Dubai-based Filipino dance group Flavor Vibes DXB emerged victorious in the grand finals of City Walk Unplugged Season 3, taking home the coveted AED 25,000 cash prize. Composed of eight passionate individuals juggling full-time jobs and their love for dance, the team’s win stands as a testament to their dedication and hard work.
“We feel blessed and overwhelmed because all of our hard work paid off,” Martin John Layosa, a 35-year-old merchandizer and one of the group’s members, shared with The Global Filipino Magazine. “We are also proud to represent the OFW and Filipino Dance Community here in Dubai.”
The group, which includes Deejay Alvarez Rivera, a 29-year-old social media specialist; Marc Daniel Bernardo, a 21-year-old sales officer; Norman James Fernandez, a 33-year-old performer artist; Jayson Hingo, a 31-year-old performer artist; Quiel Jordan Dizon, a 23-year-old performer artist; Mark Jefferson Garcia Santiago, a 31-year-old claims executive; and Allen Reyn Panugaling, a 32-year-old animated performer, faced several challenges leading up to the competition. Rehearsals often began late at night, running from 11 PM to 2 AM due to their demanding work schedules. Despite these obstacles, their passion for dance drove them to create a standout routine that wowed the judges.
The group, which includes members working in diverse professions such as social media specialists, performer artists, and claims executives, faced several challenges leading up to the competition. Rehearsals often began late at night, running from 11 PM to 2 AM due to their demanding work schedules. Despite these obstacles, their passion for dance drove them to create a standout routine that wowed the judges.
“For us, the first challenge was managing our schedules since we are all working. Second, we really faced the reality that the competition would be challenging because we were competing with different nationalities and genres,” Layosa shared. “That is why we really gave ‘flavor’ to our concept and routine.”
Flavor Vibes DXB plans to give back to the community by offering free dance classes to those who share their passion. They also aim to continue joining competitions to further showcase Filipino talent on the international stage.
“It is given that Filipinos are very talented and creative. That really gives us confidence to prove how talented the Filipinos are,” Layosa added. “We just showcase the Filipino talent with Flavor.”
