Tribe, a collective and sub-committee under the Philippine Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates, proudly announces the success of its inaugural event held at the Jameel Arts Centre. This initiative aims to unite Filipino creatives and communications practitioners in the UAE, fostering a community dedicated to creativity and collaboration.
The highly anticipated event attracted over 150 attendees from the UAE’s creative and communications industry. Esteemed Philippine dignitaries, including HE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, Ambassador of the Philippines to the UAE, Consul General Marford Angeles, and Vice Consul Jim Jimeno, graced the occasion with their presence.
Bethoven Filomeno, Committee Head of Tribe, opened the event, followed by Krishna Dela Paz, Brand Communications Head of Tribe, who outlined Tribe’s membership.
Bethoven Filomeno said, “What we’re doing here with Tribe isn’t new. It’s a ripple effect of the groundwork laid by those who came before us in the creative industry. We at Tribe are deeply committed to continuing the work of those who’ve championed Filipino representation and elevated the Filipino brand in the UAE’s diverse and vibrant creative scene. The future looks incredibly promising. And now we have the privilege of bringing together these pioneers and trailblazers alongside the next generation of Filipino creatives and comms practitioners in the UAE. It’s truly inspiring to witness young Filipino creatives and comms practitioners thriving and championing the Filipino brand.”
The event featured a panel discussion with five of the most accomplished Filipino creatives and communications professionals in the UAE:
- Lalaine Chu-Benitez: Co-Founder and Managing Director of Illustrado
- Joseph Bihag: Managing Director and Executive Creative Director of Almost Impossible Agency
- Michelle Co: Creative Director at FP7 McCann Dubai
- One Carlo Diaz: Writer for Lifestyle at The National
- Farah Ali: English Programme Manager at Emirates Literature Foundation
Moderated by Tricia Jimenea, Managing Director of ComCo Middle East, the panel delved into the triumphs, challenges, and inspirations driving their creative pursuits in the UAE’s vibrant and diverse creative landscape. Attendees gained invaluable insights into being a Filipino creative professional in the region and how to elevate creative excellence within the Filipino community and beyond.
The kickoff also showcased the works of three celebrated UAE-based Filipino artists:
- Donell Gumiran: Collection of photographs titled “Faces of the Last Tribes,” featuring portraits of the world’s last remaining tribes
- Ella Orencillo: Collection of paintings titled “In Between Fantasy and Actuality”
- Dexter Modesto: Collection of art pieces made of recycled shuttlecocks titled “Upcycled Elegance: Sustainability in Art”
The event also witnessed live calligraphy sessions by local Filipino creative entrepreneurs. Daryl Malabat from LIKHA created personalised bookmarks for guests as mementoes, and Gino Banola of ANYO brought back the appreciation for the Philippine ancient baybayin script.
Attendees had opportunities to network and connect with fellow Filipino creatives and communications practitioners during the interactive networking activity, “Find Your Tribe.”
Krishna Dela Paz highlighted the importance of community, stating, “We all know that having trusted mentors, peers, and partners is a game-changer in our creative journeys. That’s why we want to build a platform and community where we can find our tribe and foster meaningful connections. We’ve seen the remarkable creations of our featured artists, as well as the inspiring accomplishments of our featured speakers. But there’s still so much more talent within our community waiting to be discovered. At Tribe, we’re committed to celebrating Filipino creativity through conversation, exhibits, features, networking and professional development opportunities.”
The closing ceremony was officiated by Marian Celeste Carella, Tribe Adviser and Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates, and the rest of the Tribe core team: Allan Bautista, Bethoven Filomeno, Krishna Dela Paz, Dano Santos, and Mherck Dela Cruz.
