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AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH FILIPINO COMMUNITY GROUPS, MEDIA REPS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

26 November 2015 - Ambassador Constancio R. Vingno, Jr., in his first few weeks as the new Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), met with various Filipino community groups and media representatives in the UAE.

Attending the Bayanihan Council monthly meeting for the first time on November 13, Ambassador Vingno spoke before leaders and representatives of Filipino organizations accredited to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.  He commended the Filipino community, saying, “My first impression when I came here, seeing you all, is that the community is very well-organized. I’m proud of that because one of my main tasks is to see to it that our fellow kababayans are well taken care of.”

Ambassador Vingno added that the Embassy is trying its best to improve and to make its services more efficient. He encouraged the community to project a good image of the Filipino and Philippines in the UAE.  He thanked the leaders and members of the Bayanihan Council for the warm welcome given to him and his family.

Recently, the Embassy’s media contacts also gathered to meet the Ambassador in his office.  Present were representatives from the two Filipino-focused weekly newspapers: Kabayan Weekly and The Filipino Times; English-language dailies: Gulf News, Gulf Today, and The National; and TV media: TFC Balitang Global (ABS-CBN) and UNTV.  

Ambassador Vingno also graced various functions and events to show support to the Filipino community in the UAE. Among these were the induction of new officers of the Filipino Community Al Ain (FilCom Al Ain) and the Golf Association of Filipino Professionals (GAFP) in Abu Dhabi; oath-taking ceremony of new architects of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) – Dubai Chapter; Cebu Pacific’s Product Presentation; Pinoy Worldwide Initiative for Investment Savings and Entrepreneurship (WISE) financial literacy seminar; and the Jesus is Lord (JIL) – UAE Chapter anniversary celebration.

The Ambassador, who also warmly received other organizations and groups paying courtesy visits, committed to provide better and efficient services of the Embassy and assured his full support to the Filipino community in the UAE.

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PHL EMBASSY GIVES HEALTH SERVICES, SSS ORIENTATION  TO FILIPINOS IN AMMAN

25 November 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Amman provided household basic health screening services to more than 100 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and gave a briefing on the procedures and benefits of Social Security Services (SSS) membership on November 20 at the Embassy premises.

The Gender and Development (GAD) project was held in partnership with The Royal Medics Group, a community grouping of nurses and health workers in Jordan, and SSS AbuDhabi represented by Mr. Danilo Quimson Calape.  With the Filipino community's enthusiastic feedback, the Embassy is planning further similar GAD activities in 2016.

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HYPERMARKET’S PINOY FIESTA IN OMAN GAINS POPULARITY

05 October 2015 – Following the success of the first Pinoy Fiesta held in October 2014, Lulu Hypermarket LLC, the biggest hypermarket in Oman, launched on October 01 the second edition of “Pinoy Fiesta” in all its stores in the Sultanate.

Pinoy Fiesta is Lulu’s marketing campaign which intends to showcase and highlight the wide variety of Filipino products available at its stores.  Pinoy Fiesta runs from October 01 to 10.

Philippine Ambassador to Oman Narciso T. Castañeda was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony held at the main Lulu Branch in Bousher, Muscat.  Guests enjoyed the live cooking demonstration and tasting of a variety of Filipino delicacies, as well as the colorful cultural dances performed by the Filipinos employed by Lulu Hypermarket.

Ambassador Castañeda congratulated the management and staff of Lulu and expressed appreciation of their continued patronage of Filipino food products to the Sultanate of Oman.