A Filipino-founded professional training institute in Bahrain has reached a defining moment as Gimmarie “Gem” Bassig Reyes, President and CEO of GEMS Global Institute, presided over its inaugural graduation ceremony attended by high-level dignitaries and international partners.
The event brought together 180 graduates from a range of skills and professional development programs, reflecting the rapid growth of the institution, which has already served more than 650 learners since its establishment. The ceremony also became a platform to showcase how a Filipino-led initiative has begun shaping the standards of competency-based training in the Gulf.
Long before the hall filled with graduates and guests, Reyes had built the institute from modest beginnings—once operating with only a single laptop—into a rising international training hub now accredited by several global bodies. Her leadership, centered on strict academic quality and hands-on management, paved the way for the graduation ceremony to become a headline moment for professional education in Bahrain.
One of the most notable highlights of the gathering was the presentation of the NOCN Shield by the NOCN Group in the United Kingdom. The distinction confirms GEMS Global Institute as the first Filipino-owned training provider in Bahrain to be accredited by NOCN UK, formalizing its status as an emerging institution in global upskilling and international workforce readiness.
The ceremony drew key figures from both the Filipino community and Bahrain’s education sector. Among those in attendance were Dr. Orville A. Ballitoc, Labor Attaché of the Philippine Embassy; guest speaker Ms. Cristina Pastrana; Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed, Vice Chairman of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation; Ms. Butch Gumabay from the Migrant Workers Office; Filipino Club Bahrain President Ms. Rosemarie Hernandez; Ministry of Education representative and guest speaker Ms. Sama Almarzouk; and community leader Mr. Ric Advincula. Their presence reflected the expanding influence of the institute and its role in fostering Filipino excellence abroad.
Reyes addressed the graduates by honoring their place in the institute’s history and recognizing the resilience that brought the community together for its first commencement rite. “You are the first—the foundation of every batch that will follow,” she said, capturing the significance of the moment for both students and the institution.
Closing remarks were delivered by Vice-President and Executive Director Dr. Benson Castillejos, who outlined plans to broaden program offerings, strengthen quality assurance mechanisms, and pursue new collaborations with global partners as part of the institute’s next phase.
With its first cohort now entering diverse professional fields in Bahrain and beyond, the institute stands at the beginning of a new chapter—one shaped by Reyes’ vision of elevating Filipino-led education to international standards and expanding opportunities for global career advancement.
