Order of Malta prince visits Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing, arrived in Manila yesterday for a seven-day official visit.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. disclosed over state-run radio dzRB that Fra’ Festing is the second Maltan prince to visit the Philippines after Fra’ Angelo de Mojana di Colognain in February 1979.

The Maltan leader’s visit until March 7 also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Malta.

Fra’ Festing is scheduled to meet with President Aquino tomorrow to discuss bilateral relations.

“The visit of his Most Eminent Highness Festing is seen to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Sovereign Order of Malta,” Coloma said.

Fra’ Festing is expected to hand over to Aquino the symbolic key for Malta’s donation of around 700 core shelters to the Philippines.

Over 500 of these units have been finished, 64 are undergoing construction while 96 more will be completed this May.

Aquino will also confer on the Maltan leader the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Grand Collar award and citation.

The official delegation of the Sovereign Order of Malta will also meet with Vice President Binay, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and acting Health Secretary Janette Garin.

On Thursday, the delegation will be in typhoon-stricken Basey town in Samar province to personally inspect the core shelters that the Sovereign Order of Malta has donated to the local government unit.

Malteser International, the humanitarian assistance arm of Malta, had long been providing various forms of assistance to Manila, including health care, hygiene intervention, feeding programs, food supplements, medical supplies and disaster relief and rehabilitation.