MAKKAH: Filipino Muslim leaders in Makkah region are elated over the appointment of two Muslims to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet.
Ahmad Ali “Datths” Piang Alonto, founding chairman of the Bangsamoro OverSeas Solidarity (BOSS), said the appointment of lawyers Abdullah Mama-o as a Presidential Adviser on OFW Affairs and Muslim Concerns and Guiling Mamondiong as the head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is a welcome move.
Rolly Allano, chairman of the Bangsa Maguindanaon Group, said he is optimistic that the two Muslim cabinet secretaries would help forge stronger ties and more reforms on the labor agreements between the government of Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.
In a press statement, the community also welcomed the appointment of Mamondiong as this year’s Amirul Haj or head of the Philippine Haj pilgrims.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), which is due to have a new head, is expecting a smooth flow in processing Haj documents following the exposure of a scam involving the sale of Philippine Haj slots to foreign nationals.
Earlier this month, 177 would-be members of the Philippine Haj delegation were stopped at the airport in Manila from departing for Saudi Arabia after they were found to be Indonesians illegally possessing Philippine passports.
Five Filipinos who were supposed to escort them were also detained and placed under investigation.
Members of the Filipino Muslim community say the sale of Philippine Haj slots to foreigners had long been an open secret but it’s only now under Duterte’s leadership that officials had taken action against it. They said the scam had deprived many poor Filipino Muslims a chance to perform Haj.
Meanwhile, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has set up special flights to the Kingdom to serve the travel needs of those taking part in the Haj pilgrimage to Makkah.
"We are heeding the clamor of our Muslim brothers and sisters for a convenient link to a destination in the Middle East which will serve as their gateway to Makkah. PAL looks forward to be their official carrier as they fulfill this annual religious tradition," PAL President and COO Jaime J. Bautista said in a post on the Philippine Airlines website.
Filipino Muslims in Makkah region happy with Duterte appointees
Filipino Muslims in Makkah region happy with Duterte appointees
Saudi ambassador to US represents Kingdom at Trump inauguration ceremony
- Princess Reema bint Bandar passes on congratulations of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Trump as he begins second term as US president
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, represented the Kingdom at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday.
The princess passed on the congratulations of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Trump on the day of his second inauguration as US president. She also conveyed the hopes of the Saudi leadership that he will enjoy success in his duties, the Saudi Press Agency reported
“As our two nations celebrate 80 years of friendship, it was my honor to convey our leadership’s heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to President Donald Trump and the American people on his inauguration,” Princess Reema wrote in a message posted on social media platform X.
“The relationship between our two countries is historic and we look forward to continuing our work together for the benefit of both our peoples, our region and the world.”
As he was sworn in as 47th president of the US, Trump promised a “revolution of common sense.” He takes charge as Republicans also assume unified control of the Capitol and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.
Jeddah’s oldest school to begin new chapter as museum
- We still visit to remember the good old days, says 82-year-old alum
JEDDAH: The first school formally established in the Arabian Peninsula is poised for a new chapter as a museum, according to Ali Al-Sulimani, the managing director.
The historical section of Al-Falah School building will be handed over to the Ministry of Culture for its transformation into a cultural landmark.
It was built in 1905 by Saudi businessman Sheikh Mohammed Ali Zainal Alireza as the first boys’ school in Jeddah at a time when the Hijaz, the western part of modern Saudi Arabia, was partially under Ottoman Turkish rule and both poverty and illiteracy were common.
Although Zainal went through major financial crises, he continued funding the school with help from other business families. Eventually, the Kingdom’s founder King Abdulaziz visited it and appreciated its great educational and social role, and arranged for government support.
The school marks the onset of modern education in Saudi Arabia and has been the alma mater of numerous national figures, including former Minister of Information Mohammed Abdu Yamani, former Minister of Commerce Abdullah Zail, former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ahmed Zaki Yamani, and former Minister of Hajj Hamid Harasani among others.
Al-Falah School, is located in the heart of the historical area in Jeddah, has continued to the present day, and includes two buildings, the older of them dating back more than 120 years.
According to Al-Sulimani the older building will be a fully integrated museum, including a cultural space, a cafe with a heritage theme and seating areas where visitors can learn about the historical area and the history of the school.
“The old part was handed over to the Ministry of Culture to be prepared to comply with the development plans for the old buildings in the historic area,” he said.
One former pupil, 82-year-old Hamza Awfi, told Arab News: “The school was based on a solid foundation. It is the place I considered as our second home. Here I have met many students who graduated and later held important leadership positions and I still remember them, young and old.
It was a place of knowledge and it provided me a wonderful environment and opportunity to learn and grow myself in every field.
Ahmed Abdulgader Al-Noaman, 72-year-old alum
“We really hold great memories, and by the way, I and other friends who graduated from this school, still go and visit it from time to time to remember our old good days.”
Awfi added that keeping the modern building for education as a symbol of resilience and enlightenment while at the same time transforming the old building into a museum is a great idea.
Another former pupil, 72-year-old Ahmed Abdulgader Al-Noaman, told Arab News: “My four years at Al-Falah have been an excellent memory to cherish for a lifetime. The time spent has been full of learning opportunities. It was a place of knowledge and it provided me a wonderful environment and opportunity to learn and grow myself in every field.”
The school offers three levels of education — elementary, intermediate and high school — with each having its own playground. Today, the old U-shaped building stands in the center of the complex and is used by elementary students. The classrooms remain their original size, which is considered small by current standards.
The floors, ceilings, and doors of the school’s original building are made from wood they were restored, with their traditional character retained in order to preserve the school’s history and heritage. The original green dome still rests on top of the old building.
Turki Alalshikh launches City Hub entertainment project in 7 Saudi cities
- Project works exclusively with Saudi companies
- Jazan, Alkhobar, Buraidah, Hail, Al-Baha, Taif, and Tabuk to host City Hub
RIYADH: A new project bringing a range of entertainment offerings to seven Saudi cities has been announced by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.
The City Hub project will begin its journey in Jazan on Jan. 23, followed by stops in Alkhobar, Buraidah, Hail, Al-Baha, Taif, and concluding in Tabuk in August after spending 14 days in each city.
The project exclusively works with Saudi companies, creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities in the Kingdom’s entertainment industry, according to organizers.
Covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters in each city, City Hub will provide a diverse range of entertainment including video games, circus acts, and a “Horror Zone.”
One of the main attractions is the “Play and Learn Festival,” which offers children a hands-on experience in various professional fields, including innovation, banking, and medicine.
This initiative was designed to allow young visitors to explore future career paths through interactive activities, organizers said in a statement.
An electronic games zone will feature esports tournaments with titles such as EAFC24 and TEKKEN 8, presenting prizes to winners.
For thrill-seekers, the “Horror Zone” promises an immersive experience, complete with lifelike challenges.
Meanwhile, the circus tent will host a variety of performances, including dancing fountains, trapeze acts, and the adrenaline-filled 360-degree motorcycle cage performance.
A pet bird zone allows guests to engage with rare birds in a natural setting.
Visitors can also enjoy a diverse marketplace and a curated selection of local and international restaurants, ensuring a rich culinary experience.
Each city will host City Hub for 14 days, underscoring GEA’s commitment to promoting local content.
Saudi fund chief receives GCC representative to UNHCR
- They discussed ways to enhance development cooperation between the Saudi fund and UNHCR
RIYADH: Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Al-Marshad received the senior adviser and GCC Representative to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Khaled Khalifa, and an accompanying delegation in Riyadh on Monday.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance development cooperation between the Saudi fund and UNHCR, the former’s official account wrote on X.
Al-Marshad also received Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom Anatolii Petreno and discussed bilateral cooperation during a recent meeting in Riyadh.
KSrelief, Saudi Esports Federation donate $1.7m to UNICEF to boost children’s education in Burkina Faso
- John Agbor: Thanks to the generous contribution of KSrelief and SEF, thousands of children will benefit from formal and non-formal education, vocational training and radio-based learning
- Funds will support preschool education for 4,500 children, formal and non-formal education for 16,700 children, and technical innovations for 6,600 children
RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation, through the Gamers Without Borders tournament — the largest virtual charity event for gaming and esports — in collaboration with Saudi aid agency KSrelief, donated over $1.7 million to UNICEF’s office in Burkina Faso.
The grant aims to provide formal and non-formal education to more than 27,800 children, 50 percent of whom are girls, in areas affected by insecurity.
John Agbor, UNICEF representative in Burkina Faso, said: “Thanks to the generous contribution of KSrelief and Saudi Esports Federation, thousands of children will benefit from formal and non-formal education, vocational training and radio-based learning.”
The funds will support preschool education for 4,500 children, formal and non-formal education for 16,700 children, and technical innovations for 6,600 children in the Central-North, North, East, Sahel, and Boucle du Mouhoun regions.
As of December 2024, the humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso remains difficult, with over 2 million displaced due to conflict.
Despite the government’s efforts to reopen more than 1,500 schools, over 5,000 remain closed, affecting 20 percent of the country’s educational institutions.
In one year, primary school enrollment rates in Burkina Faso dropped from 85.8 percent in 2022 to 77.4 percent in 2023.
With KSrelief and the Saudi Esports Federation’s support, UNICEF has launched several initiatives, including building and equipping 27 classrooms, creating more than 100 accelerated learning centers for out-of-school children, and planning vocational training for 500 boys and girls.
Other initiatives aim to reach 6,000 children through emergency classrooms and 600 children via remote learning with tablets, as well as increase radio-based learning and provide school supplies for vulnerable children.
