The Philippines expressed profound appreciation for the compassion and friendship shown by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, exemplifying the UAE’s consistent acts of support for the Filipino people.
On March 10, 2021, Senate Resolution No. 671, authored by Senator Richard Gordon and unanimously supported by all senators, acknowledged HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed’s wholehearted support for the Philippines, especially during natural disasters including the Taal Volcano eruption, and super typhoons Yolanda and Goni, to name a few.
A timely gift
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE H.E. Amb. Hjayceelyn M. Quintana said that the recognition from the Philippine Senate is a timely gift of the Filipino people coinciding with H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed’s 60th birthday, and to all Emiratis on UAE’s Golden Jubilee this year.
Amb. Quintana said that the Senate Resolution showed the sincere gratitude of the Filipinos for the kindness and generosity shown by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed towards the Filipino people over the years.
The resolution also highlights the outpouring support for Filipinos here in the UAE who are currently part of the government’s comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination drive where Filipinos and residents are given free jabs to get protection from the threat of coronavirus. It also thanked the UAE for publicly extolling the heroism of Filipino medical frontliners in the country.
A copy of the resolution was handed over by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III to United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy Charge d’Affaires Shaikh Saoud Ali Mohammed Ali Almualla during the hybrid plenary session on the same day.
Building communities
Sen. Gordon, who is also the Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), spoke on how he has seen firsthand the direct assistance given by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), the UAE’s main humanitarian assistance agency, as it carried out the directives of the Crown Prince in lending a helping hand to the Filipinos in times of great need.
He furthered that the crown prince had established a community health center and rebuilt 18 schools in Eastern Samar in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.
Sen. Lacson also highlighted the UAE’s support when he served as the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery for typhoon Yolanda in 2014. He recalled that officials of the Emirates Red Crescent came to his office and offered $10 million to assist the 171 cities and municipalities affected by the typhoon. This was used to build school buildings in Basey, Samar and health centers in Eastern Samar.
“I haven’t thanked them since that time and I think this is an opportunity for me to express my thanks, through the good charge d’affaires, to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi for what they did during the onslaught of typhoon Haiyan or typhoon Yolanda,” said Sen. Lacson
