 250 students are studying at the Islamic institution."

Back on track!
 

"I am happy to announce that the Philippine economy is back on track. We enjoy economic growth expected to increase by an average of 5.9 percent from this year until 2026 and hopefully beyond,” said Ambassador Tago.

"The Philippines takes pride as a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), noted the ambassador.

"ASEAN is expected to be the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030. Our regional association has a combined GDP of approximately $3.7 trillion with over 670 million people in total population, making us the third-largest economy in Asia and the fifth-largest globally."

Visit us!
 

"Visit the Philippines to experience its natural wonders, breathtaking landscapes, and warm-hearted people. We take pride in our unique heritage and vibrant culture, a blend of indigenous traditions and influences from various civilizations that have shaped our identity," said Tago.

"In 2023, the Philippines was awarded four major tourism recognitions from the prestigious World Travel Awards. We defended our title as the World’s Leading Dive Destination and the World’s Leading Beach Destination," he added.