HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) visited Manila, Republic of the #Philippines and met HE President Benigno S. Aquino III. The meeting was attended by Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Department of Foreign Affairs, Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana, Office of Middle East and African Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs and Secretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr., Department of Trade and Industry. The meeting was also attended by Ms. Hassna Alturki, Executive Manager for International Relations to HRH the Chairman, Mr. Hani Agha, Head of Travel and External Affairs Department and Mr. Fahad Bin Nafel, Senior Executive Assistant to HRH the Chairman.

During the meeting, the President and Prince Alwaleed discussed a number of general local, regional issues and the global economic climate. Moreover, the two discussed investment, educational and social issues related to their respective countries. In addition, the President and Prince Alwaleed also discussed HRH’s global investments through KHC.

In 2011, Prince Alwaleed received at his office in Riyadh, H.E. Jejomar C. Binay, Vice President of the Philippines, and had met the Philippines President at the time H.E Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on a number of occasions; in 2007 during the Prince’s visit to the Philippines pursuant to an invitation by the President, HRH was awarded the Highest National Honorary Medal, “The Order of The Golden Heart With the Rank of Grand Officer”. Moreover, in 2009 HRH hosted a luncheon in her honor at Kingdom Tower during her visit to Saudi Arabia. Prince Alwaleed has solid ties with the Philippines through his investments in the financial sector through Citigroup.

Also in 2009, Prince Alwaleed had received a call from Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who thanked him for his support and generous donation for medical aid for the Typhoon Ketsana victims. The immediate donation was made through Alwaleed Philanthropies after the Prince’s meeting with H.E. Antonio Villamor, Former Ambassador of the Philippines to Saudi Arabia, where the Prince also conveyed his condolences to President Macapagal-Arroyo for the victims of the disaster and announced his readiness to donate. The allocation and distribution of the donation to those in need was in coordination with the Philippines government. The Foundation’s donation helped alleviate the suffering of hundreds of victims affected by this disaster.

In 2008, Alwaleed Philanthropies donated SR1,875,000 to Support for Muslim Mindanao Integrated Higher Development Center (CHED-ARMM), Philippines for capacity building, research and scholarships.