Pope Francis to visit P'pines in January
Published on: Monday, December 15, 2014
KOTA KINABALU: Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Philippines in January next year as the nation marks Visit Philippines Year (VPY) in 2015. Philippines Ambassador to Malaysia, J. Eduardo Malaya, said a number of major activities would be held in conjunction with VPY 2015, including the much-awaited visit of the Christian leader. "Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Pontiff, will be visiting Manila. So this is the time to visit the Philippines to catch the Pope in person," he told a crowd of about 600 Filipinos during the Kota Kinabalu Filipino Community Christmas and Dance event, here, last Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking in promotion of VPY 2015, Malaya said heads of governments of 20 nations are also scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Ministerial Meetings and Leaders' Summit, which may see American President Barack Obama and China President Xi Jin Ping present at the summit. Among others, the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the final battles of World War II, in September, which Philippines and the rest of the world will pay homage to the fallen heroes during the War, he said. Philippines will also play host to the International Gastronomic Summit Fusion – outside of Spain, the Diving Resort Travel Expo in April and the Siargao International Surfing Competition in August next year, including concerts from international acts, One Direction and Justin Timberlake. "We expect more Malaysians to visit the Philippines because there is an increase of air connectivity between both nations, including daily flights by several flagship carriers," said Malaya as he noted the strengthening of bilateral and investment ties between Malaysia and the Philippines. ADVERTISEMENT He pointed out the RM187.89 million construction of the Philippines' first ever one-stop-shop government centre in Calabarzon Regional Centre in Laguna that is being carried out by Infrastructure conglomerate AlloyMtd.And the construction of the regional government business centre in Palayan City in the Philippines called Palayan City carried out by AlloyMtd, together with Neuva Ecija, which will commence next year, as some of he results of cooperations between both nations.
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He hoped to see tourism pick up with close to half a million Filipinos visiting Malaysia yearly, with 120,000 Malaysians visiting the Philippines in 2013. On another note, several displays of dances and singing performances from the various Filipino communities and groups were held to entertain those who attended the event, including organisers giving away prizes to lucky a number of winners.