Paul Raymund P. Cortes Philippine Consul General in Dubai and Northern Emirates

Philippine Independence Day celebrations across the vast network of overseas Filipino communities around the world are always eagerly looked forward to. For over 10 million of us, including hundreds of thousands in the UAE, June 12 is enough reason to calendar activities and stage events that highlight our heritage, music, culture, and essences. This year, the Philippine Consulate General and the Filipino Community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have chosen to once again to mark the most important date of our nation at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Our activities symbolise our community’s contributions to the diversity the UAE provides and to the innovative spirit the UAE society aims for. These form very important elements of our journey as global migrants in an increasingly mobile and highly efficient 21st century.

Often during our National Day events, overseas Filipinos are asked to take stock of what we have achieved as a people, 120 years after the birth of our nation and what we envision our next generation to be. We are tasked to visualise where we are and what we hope to be. Such introspection allows us to contemplate more deeply into the core of our psyche so that we identify that which needs to be worked on, allowing us to continuously move forward in a society that is increasingly competitive. We find ourselves in a community that has raised the standard of visionary leadership, creativity, responsibility and ambition; and by no means must we slacken our will and desire to ride by the pace at which the global community treads.

The Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have gone a long way – its 40 years since the first migrant Filipino professionals chose to harness their potentials in this part of the world. Today, many of us represent the best in the various professional fields in the country – healthcare, education, engineering, architecture, hotel and hospitality, sales and marketing, and many other industries. We have proudly played a meaningful role in providing the foundation for many families in the UAE. We teach the children and care for their infirm, build their icons, and witness the fruition of their dreams.

This time around and as we celebrate 120 years of the Philippine nation, I call on my fellow Filipinos to remain steadfast in their ambitions and visions of a brighter and more prosperous future for their families. Your experiences as overseas Filipinos will most certainly prepare you further as you take on the challenges of today’s global community. I wish all my kabayans in Dubai and the Northern Emirates the best the world has to offer as they continue realising their potential in the service of mankind. Mabuhay tayong lahat!