Hello dear readers of The Global Filipino Magazine (TGFM). Thank you for reading, liking and even resharing some of my columns in the past 25 weeks. I’m so happy today to have submitted my 26th weekly piece. It’s been half a year you had accompanied me. Thank you to the people behind TFGM for encouraging me to contribute, special mention goes to the editor-in-chief, Ryan Thomas Namia, whom I met while he was with working with Kabayan Weekly more than five years ago.
I will use this column to announce some community and church events this week and beyond.
Filipino Social Club or FilSoc Bayanihan and Paskuhan Festival this Sunday, December 18, at Al Ahli Sports Club in Al Qusais near Stadium Metro Station. There will be entertainment numbers, game shows and group activities. This is a free entrance event so enjoy and celebrate the Christmas season with your fellow ‘kababayans’.
Philippine Business Council – Dubai & Northern Emirates Christmas Centrale at BurJuman Mall which is ongoing until January 15, 2023. There are food stalls, a mini-bazaar and entertainment programs on special days. Support the Filipino entrepreneurs who are participating there. We need to encourage more entrepreneurs in the UAE so that they can also provide employment here and even back home.
Simbang Gabi across the UAE.
Dubai: St. Mary’s Church in Oud Metha and St.Francis Church in Jebel Ali will hold 8 pm mass from December 15 to 23.
Abu Dhabi: St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the city and St. Paul’s Church in Mussafah will have 8 pm mass from December 15 to 23.
Al Ain: St. Mary’s Church will have 5 am and 8 pm masses from December 15 to 23. On December 20, instead of 8 pm it will be 7:30 pm.
Sharjah: St. Michael’s Church will hold 8 pm mass from December 15 to 23.
Ras Al Khaimah: St. Anthony of Padua in Al Jazeera will have 8pm mass from December 15 to 23.
Dibba: This is the only church in the UAE with 5 am mass from December 15 to 23.
Fujairah: Our Lady of Perpetual Help will hold 7:45 pm mass on December 15 and from December 19 to 22, and 8:15 pm mass on December 16 to 18 and December 23.
I will use this space to thank many institutions, groups and individuals who have aided me assist other people. They are Ambassador Joy Quintana and Magie of the Philippine Embassy; Consul General Jun Duenas and Charisse of the Philippine Consulate; Labor Attache Atty. John Rio Bautista and Erika of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) now changed to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Congratulations, by the way, to DMW Assistant Secretary Atty. Fely Bay, who used to be the labor attache in Dubai and then Sydney.
On July 30, I organized an online Town Hall with Labor Attache Atty. John Rio Bautista with community leaders, opinion makers, mainstream media professionals and social media influencers to discuss about the new procedures to apply for contract verification, OEC application and OWWA membership.
Thank you also to OWWA Welfare Officer Melvin Caseda; SSS Foreign Representative Mark Roue Oliva; Pag-IBIG Member Services Officer Lowella Recto; the Philippine Business Council in Dubai & Northern Emirates, and Abu Dhabi officers and members; the FilSoc officers and board and founding members; entrepreneurial sisters Christina Calaguian of DAGAZ HR Consultancy and Paz Calaguian-Mejia; academicians Dr. Rex Venard Bacarra and Dr. Rommel Pilapil Sergio; mental health counsellors Dr. Djonde Frega Antiado and Arlene Lamatsch; TravXpert pilgrimage organizers Lindsay and Rosie Benziger; and the Philippines’ Top 30 Leaders on LinkedIn creators Ian Santos and Anda Goseco.
There are also many brothers and sisters in our Catholic community CFC who have extended their Time, Talent and Treasure to us, specially to my mother-in-law and nephew. I’m adding ‘Pamilyang Zaragoza’, “The Original Thunders’ and our wedding ‘inaanaks’. Thank you very much. You know who you are and God will surely reward you a hundredfold.