Filipino community champion Josie Conlu was among a select group of 15 VVIPs chosen to be the first signatories of the UAE’s National Pledge and Commitment to the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a ceremony held Wednesday, May 20, at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center in Khalidiya.
The invitation, issued by the Office of the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, was signed by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, who also chairs Sandooq Al Watan. Conlu was recognized for her “standing, contribution, and example” as a community figure in the UAE — one of only a handful of expatriates extended the rare honor of signing first, ahead of a wider nationwide campaign.
The National Pledge, titled Ahd wa Wa’d (Pledge and Commitment), calls on citizens and residents to affirm their loyalty, responsibility, and dedication to the UAE’s values and leadership. Signing alongside His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan, Conlu held up the bilingual pledge document and placed her signature — “Josie T. Conlu” — on the historic parchment, with a miniature UAE flag resting beside it.
For Conlu, the moment reflects more than personal recognition. Over 15 years, she has built one of the most visible Filipino community platforms in the Gulf, organizing Kalayaan — one of the largest Philippine Independence Day celebrations outside the Philippines, drawing over 40,000 attendees annually — and Shukran, the Filipino Thanksgiving event honoring the UAE as a host nation. She has previously served as project manager for Emirates Loves under the Dubai Government Media Office and currently leads Infinite Communities, a platform with a 14-country reach.
She has also been conferred the Dakilang Bayani Award by the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and is listed among the 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf.
