Last night, I voted for the new set of officers of the Filipino Social Club or FilSoc, which I co-founded in 2019 with 11 others. It was the last day to vote. The Election Committee provided five days for all members to cast their vote, from July 8 to 12. The winning candidates will serve for two years, from 2023 to 2025.
For TGFM readers who are not familiar with FilSoc, here is the very first press release I issued on August 5, 2019, as the Founding PRO:
“The Community Development Authority (CDA) of Dubai Government has issued a license to operate to the Filipino Social Club or FilSoc within the emirate of Dubai.
The CDA regulates and provides licensing services to Non-Profit Civil Society Organizations which organize ongoing social, cultural, artistic or entertainment activities.
Dr. Omar AbdulAziz Al Muthanna, CEO, Regulatory and Licensing Sector of CDA handed over the license to FilSoc’s founding members led by its President, Ericson P. Reyes, recently at the CDA headquarters.
‘A license is a tool given to empower communities that wish to deliver social services. Our goal is not limited to merely giving a license. Our success lies in playing the role of the catalyst for Social Innovation. We set the playing field by creating standards and frameworks that promote creative thinking and innovative solutions. Applicants who demonstrate competency in managing the organization may only be licensed. We look at certain criteria’s which include the organization’s structure, board members, location, innovation, smart services, and sustainability. Licensed associations are encouraged to move away from short-termed, bubbled-pop solutions that rarely impact the lives of the beneficiaries and to start providing more sustainable programs,’ Dr. Omar AbdulAziz Al Muthanna said.
FilSoc is a CDA-regulated association that envisions to be the organization of all Overseas Filipinos who would like to participate in non-profit community services through social, cultural, sports, welfare, entertainment-related activities. The club will collaborate with other licensed social groups in the community and will support the major programs of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Dubai Government’s community engagement programs.
Reyes said: ‘We will have clear targets as to what we are going to do, how we are going to serve the community, and on how we are going collaborate with other CDA-regulated social clubs; and we are free to make decisions in supporting the programs of the PCG and especially the host government of Dubai.’
The founding members are Ericson P. Reyes (President), Cesar B. Mora (Vice President), Jomana A. Mohammed (Secretary), Orandantes M. Delizo (Treasurer), Olympia R. Pineda (Auditor), Arthur Lawrence A. Los Baños (PRO), Wendell T. Castro (Board Member), Gina T. Salazar (Board Member), Ahmad Almatrooshi (Board Member), Matilyn V. Bagunu (Founding Member), Marilyn Roscales Kasimieh (Founding Member), and Alan S. Bacason (Adviser & Legal Representative).”
The presidency has been contested by Ericson, Olympia or Olie, and Marilyn or Wafa. All the best to these three veteran community leaders. The CDA will announce in a General Assembly the eventual winners.
Thank you, Election Committee, members 𝗔𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼, 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮, 𝗔𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘀, 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗯𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮, 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇, and 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗮. They served for two full days over the weekend and for three straight nights this week.
Now, I can finally declare that I am retired from FilSoc events as well as most Filipino Community activities except major gatherings like the Philippine Independence Day (PID) and official functions of Philippine diplomats and visiting Philippine government officials. All the best and God bless the new set of FilSoc officers who will serve for two years.