Spain's Queen Sofia visits Phl July 2 to 6

MANILA, Philippines - Queen Sofia of Spain will be in the Philippines from July 2 to 6.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were in Manila in 2000, 2003 and 1995. They were also here in 1998, when they attended the centennial of Philippine independence during the tenure of then President Fidel Ramos. Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jesus Garcia, Ambassador Jorge Domecq and Assistant Secretary for Development Cooperation for Asia Alberto Virella will form part of the accompanying delegation.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman will be in attendance.

On July 3 at 6 p.m., President Aquino will host a reception in Malacañang in honor of the Queen.

The royal visit will focus on the development of projects provided by Spain to the Philippines. Spain was Europe’s biggest donor to the victims of typhoon “Sendong.”

In the morning of July 3, Queen Sofia will visit Escuela Taller in Intramuros and the National Library, and on July 6, the University of Santo Tomas and the National Museum.

Founded by the Spanish government in 2000, Escuela Taller benefited the slums of Baseco and Intramuros, restored walled areas in Intramuros, repaired Malate Church, the DSWD office and the Almacen Real in Fort Santiago.

At the National Library, Queen Sofia will inaugurate an exhibition of photographs by two artists from Spain and the Philippines.

At UST, she will visit the museum, library, archive and meet the Dominican fathers and the Circulo Hispano Tomasino.

At the National Museum, she will view the indigenous exhibit at Queen Sofia Hall accompanied by Sen. Loren Legarda, the exhibit’s sponsor. The Queen will also see a display of facsimile from biologist Juan de Cuellas which was donated by King Juan Carlos during his 1995 visit here.

On July 4, in good weather, there will be a visit to Albay’s Camalig School and evacuation center, the hospital in Ligao City and the Academy of Climate Change in Legaspi City where the Queen will meet with UN representatives, the Legaspi mayor and host Gov. Joey Salceda.

She will exchange views with local mayors on Spanish programs aimed at strengthening local governance.

Camalig Central School was renovated with Spanish funds as an evacuation center for 60,000 calamity victims.

The Academy of Climate Change, which Queen Sofia will visit, was granted by Spain 18 million euros (P958 million).

Spain has provided the Philippines official development aid a yearly average of 30 million euros from 2006 to 2010, or P6.389 billion, mostly in grants.

The visit of Queen Sofia is aimed at further strengthening the long-standing relations between Spain and the Philippines.