This year – 2022 – has seen a lot of events reverting to pre-pandemic days. The very popular GITEX event at the Dubai World Trade Center was back with a big bang. According to the Government of Dubai Media Office, the 42nd edition of GITEX GLOBAL was the largest in the event’s history, with 5,000 exhibitors, of which 1,400 were new, and more than 138,000 visitors.
The next major international event is the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 17 to 20. Let’s see how it goes whether it will exceed the number of fans who watched in 2019 where the estimate of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi was about 135,000 visitors.
Another event within the Filipino community that will be back this year is the LiveLoud worship concert to be performed by young and talented Filipino singers and composers who promote and declare the Word through Catholic music.
The Liveloud band performed on November 29, 2019 at the Sharjah Expo Centre where almost 4,000 people came. This year the organizers and production company One Motion Event will hold the worship concert on November 26 at The Agenda inside Dubai Media City. The venue is near the Dubai Internet Metro Station. “The show in Dubai is expected to be witnessed by more than 4,000 Filipinos and other nationalities as they gather together in witnessing a wonderful performance by these young and talented individuals. They will be singing their well-known songs and new and original compositions, too,” said the organizers.
The Liveloud band was formed in the Philippines in 2009 as an avenue to create and promote original music and soon after evolved into an annual worship concert. It will also have an event in Guam on November 12, after the concerts in Cebu on October 22 and Bohol on October 23.
The organizers added: “We have been restrained by social distance for the past years, it is now time to go out and see each other face to face. There is no greater way but to see Liveloud in concert again.” For more details regarding ‘Concert Passes’ interested individuals can email info@onemotion-events.com
The last months of the year are traditionally concert months for the Filipino community. During my short stint with ABS-CBN Global we had Sharon Cuneta perform on December 9, 2005 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium of the Aviation Club, now called Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. The concert was part of the Sharon Mega Tour 2005.
On December 8, 2006, we broke the record of gathering the biggest number of concert-goers with 8,000 watching Bamboo and Parokya ni Edgar at the Dubai Country Club near the Ras Al Khor industrial area. The event was called ‘Rakrakan’ which was the first time the two bands performed in the UAE. Bamboo was then a band of four, with Bamboo Manalac as the lead singer.
Enjoy the weather and the other forthcoming events – big or small – with your loved ones. Stay healthy and safe, as well.