---

COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS CONDUCTS UGNAYAN SA MIDDLE EAST FORUM IN ABU DHABI

28 December 2015 - The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) conducted the    Ugnayan sa Middle East: Engagement, Empowerment and Enterprise (U + ME = E3) Forum on December 11 at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Resource speakers at the forum were Senior Emigrant Services Officer Warner A. Dawal and Information Systems Analyst II Rosemarie V. Juan of the CFO, and Programme Associate of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Philippines Fernando Antolin, Jr.

In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. welcomed the team and said that the presence of experts from the CFO and UNDP reinforces what the Embassy, the attached agencies, and the Filipino organizations led by the Bayanihan Council in Abu Dhabi, had been doing. He reminded the Filipino community to be wise in handling their financial affairs. “If you have the will to save for emergency purposes and not go to debt or live beyond your means, I think you will manage to survive overseas,” he said.

Mr. Antolin presented an overview of the migration and development initiatives of the UNDP-Philippines. He said that the PESO Sense Philippine Financial Freedom Campaign is one of the landmark programs of UNDP and the Western Union Foundation, in partnership with the CFO and some non-government organizations (NGOs) and local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines. UNDP chose the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai to promote the PESO Sense campaign overseas.

Mr. Dawal gave a presentation of the CFO programs, namely, the 1343 Actionline against human trafficking, Itanong mo kay Ato! online legal counseling, BaLinkBayan one-stop online portal for diaspora engagement, and the PESO Sense financial freedom campaign. Mr. Warner further announced that the Regional Summit of Filipino Diaspora in the Middle East and Africa will be held from 26 to 27 February 2016 at the Desert Palm Hotel in Dubai.

The PESO Sense - Kaalamang Pinansyal Tungo sa Kaunlaran workshop for the participants was facilitated by Ms. Juan, followed by a Q & A, and the Panunumpa ng Financial Literacy.  Certificates of Completion of Training were handed out to the participants at the end of the session. Over 90 participants from the Filipino community and Post’s personnel attended the forum at the Embassy. 

The CFO team traveled to Dubai on December 13 for the conduct of the Ugnayan sa Middle East forum in that emirate in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.  

FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN DUBAI CELEBRATES
BAYANIHAN FESTIVAL 2015

09 December 2015 - Members of the Filipino community in Dubai celebrated the “Bayanihan Festival 2015” at the Al Mamzar Park on December 04. The festival was organized under the auspices of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

This was one of the most anticipated events for Filipinos in Dubai, which served as an opportunity for the Filipino community to get together and celebrate United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Day and the Christmas season. The Bayanihan Festival 2015 Organizing Committee was composed of representatives from different sectors of the Filipino community in Dubai. 

The program started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Madam Yasmin Cortes, wife of Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund P. Cortes. Deputy Consul General Giovanni E. Palec gave the opening remarks. The Consulate General personnel and their families also attended. The whole day event was packed with activities such as performances from Philippine schools, choir and dance competitions, a job fair and sports fest.

The event was highlighted by a variety show in the evening with a special performance by Filipino celebrity Dennis Trillo.

PHL EMBASSY, FILIPINO COMMUNITY CELEBRATE QATAR NATIONAL DAY 2015

21 December 2015 – (Clockwise from top left) The traditional parade during Qatar National Day at the Doha Corniche; Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Wilfredo C. Santos joins the festivities at the grandstand; Filipino students display their talents during the associated activities at the Al Rayyan Sports Club; Filipino community organizations show solidarity in celebrating the event.