Phl-Spain friendship: Queen Sofia in Manila

Manila, Philippines -  Queen Sofia of Spain arrived yesterday in Manila amid weeklong celebrations dedicated to friendship between her country and the Philippines.

The queen arrived on an Emirates Air flight from Spain via Dubai for a five-day visit.

Welcoming Queen Sofia and her delegation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq and his wife, and government officials headed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

June 30 is celebrated as Philippines-Spain Friendship Day.

Queen Sofia will inspect several development projects around the country that the Spanish government is funding through the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID).

She will also meet with officials of implementing agencies and beneficiaries of Spanish aid.

Her official program includes a visit to the National Library, the National Museum, and the University of Santo Tomas.

Department of Foreign Affairs officials said Queen Sofia is scheduled to have a private audience with President Aquino, who will host a banquet for her and her delegation.

Some 3,500 Spanish residents in the country will also have the opportunity to meet Queen Sofia at a reception that the Spanish embassy will host.

Queen Sofia arrived at 4:30 p.m., along with Alberto Virella Gomes, Spain’s Assistant Secretary for Development Cooperation for Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, and 13 other Spanish government officials.

She and her delegation will depart on July 6 on a Thai Airways International flight for Bangkok.