Last Friday night, October 7, I attended the 4th meeting of The Executive Club (TEC) of the Philippine Business Council – Dubai and Northern Emirates (PBC-DNE). I was invited by Edwin Duria and Jay Tolentino who are the movers behind TEC. Edwin is a Director of PBC-DNE
He said they launched the TEC on December 3, 2021 with almost 80 business owners and decision makers attending. “We do feel the need to have a structured business meeting to exchange referrals, businesses, collaborations, one-on-one meetings to know more about each other, and recognize members for their contributions,” Edwin explained.
He knows very well how to network being a Director Consultant of the largest and most successful business networking organization in the UAE called BNI. Edwin is the owner and Managing Director of PLAY Middle East Business Consultancy FZE which helps companies and individuals with license and residence visa issues or requirements. “I joined PBC in January 2015 as I needed to have a business community to support my newly-formed business,” he added.
Assisting Edwin in expanding the TEC membership is Jay Tolentino, who is in charge of Business Development of PBC-DNE. Jay said he joined the council in 2018 ‘to grow my network of Filipino business owners’. Jay is currently managing an e-commerce business, doing financial coaching, and does podcasting about financial literacy.
Even though I arrived almost two hours late at the Radisson Blu Hotel beside Dubai Municipality in Deira, I was still able to interact briefly with PBC-DNE Chairperson Marian Celeste ‘Bobbie’ Carella and with familiar faces Maricor Obias of Fortress, Jeric Defante of Virgin Megastores, Mae Fuentes of Pie’s Basket, Rhutie Jabagat-Ibarrolla of MENA LEGAL, Reggie Altera of Prime Group, Philip Vasquez of Teriyaki Boy and Sizzlin’ Steak, Renz Salada of High Performance Products Trading, Lyndon Magsino of PISO Master, and Allan Bautista, Nix Rey and Justin Cortes of LBC. It was nice meeting you Jasmin Luis of Viva, Michelle David of Avenue Hotel, and Jonarose Remillosa of Flawless Beauty.
Rhutie said it was her first time to attend a TEC Meeting ‘but definitely not the last’. She added: “Grateful to have represented MENA LEGAL in meeting. I had a great time connecting with accomplished Filipino entrepreneurs in the UAE. Looking forward to successful collaborations in the future. It was indeed a productive event.”
Also, there were husband and wife tandems Robert and Malou Prado of MPQ Tourism, and Norbert and Mylene Ante of iCHIPS Plus. Thank You to ImagineNation Creativeworks for the photo booth shot and to The MelRish Studio for including me in the post-event video production.
The Philippine Business Council – UAE was established under the initiative of then Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Amable Aguiluz III, in April 2001. Members were Filipino businessmen, entrepreneurs and senior executives, who have decided to organize a group dedicated to promoting and improving the UAE-Philippines relations and development of bilateral trade. Now there are two councils, the one headed by Bobbie and PBC-Abu Dhabi (AUH) currently chaired by Prof. Gau Raganit. It was in June 2003 when PBC-AUH was formed.
