Filipinos gear up for Independence Day fete

Motorcade, job fair, cultural activities and competitions to be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi

Filipinos in the UAE are in for a treat in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the community is set to host a grand celebration complete with a motorcade, a job fair, cultural events, competitions, and medical missions spread across the month.

The Philippines will mark its 120th Independence Day on June 12. In Dubai, the Filipino community will mark the celebrations on June 15, expected to be the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

A grand motorcade by the Emirates Motors Sports Federation, Jumeirah Bikers and VIPs from the Philippines will be held at 9am. The motorcade, with a maximum of 60 vehicles, will start from the Philippine Consulate-General in Al Ghusais and end at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

“Everything is set. We have received the go-ahead from relevant authorities,” Joel Foronda, chair of this year’s Philippine Independence Day organising committee (PIDC), told Gulf News.

“Motorcades and cultural parades are a common sight in community celebrations back home. We’d like to hold it here as well as it is a big part of our culture,” he added.

Several activities have been planned for the daylong event including a beauty pageant, a hip-hop dance competition,

What:

120th Philippine Independence Day

June 15 (Dubai), Dubai World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi events are spread across June. The main event will be held on June 29 at National Theatre in Abu Dhabi.

When:

a battle of the bands, a fruit, vegetable and chocolate carving competition, and others.

A job fair will also be held where eligible nurses and educators will be hired on the spot. Passport USA will screen nurses with hospital experience. Passport USA will facilitate the migration of the selected nurses to the US on a ‘fly now, pay later’ scheme.

Educators with teaching experience will also be hired on the spot to work in Philippine schools in the UAE.

In Abu Dhabi, Ronald Precilla, chair of the organising committee, said several events have been planned throughout the month of June to accommodate everyone from different walks of life and with different interests.

The events include a beauty pageant, a medical mission, a sports tournament dubbed Ambassador’s Cup, a dance competition, a singing contest, an on-the-spot painting contest, a food festival, and many more. The main event will be held on June 29.

“We’re calling on our kababayans (compatriots) to come and participate in all the events that cater to all Filipinos,” Precilla told Gulf News.