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PHL CONSULATE GENERAL IN DUBAI HOSTS THANKSGIVING CEREMONY FOR FILIPINO COMMUNITY

26 June 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, led by Acting Consul General Giovanni E. Palec, hosted a simple thanksgiving ceremony attended by almost 200 guests from the Filipino community including leaders and volunteer members of the 2015 Philippine Independence Day (PID) celebration Organizing Committee and other special guests. 

The ceremony commenced with a mass officiated by Fr. Chito Bartolo of the St. Mary's Church in Dubai followed by the awarding of recognition certificates gives to the leaders and volunteers of the 2015 PID led by Chairperson Cherry Pye Zablan Torres and personalities such as Ilustrado Communications, business owners, private individuals and representatives of several Philippine schools who either supported the 2015 PID celebration or the other Consulate activities from June last year. 

In his speech before the awarding of recognition certificates, Acting Consul General Palec reiterated the Consulate's aspiration for even greater unity among the members of the Filipino community and lauded the continuous support of private individuals and business owners to the Consulate and the community in general. 

The well-attended event also was highlighted by the al fresco exhibit of the winners of the on-the-spot painting contest held on June 12 during the PID at the Al Nassr Leisureland in Dubai. 

Apart from selected Filipino food served during the evening, prominent Philippine beverages were offered to the guests courtesy of Agriculture Attaché Gil Herico.

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FILIPINO GRADUATES RECEIVE HONORS DURING New York UNIVERSITY ABU DHABI GRADUATION CEREMONY

05 June 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi proudly announces that three Filipino students graduated with honors at the New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi during its 2^nd Commencement Exercises held on May 24 at the University’s Saadiyat Island campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Kimberly Kathleen B. Rodriguez from Parañaque (B.A. Political Science), Gabrielle Teresa G. Dimanche from Muntinlupa (B.A. Psychology), and Benjamin M. Jance IV from Biñan City (B.A. Political Science) were among the 141 students from 53 countries who received their degrees this year from NYU Abu Dhabi. The three Filipino graduates also received the New York University Honors Scholar Award.

Ms. Rodriguez was chosen as the Student Speaker for the ceremony and delivered a speech on behalf of fellow graduates before distinguished guests which included H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development of the United Arab Emirates, and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Grace Relucio Princesa attended the ceremony and congratulated the Filipino graduates. “We take pride in learning that the three Filipinos graduated with honors and recognition from the prestigious New York University Abu Dhabi, which is considered to be among the most selective undergraduate universities in the world.  I encourage Filipino high school students to avail of the educational opportunities and scholarship programs being offered by top universities worldwide,” Ambassador Princesa said.