We just celebrated the 125th proclamation of Philippine Independence last Monday and last Saturday, June 10, we had a big gathering in Dubai where Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, disclosed that there are over a million Filipinos already in the UAE.
Wow, a few years ago we were saying that there were around 700,000 Filipinos. Where did the 300,000 come from considering that the pandemic sent home tens of thousands of our ‘kababayans’ (compatriots) who were laid off?
This is from the website of the United Nations Network on Migration: “Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the Philippine government brought home 3,232,708 (as of 28 May 2022). Most of the repatriates come from the Middle East where there are large concentrations of overseas Filipino workers such as in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As of 31 May 2022, the DFA alone facilitated the repatriation of 460,383 Filipinos composed of 354,382 land-based workers and 106,001 sea-based workers and has mounted 113 chartered flights bringing home 31,130 repatriates mostly from the Middle East.”
I’m sure the good ambassador has some bases for sharing the figure. I have a copy of the June 2002 issue of the now defunct Philippine-based Newsbreak magazine which reported that the Philippine Embassy in the UAE said there were 130,000 documented Filipinos and another 20,000 undocumented individuals. Presumably, the latter were on tourist or visit visa.
Fast forward after two decades we are a million strong and the 3rd largest ethnic group out of 200 nationalities.
“ I would like to think that Filipinos were one of the first to help shape UAE history, for they were among the first expatriates to come here when Sheikh Zayed, the Nation’s Founding Father established the UAE. They were the engineers, architects and workers that helped build bridges and infrastructure of this young nation. They braved the uncertainties of being away from their loved ones with the thought that they are providing a better life for their families. Thus, over the years, they built better lives for themselves, and made the UAE their second home. Now, there are a million Filipinos in the UAE, and they continue to help write the history of this country as a significant part of the nation’s workforce on all levels, and they are also as an integral part of the UAE’s multicultural fabric,” said Ambassador Ver.
He added: “The visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his full support and recognition of the Filipino people’s contributions to the country’s economy and in the fabric of UAE’s vibrant multicultural society, are the very reasons why Filipinos have chosen the UAE as their second home.”
True, we are given the opportunities to do whatever we prefer as long as we don’t violate the laws of the country and disrespect the religion. Thus, I would like to narrate what I had contributed to my fellow Filipinos in the past two decades:
- I brought entertainment shows and information programs inside the villas, flats and accommodations of Filipinos in the UAE and Middle East by promoting The Filipino Channel when I was with the major dealer of ABS-CBN Middle East and then the company itself from November 2002 to April 2007.
- I participated in the Philippine Independence Day (PID) events organized by the alliance of Filipino organizations from 2007 to 2009 when I represented Gawad Kalinga, the social ministry of CFC at that time. As a former PID executive committee chairperson in 2008, I shared my time with previous PID chairpersons and vice chairpersons in organizing the Filipino Social Club (FilSoc) from 2018 to 2020.
- I raised the profile of the Filipinos in the UAE by advocating that professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders widely and systematically publicize their enterprises, events, and even causes in the UAE mainstream media since 2008. In the past years, I have included some social media platforms as another communication channel to promote Filipino excellence, craftsmanship and professionalism. I continue to share my best practices in public gatherings and online sessions.
- My wife, Rachel Salinel, and I co-hosted the Filipino Excellence in the Middle East (FEME) talk show on Dubai Eye 103.8 FM every other Tuesday night from October 2010 to February 2013. We invited guests from various economic classes and professional categories, including entrepreneurs and Philippine government officials, to share their struggles and best practices. We wanted our listeners to be inspired by their stories, to be encouraged to overcome their own challenges, and to empower them just like how the guests were able to stand up again and become triumphant.
- Consequently in 2016, we launched the FEME Connect free directory of professionals, entrepreneurs and talents and the FEME Forum, a by-invitation small gathering where subject-matter experts on business enterprise and promotion, and on other issues, interact with our selected guests. The FEME Forum has been conducted seven times in six years.
To quote the Christian prayer of new Philippine Business Council – Dubai and Northern Emirates Chairman, Edwin Duria, last June 10: “Lord, we lift up our nation before You, asking for unity among all Filipinos, regardless of background or belief. May we embrace our diversity and work together towards the common goal of building a harmonious society.”
Indeed, we have fully embraced diversity with the other 199 nationalities, and we have also worked together with them in building a dynamic and tolerant UAE. Thank you, UAE, for letting us celebrate our Independence Day with great pride. Salamat uli at Mabuhay tayong lahat.