A Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral and St. Therese Church in Abu Dhabi became an unlikely setting for a diplomatic address, as Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver stood before the Filipino Catholic congregation to speak directly to concerns raised by the ongoing conflict in the region.
Rather than opening with a statement of alarm, Ver anchored his remarks in the spiritual tenor of the occasion. Fr. Troy delos Santos OFM Cap., the Abu Dhabi Assistant Parish priest whose homily that day drew from the Gospel theme “Be Not Afraid,” had extended the ambassador the floor — an invitation Ver used to deliver both reassurance and practical guidance to his constituents.
The ambassador expressed full confidence in UAE authorities to maintain the safety of all residents, citing the leadership’s demonstrated resolve in managing the crisis. He urged Filipinos in the capital to remain calm, stay updated through official channels, and lean on their collective resilience as a community during a period of uncertainty.
Ver also made clear that Manila’s diplomatic infrastructure in the Emirates is not standing by passively. The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate-General covering Dubai and the Northern Emirates have contingency protocols in place, he said, with full readiness to provide assistance to Filipinos should conditions deteriorate.
The ambassador closed with a message in Filipino: “Magkasama nating panatilihin ang pag-asa — matatag sa pananampalataya, nagkakaisa sa pagtutulungan, at ginagabayan ng pasasalamat sa walang hanggang pagkakaibigan ng Pilipinas at UAE.”
The UAE Ministry of Defence, amid the same period Ver addressed the community, confirmed it had intercepted 165 ballistic missiles and stated that “541 Iranian drones were detected, 506 of which were intercepted and destroyed” since Iran’s retaliatory campaign against Gulf states began on February 28.
