HR Professional & Lifestyle Influencer 

Proudly kayumanggi beauty Nina Peňalosa-Carpio is one lifestyle influencer who is using the power of social media to make a positive change in the narrative on Filipinas in the digital space.

Nina’s goal is to elevate the image of Filipinas by highlighting success stories of those who have broken virtual barriers to become leaders and influencers in their respective fields.  She also promotes the celebration of Filipina beauty, providing a great representation for kayumanggi-skinned Pinays, through her platforms.

Prominent as a lifestyle influencer in the UAE, Nina is currently the Human Resources Director at Jollibee in the emirates.  Recently, she has also taken on a new role as TFC’s regional host in the online show KWorld, covering different community events and featuring Filipino achievers in the country. She had interviewed a roster of Filipino talents, including Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

Nina shares, “One of the reasons why I’m doing what I’m doing is to change the narrative about Filipina beauty and being a Filipina in general. I believe that through my works, I have encouraged many Filipino women to celebrate the kind of beauty they have. I wish that I have also inspired them to elevate the image of a Filipina and embrace the idea that it’s not uncommon for Filipino women to be CEOs, presidents, directors, and country managers in companies.”  She adds, “I want the world to know the Filipinas through their beauty, intelligence, and passion in pursuing positive change. We can blaze the trail – not just for ourselves, but for generations of other women.”

Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever.

Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water

Get a copy of Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Legacy Edition

Nina Peñalosa-Carpio

www.smilelikenina.com

Amidst Dubai’s ocean of social media personalities, Nina shines like a dazzling pearl – a truly chic and clever lady with an inimitable talent and passion for creating beautiful content, be it through her blog posts or Youtube videos. In her own words: “As a lifestyle blogger and vlogger I try to create content that highlights my daily life but is also significant to others. I do my best to share my travel adventures in my blog and youtube channel “SmilelikeNina” in hopes that it will encourage others to go and experience different countries and cultures. Additionally, I aim to motivate people to try healthy living by imparting neat tips on how to do it. Moreover, as a lover of fashion and beauty, I dish out the latest on new fashion trends and makeup as well.”

Photo by Alex Callueng; Photography Assistant – Bethoven Filomeno Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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Marketing Professional

A Filipina at the forefront of marketing communications efforts at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Dubai, Danelle Ruth Palang has been championing the brand’s sustained success in the last decade.  As Director of Marketing Communications, she has been the backbone of the hotel’s launch projects as well as campaigns through the years.

In 2019, Danelle proudly notes that she has brought three of their F&B outlets to TripAdvisor’s top 50 and 100 restaurants in Dubai out of over 10,000 competitors. She has also launched two more outlets in 2018 and 2019.

An innovator within her field, she works in order to inspire her peers, as well as contribute to the progressive representation of Filipinos in the region.  She shares, “I sincerely believe that if we remind ourselves that we are only as good as our last performance, and aim to outclass our most recent one, then our achievements would be boundless, competition will be healthier because there is no person greater than the other – only one’s self becoming better and better each time.”

Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever.

Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water

Get a copy of Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Legacy Edition

Danelle Ruth Palang

For most, Danelle Ruth Palang, Director of Marketing Communications at the Dusit Thani Hotel Dubai, is responsible for promoting and upholding the iconic Dusit lifestyle, but to her peers, she is a formidable thought leader and innovator, the skillful intermediary between one of the world’s finest luxury brands and the ever-changing market dynamics.

Having spent nearly a decade in Dubai, moving here as a transplant from Dusit Thani Manila four years ago, Danelle professes that she finally found a place to call home. Regarding the Dusit as a company that has provided her a “stage to shine,” Danelle has played her role with the utmost aplomb and has been at the forefront of innovative communication that has reinforced the Dusit’s brand visibility, as well as relevance across platforms in recent the years.  Her initiatives and depth of insight into the market have helped the company to produce not only campaigns but also contemporary outlets that have breathed new life to the business.  Just recently, Dubai has seen the launch of two exciting outlets under Dusit – namely, 24^th Street – Asian Street Food, and Another Bar – bringing a new hip and quirky dimension to hotel customers and guests.

Always open to new ideas, experiences, as well as people, Danelle feeds off the energy of being surrounded by high-performing professionals.  She says, “Being around accomplished people keeps you grounded but ambitious.”  She also advises, “Stop thinking about yourselves. You accomplish more when not focusing only on you.  Focus on the bigger picture.”

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Special thanks to our sponsors: Emirates Airline, Stars n Bars La Mer, Liali, Instax – Grandstores UAE, Dusit Thani Dubai, Gver – Your Friendly Marketplace for Sharing, Meeting Dancewear , MPQ, CMG, Filbrit, and our partners Rozen Antonio Photography,  Alex Callueng Photography, Jef Anog Photography, and Ethereal Photography.

Browse the digital issue of Illustrado 100 Most Influential Filipinos of the Gulf 2018

DANELLE RUTH PALANG

Marketing and Communications Director

Danelle is one of the most authoritative Filipino figures in the UAE’s MarComms scene, but you will never hear this from her. In fact, you will be hard-pressed to engage Danelle in any conversation about her many achievements, as she is decidedly, resolutely low profile. As Director of Marketing and Communications, Danelle has been responsible for expanding the reach of the Dusit Thani Dubai brand and helping it assert a stronger presence on the digital space. She has also been a formidable force for corporate social responsibility, spearheading many projects that aim to raise environmental awareness and foster unity amongst Dusit Thani Dubai’s internal and external stakeholders. But amidst her stunning range of accomplishments and responsibilities, Danelle is most fond of her role as a mom. She says, “I am proud to know that my son understands and grasps the balance of struggling in life and working his way up. This beats any award, any day.”

Of the legacy she wishes to impart, she says: “I want to be remembered for the good and blessed lives left for my son and my sister, who are my principal source of inspiration in giving my best foot forward, in anything that I do.”

Photo by Alex Callueng; Photography Assistant – Bethoven Filomeno Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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The Annie B. (Batobalani) Chronicles

The adventures and misadventures of a ‘not so average’ Pinay trying to make it in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai

Summer is here na talaga! Time to put my purr coat and velvet knee high boots to rest and increase my lotion’s SPF – 15 may not be enough for my bukid-bred skin – so the higher the fairier! But since I got here in Dubai, I noticed that I’ve added a lot of pounds already. Now how do I fit again into my summer skinny clothes without looking like a suman? This dilemma is the reason I decided to sign up and join the popular gym – Pitness Pirst.

Based on experience, I learned that to be able to stand out, you must be surrounded by oldies and the fatties.  That way, litaw ka sa iilan lang na bata and obese. Most of the people who visit the gym during the mornings are the wranglers (gu-wrang) and the fatness firsts – those who are serious about fitness, since they really dedicate time and effort into being healthy. While around 10am upto 3pm, the treadmills and aero classes because of their free time and boredom.

During the night, after office hours beginning at 5:30pm, the cute and physically fit guys start to arrive and display their hardworked bodies while flirting with girls of their same types. It is a big mistake to work out during this time if you don’t posses a Jennifer Lopez figure because all the guys around you already have their six-pack abs winking at all the sexy girls inside the gym.  You wouldn’t want to be seen sweating like a pig with your tongue out while gasping for your last breath among gorgeous guys habang nakikipag-patintero ka sa treadmill, div ah?

Therefore my Pitness Pirst schedule will be like this: super work out in the morning before coming to the office. This way I can take my shower at the gym – tipid sa tubig from my flat, wala pang pila-pila for my turn, di vah? And after office hours, go back to the gym para dumispley at mag-pa-cute sa mga boys –ahihihihihihihihi!

So dizzizit!!! To my spaghetti strapped tops, tube and mini skirt – see you in a few weeks as Annie B. goes back to the fashion scene with her summer outfits. May my fairy gadmadir help me in this battle of divulge – I hope that my workouts be fun-filled and pain-free. Not to worry though, as my other friends, Salonpas and Alaxan, are always on standby. And sana may bonus na one cute guy with this battle of divuldge. Pang-consuelo de bobo man lang – pero sana naman smart, funny and witty sya.  Please fairy gadmadir help me and I will do the rest.  As they say, “No fain, No Glory.”

So watch out Dubai, I’m bringing sexy (not siksik) baaaacckk!!!

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Danabelle Gutierrez

Poet

Danabelle Gutierrez is the author of two critically acclaimed books of poetry: “I Long to Be The River,” published in June 2014, and “& Until The Dreams Come,” published in September 2015. Her readership extends from Southeast Asia all the way to the Middle East, with her books selling consistently with little to no active representation or marketing, proving that in the world of literature, one’s work truly speaks for itself.

In 2016, Danabelle had the opportunity of performing her poetry in the Emirates Literature Festival, making her the only Filipino in the festival’s long and impressive lineup of wordsmiths. She considers the launch and exhibit of ‘& Until The Dreams Come’ at FN Designs Gallery last November 2015 as her proudest moment. Danabelle says, “I’m proud of how the show and the book was received, but moreover, I am proud of how we were even able to do it at all.”

A consummate writer, Danabelle puts her work above her own self-interests. She elaborates: “I hope the work is remembered more than me. I would love for people to recognize the work first of all and most of all. Then they can recognize, Danabelle, the writer, the persona, as a mere afterthought.

Photo by Alex Callueng; Photography Assistant – Bethoven Filomeno Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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SONIQ

EDM Collective

In the pulsating, Western culture-dominated club scene of the UAE, Soniq stands as a uniquely Filipino voice – a group of young, musically gifted DJ’s on a quest to infuse the Middle East’s audio landscape with Pinoy soul. Having formed only 2 years ago, Soniq has quickly climbed the ranks of Dubai’s EDM intelligentsia, with gigs in renowned clubs such as Warehouse in Le Meridien Garhoud and Mint Leaf London. Of their swift rise to fame, Jay Carpio, one of Soniq’s founding members, attests: “As a group, we have a learner’s mindset. We strive to get better everyday by sharing new ideas & techniques. We enjoy being mentored by other DJ’s that have been in the industry longer than we have. We believe that a positive and humble character is key to becoming great.”

Soniq is Jay, Carl, Erix, Jedd, Mika, and Angela.

Photo by Alex Callueng; Photography Assistant – Bethoven Filomeno Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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LOU & CESAR PARROCO

Exemplary Professionals, #RelationshipGoals

As a couple, Lou and Cesar sustains their happiness by helping sustain the happiness of others. This inspirational, lead-by-example lifestyle has worked wonders for this delightful duo, as they have become one of the UAE Filipino community’s #RelationshipGoals.  Of their generous spirit, Lou professes: “We live with an advocacy of sharing your blessings and inspiring people to pay forward by helping others too.  Blessings can be in a form of time, talents, opportunities, counsel, wisdom, money, food, etc.  We realized, inspiring others to pay forward the good that you have done to them makes more positive impact to the lives of many, more than the charity events that we still occasionally do.”

Individually, they are forces to be reckoned with. Cesar has earned GCC-wide acclaim as a brilliant photographer, educator, and the Manager of Digital Media and Training for Nikon Middle East. Lou on the other hand is currently the Human Resources Director in Canadian Energy Equipment Manufacturing, has continually been considered as one of the well-respected specialist in her field and takes joy in sharing her knowledge and experiences as resource speaker in various seminars and conferences.

Despite their multitudes of successes in the corporate world, Lou and Cesar’s greatest pride and joy can still be found closer to home. Lou says: “One of other proudest moments in our lives was when we became parents to our eldest son, Patrick.  Giving birth to a child in a foreign land without parents to help and guide us, and being able to juggle that with the challenging jobs, had been a difficult yet very rewarding an experience.  That was the phase in our life when we felt truly grateful and blessed and have vowed to work harder not only to serve our family but as well as the community.   To feel grateful and blessed is a choice that drives you to do good to others.”

Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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Hospitality Professional Environmental Advocate

Working in the hospitality industry in the Middle East for over 16 holding various leadership positions, Leon Salinel is the Sales & Marketing Corporate Director for Oman-based, Omran Hospitality Group. As a consummate professional and environmentally conscious individual, he has found a way to merge his advocacies with his line of work, gaining him recognition in the process. Following his latest project, which earned an award from the Centara Hotel & Resorts, he partnered with his Sous Chef in sustainably recycling organic waste.

“The organic wastes, mostly fruit skins and vegetables are collected, I would take them to a residential area called Al Amirat where herds of donkeys eat them,” he says. “This has caught the attention of a publication in Muscat which birthed ideas to many.”

Also a member of the non-profit organization ‘Omani Paws Rescue, he has rescued many stray pets, providing them with homes and even adopting some. “Being the voice to the voiceless and owning a plastic-free home perhaps are two advocacies I am most passionate about,” he says. “The joy I get in seeing the animals finding food and shelter truly warms my heart.”

Leon prides himself in doing good for the world in whatever way he can. He has become a spark within the Middle East’s environmentalist movement, working tirelessly towards a green future.

Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever.

Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water

Get a copy of Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Legacy Edition

LEON SALINEL

Corporate Director for Sales & Marketing

The hospitality industry in the Middle East is one of the most dynamic in the world. In this highly competitive environment, Leon stands out as a frontrunner. In terms of expertise and workplace excellence, his career record is second to none. As Sales & Marketing Corporate Director for Oman-based, Omran Hospitality Group, Leon manages the company’s owned assets which includes Atana Khasab, Atana Musandam, Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, Masira Island Resort, City Hotel Duqm and Al Hoota Cave. Of his successes, Leon says: “As a Filipino in an industry that is predominantly rostered by Caucasians and Arabic speakers, it brings me great pride and joy to see just how far I have managed to advance my career, and in doing so, break the glass ceiling for my fellow Filipinos in the Gulf. To head a 25-strong team of various nationalities and experience is not an easy task – one that I surmount through determination and plain ol’ hardwork. What’s even better is that through the guidance and training that I provide to my team, I learn a great deal about myself too.”

His advice to his fellow Filipinos trying to find greater success in the Middle East: “Believe in yourself and find your passion, your calling and the very reason why you wake up in the morning. Trust in your capacity, your capabilities. Take risks and focus in reaching your goals. Don’t lose yourself and continue learning. Never tell yourself it’s enough. Be your own worst critique and don’t forget that the most important thing in your life is your family. Fight the good fight of the faith.”

Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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DR. ABDUL HANNAN TAGO

Dedicated to using his platform in serving his fellow kabayans, Dr. Abdul Hannan Tago has earned a reputation as a journalistic hero in the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia.  As a media veteran and lone Arabic-speaking Filipino journalist in the kingdom, he has utilized his skills not only to foster understanding within the local community, but also to advocate for the rights of fellow Filipinos.

In 2016, he received various awards for his outstanding body of work in media, such as the Filipino Media Icon Of The Year from 4th Global Officials of Dignity Awardsin New York, Bagong Bayani Star Award from Star Pinoy TV, and WOWHERO Award from WOWTV. He also led various, well-attended speaking engagements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His advice to his fellow kabayans: “Don’t let your mistakes stop you. It’s your weapon to continue and face the day with all your heart and make the best out of it. Every change must come first within yourself.”

Photo by Alex Callueng; Photography Assistant – Bethoven Filomeno Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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Mike Fillion

Artist

In Dubai’s thriving community of artists, Mike Fillion has distinguished himself as a renaissance man: he seems to be able to do anything, and he is great at everything he does. Music composer, filmmaker, writer, a now a creator of a sci-fi series called “Deciders.” Mike elaborates: Deciders is a multi-tiered project that is meant to begin as a toy franchise – but with a universe attached that opens it up to comics, and even movies. The basic gist is that a colonised Mars of the future develops a justice system where disputes are solved by Mecha battles. Sci-Fi gold. The project is in development and looking for funding.”

In 2016, Mike played a crucial role in the development du’s Tropa For Life campaign, which was specifically geared towards the Filipinos in the UAE. The campaign was so successful, it won the Gold Award for Branded Entertainment at both the Dubai Lynx and Mid East Effies Awards. Mike recounts: “The brief was simple: win the hearts of Pinoys in the UAE, and that’s exactly what we did through humor and music. What made the campaign particularly memorable was the soundtrack. The idea for it came from the director Richard Ang, who wanted a hip hop track for the “hero walk” in the commercial. The lead actor, Twizted Martines, was practically made to perform that track. Twizted and I wrote the lyrics, and my friend Lucky Schild from The Recipe laid down the beats. We wrote and recorded that song in a burst of inspiration. The whole thing was done in two hours. It was a lot of fun. And the sheer joy of putting this campaign together was evident in the final outcome.”

Mike may be a rain man, but he is decidedly clear on the legacy he wishes to impart to his fellow kabayans: that of a story teller. “I’ve always believed that great art stems from great storytelling. Whether it’s design or music, film or video games, when there’s a great story at the heart of it, audiences will be helplessly lured in. It’s something I learned from people like Steve Jobs, J.J. Abrams and Hideo Kojima. I’d be delighted if one day, the younger generation can learn it from me.”

Photo by Alex Callueng; Photography Assistant – Bethoven Filomeno Special thanks to – Giordano, Nikon, Liali Jewellery, Lulu, Mitsubishi and Western Union.

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Maxxy Santiago

Journalist

Maxxy is one of the most – if not THE most – highly awarded media personalities in the Gulf. As Senior Correspondent and Consultant of ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau, Reporter of the Arab Times in Kuwait, and  Program Director and Announcer of Pinoy Arabia FM in Kuwait, she eclipses most other journalists by virtue of sheer media mileage. In 2016, Maxxy was instrumental to the release of the longest serving Filipino inmate in Kuwait, Joseph Urbiztondo who was in jail for 20 years for alleged murder. From her alma mater, Claret High School in Zamboanga City, she received the “Gawad Alab ng Puso” Award – Nag-aalab na Puso sa Pamamahayag, for her work as a journalist in helping expose issues and problems of OFWs and getting the concerned government authorities to act swiftly.

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