Executive Chef

Mostly working behind the scenes, Filipino talents in the fiercely competitive culinary sector in the region were largely “invisible” to the mainstream.  Chef Andrew Paderes broke through the glass ceiling, stamping not only Filipino representation but also leadership in the field.

Having honed his skills at Chef Gordon Ramsay’s Maze in Qatar and Nobu in London – Chef Andrew has been thriving in Dubai’s cutthroat food scene, carving a path in the industry for many Filipino culinary professionals to follow. The first Filipino to be recognized alongside celebrity chefs from all over the globe at the annual Taste of Dubai – the country’s most renowned culinary event for gourmands, Chef Andrew has also served as Executive Chef at The Gramercy at swanky DIFC, then Claw BBQ Crabshack and Grill, and as Group Executive Chef for hip brand Stars and Bars.  He currently works as Executive Chef at Catch 22 – a multi-cuisine foodie hotspot with branches in the UAE and KSA, leading a multicultural team.

Continuing to serve as a role model not only for Filipinos but also for aspirants from other countries, he has helped shape the careers of many: “For me, success is being able to impact those you work with. I was able to train both Filipino and non-Filipino talents from the lowest positions in the kitchen into leading forces in their work environments. Being true and fair with the people I work with has had a positive influence in all the workplaces I have been in.”

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

Chef Andrew Paderes

It’s not every day that you hear of a Pinoy chef with the success and leadership forte of Chef Andrew Paderes. Group Executive Chef at wildly successful Stars N Bars at Jumeirah’s hip and happening shorefront venue, La Mer, Andrew brings to the table a fresh take on American cuisine, peppered by influences from around the world.

With a perpetual hunger for excellence, Andrew says his assertiveness stems from his experience working at Nobu in London, and then at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Maze in Doha.  Thereon, Chef Andrew became Executive Chef at The Gramercy at swanky DIFC, and then Claw BBQ Crabshack and Grill, and was the only Filipino featured in the city’s definitive annual foodie event – The Taste of Dubai.  According to him, positivity, ambition, and humility are the qualities which determine success.

 “Deliver beyond the expected.  Keep yourself grounded and humble. No matter how high you soar in your field, make sure you can be a model for others by leading them closely and not from a distance.”

Endeavoring to exemplify Filipino talent on a global scale, Andrew is working on a collaboration with European contemporaries on a project known as 13 Chefs – the launch of which, he hosted in the UAE. He was also given the opportunity to do heritage cooking in Ukraine, sharing Filipino cuisine with the fraternity of chefs there. Of the project, he says, “I’m so excited as I get the chance to promote the food from my home, the food I grew up with, in a country where our culinary identity is not yet recognized.”

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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

Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf – Chef Andrew Paderes – The Gourmet Guru

                                                          Chef Andrew Paderes Photo by Eros Goze for Illustrado Magazine

When Chef Andrew Paderes was offered the role of Executive Chef by his first employer in Dubai, he had to ask himself if he could truly step up to the plate. From working at Nobu in London, then Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Maze in Qatar, Chef Andrew found his way to Dubai as the Executive Chef at the swanky The Gramercy, located at the DIFC, Dubai’s bustling financial district, alongside international brands.  The restaurant had a famously distinguished clientele, and for a while, Chef Andrew doubted if he had the skills to live up to its high profile reputation.

But with sheer determination and perseverance, as well as his popular signature dish of seared scallops and jumbo prawns, not only was he able to meet expectations, but surpass them and move on to become a key figure in Dubai’s gastronomic scene.

Currently, Chef Andrew, who has been the only Filipino featured in the city’s definitive annual foodie event – The Taste of Dubai, is the Executive Chef for Claw BBQ Crabshack and Grill. “On few occasions when I had to go out of the kitchen and present myself as The Chef, I can’t help but notice the tone of surprise from customers,” he says. “I bet they are gladly surprised to learn I am a Filipino.”

In his years of working as the head of one of Dubai’s busiest kitchens, Chef Andrew has learned the value of being assertive. He has discovered that there is no room for being submissive – especially in the restaurant business. In fact he had to train himself to let go of the “Yes sir” and “Yes ma’am” culture that is deeply ingrained in the Filipino mindset. “We Filipinos are at par with different nationalities, if not better,” he says. “I have learned to present my accomplishments and abilities in a way that showcases my worth as a professional. It really pays off, and you gain trust and respect.”

His advice to those who want to become chefs in Dubai: “Be assertive in the workplace but remain respectful of others and their culture. Always remember that you gain respect if you give respect. Always keep your feet on the ground. It’s so easy to become overconfident and conceited as you climb the professional ladder. You have to be careful about that too.”

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Community Champion

As the main vanguard of MARCOM, the Maranao Community in UAE, Sahron ‘Roy’ Tamano has been passionately promoting unity and mutual cultural understanding, while supporting the welfare of marginalized Filipino Muslims across the emirates, and in the Philippines.

A victim of the tragic 2017 Marawi Siege, Roy has since helped fuel various relief initiatives that bridge the cultural and religious gaps between Filipino Muslims and their fellow countrymen. On his legacy, he shares: “My wish is to be known as one who purveys Filipino idealism by standing for what is right and defending those who are weak and oppressed.”

Spending almost two decades leading the Filipino Muslim community, he has spearheaded initiatives like the Filipino Muslim Basketball Tournament which gathers different tribes to promote unity through sport, as well as cultural activities that preserve Islamic heritage for Filipinos.

On the political front, Roy has also supported the Philippine government’s peace efforts, and has campaigned for the plebiscite for the ratification of the new Bangamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) last January 2019. Furthermore, through MARCOM, he also recently sent 5000 Qurans, donated by Emiratis, back home for distribution in mosques and madrasahs in rural areas, as well as tons of dates as part of their decade-old Ramadan charity project to benefit Marawi Siege victims.

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

Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: Sahron Tamano – The Voice of the Filipino Muslim Community

For Sahron Tamano, being a Filipino is a privilege and something to be proud of. This view has helped him achieve so many remarkable feats that is not only a testament to his character but also gives pride to his country.

As the former President for two consecutive terms and currently Senior Adviser of the Maranao Community in UAE, Roy is a much-respected leader in his community, serving his kababayans in many ways. Whether fostering togetherness within the Marcom family through social, sports and cultural activities, helping keep traditions and religious fervor alive, or providing a bridge by linking and supporting other Filipino community projects and Filipino organizations to aid victims of calamities back home, Roy demonstrates how one can provide live a fulfilling life, not only as an accomplished professional, but also as an active contributor to the community.

So it is no wonder that Sahron, who is largely acknowledged as the de facto spokesperson for his community who brings Filipino Muslims and non-Muslims together, has been bestowed various commendations for his advocacy including the Kabayan of the Year Award 2013 by the Kabayan Weekly News and recognized as an Ambassador of Goodwill and Peace by the Southern Philippines Muslim United for Development (SPMUDA-International) a UN accredited peace advocacy group.

He remarks, “Being raised and growing up in the land of promise, Mindanao, where peace is an elusive dream, and having witnessed the suffering of our own Bangsamoro people during the dark moments of Martial Law years, has given me the courage to stand for my principle that despite of our hardships and differences, we can achieve eternal peace.”

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Community Volunteer 

The Filipino community in Dubai is fortunate to have somebody like Juliet Solas looking after the welfare of some of our most distressed.

An exceptional nurse by profession who was the recipient of a Dubai Excellence Award, Juliet trains newly-hired nurses for NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Latifa Hospital in Dubai.  She says, “As a nurse, I feel I am at the peak of my career; I am able to impart my knowledge and skills to new staff, being their trainer and mentor.”

Juliet’s success and the respect that she has garnered at the workplace, however, is only eclipsed by the volunteer work she has done for the Filipino community through the years.  Serving as the coordinator between the authorities and the community, she helps in Filipino cases, especially in the repatriation of Filipino patients.  Moreover, as part of her work for the Legion of Mary, she has conducted hospital and prison visits, extending warmth and a listening ear to Filipinos who are in dire need of hope.  Together with other community volunteers, she has also actively participated in initiatives to help distressed Filipinos back home, especially in times of calamities.

Juliet fervently hopes for the upliftment of Filipinos who are challenged in life.  She says, “I hope that despite all the challenges that we are usually facing, that we remain strong to hold on to our values as Filipino people, to choose the right path. I believe in the goodness of Filipino and the beauty of our country.”

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

Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf – JULIET SOLAS – Modern-day Florence Nightingale

Juliet Solas Photo by Eros Goze for Illustrado Magazine

A Dubai Excellence awardee and a respected figure in the Filipino Community in Dubai, nurse Juliet Solas is involved in socio-civic work as part of the Legion of Mary, a worldwide organization conducting different apostolate missions such as hospital and prison visits. Of what continues to inspire and inform her strong sense of volunteerism, Juliet says, “The death of my mother many years ago inspired me to extend my hand to those in need and to volunteer – that even if I am working away from home, and I may not be able to help my family physically, there are so many people in front of me that needs help.”

To Juliet, volunteer work nurtures both ways. She is able to utilize her knowledge and skills to offer healthcare to the needy, and in turn, their stories and gratitude inspire her to do more. “The warm smiles and appreciation from the people I have shared my time with are priceless,” she says. “This energized me more and I am so eager to do more even with my tight schedule. The endless stories they share make me realize a lot of things, and it inspires and enriches me in different ways.”

Her fulfilment comes from being a continuing source of inspiration for others. “I want to at least touch the hearts of many people I have worked with,” she says. “I try to make it a daily task to inspire, and even share a warm smile to people to give them the strength and brighten their day. And I hope, through this, they would also share this to others. Like the saying goes, “A simple act of caring creates an endless ripple.”

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Cyber Security Expert

An acknowledged authority in the region in the area of Information Security, specifically Cyber Security, Irene Corpuz has worked for the government’s Western Region Municipality planning and implementing strategies to achieve the organization’s objectives. She has also spoken about Cyber and Information security at conferences in Singapore, Oman and the United Kingdom.

Of late, Irene has been working on a new initiative – Women in Cyber Security in the Middle East (WICSME), which she has co-founded with four other members from the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.  The group’s objective is to create awareness and promote the increase of women in the sector.  At the moment, the group has 400 members and participates in a number of conferences, as well as facilitates the daily sharing of information and trends.  Apart from bolstering the representation of women in her industry, Irene is also working to increase Filipino presence within her field and advises kababayans to get certified and take full advantage of available online training.

Taking best practices from her government background, she shares, “Working in government and federal entities show how good governance and leadership can lead to a progressive country.” she says. “I hope that we can replicate this within our country.  It’s not a one-man team, but it’s about a visionary leadership that drives the change.”

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

Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf – IRENE CORPUZ – The Cyber Authority

Irene Corpuz is widely recognized as one of the Gulf region’s leading figures in the field of Information Technology. As Head of Planning and IT Security for the Western Region Municipality, she is responsible for planning and implementing key IT strategies to achieve the government organization’s overall KPI’s. She is also a celebrated authority in various Cyber and Information Security conferences all over the globe, with regular speaking engagements in the world’s premier IT epicenters such as Singapore, Oman, and the UK.

Irene regards strategy and technical efficiency in equal measure – a fundamental tenet that has earned her the respect and admiration of her peers, and the monicker “The Iron Lady of Technology.” In an IT conference in London, her riveting case study about Cyber Security earned her a place in the panel discussion and eventually won her the Award for Innovation in Cyber Security.

Of what challenges her the most in her bustling career, Irene says “All official communications in terms of memos, circulars, minutes of the meeting, and even the meetings itself are conducted in Arabic. Everyone is kind enough to speak to me in English, but anytime I need to make a presentation or release a communication about Security, it has to be translated to Arabic.  It’s a challenge, but not an impossible one. After all, I am in IT – if anyone can find a way, it should be me.”

She hopes that one day she can speak in her own country about IT Security. “I want to share the lessons I learned from this country and see how the Philippines can implement it,” she says

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Haven Hamilton A. Villapando
Art Teacher-Future Center for Special Needs
Abu Dhabi, UAE

My Job
Working as a teacher is always a challenging experience, no matter how young or old your learners are. Being an art teacher at the Future Centre for Special Needs for 3 years now (FCSN-Abu Dhabi) is very pleasant and rewarding career as it lets you help your learners express their feeling through art. I am also the in-house artist of the school during special events like Gala dinner, exhibits and others. I work with students between 3 and 20 years of age from various nationalities, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Fifty percent of the students come from UAE and the other half comes from about twenty nationalities.

My Work Day
I usually arrive anytime between 7:20 and 7:30 am at the school campus. After having a cup of coffee, I always go straight to my workshop to prepare the room for the art activities of the day. After an hour of preparing the materials, it’s time for me to facilitate our morning assembly with the students at the gym. That includes roll call, singing of UAE National hymn, warm-up exercise and dancing with action songs and nursery rhymes.

There are days in a week where I go to different classrooms to conduct the art class especially for the learners with walking disabilities, but for those who are more able, they usually come to my workshop with their teachers. I also cater individual painting session for the selected students at the centre for more advance lessons. I am an advocate of recycling/up cycling since high school back in the Philippines – that is why if there is an opportunity, I incorporate recycling in most of my art lessons. I also promote environmental awareness thru my Facebook Page, “Hearty Art Project” and Art exhibits.

With my 8 years of professional experience in both mainstream school and special needs centre in the UAE, I can say that I am truly grateful. I have been faced with a lot of unique frustrations but at the end of it, the rewards of teaching make it all worthwhile. It is my goal in life to have a tangible difference in the lives of others. As a teacher, I can see the fruits of my efforts everyday.

Career Advice
To my beloved and equally-talented kababayans, our Creator above has blessed us with a lot of gifts and skills. It is our duty to share these blessing to others. Filipinos are naturally talented. Let us always be a channel of love, hope and inspiration of our fellow kababayans and the world as a whole. Tayo ay mga Pilipino, angat at naiiba kahit kahit kanino!

Jeffrey S. Valero
Manager, Facilities Management – Al Mazaya Real Estate FZC
Asst. Secretary – Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, UAE Chapter
Club President – PSME UAE & Associates Toastmasters Club

My Job
Being active not only in my workplace as well as in our community gives me an opportunity to take various responsible roles. I work as a Facilities Manager at Al Mazaya Real Estate which is one of the most promising companies in the real estate industry in the MENA Region. Being a Facilities Manager, I am the overall in charge of the maintenance of the facilities and assets of the Mazaya Portfolio in UAE. I am also responsible for creating and improving policies and procedures within the FM Department for the smooth flow of all operations. Being the Manager also requires the patience and leadership skills to lead a team of FM Executive, Coordinator, Technicians, and various FM Contractors.

Apart from my regular day job, I have also been given a responsibility as an Officer (Asst. Secretary) of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers – UAE Chapter. Our main objective is to uplift the profession of our fellow Mechanical Engineers in Dubai and Northern Emirates by conducting professional enhancement activities and organizing general membership meetings. We also aim to uplift the communication skills of our mechanical engineers, which pushed the birth of PSME UAE and Associates Toastmasters Club. As President of this club, I collaborate with the Executive Committee in ensuring that all of our organization’s objectives are met in a solid and satisfying way.

My Work Day
I start my work day by checking emails and taking action where needed. Then proper communication with staff follows to secure that all operations are running smoothly. I consider myself as a hands-on manager. I try not to be complacent, as I believe that a leader should guide and develop his people into becoming leaders themselves. Communication is very important in my job and being a Toastmaster helps me immensely in establishing connections with all the people I work with.

I usually end my day spending productive and fruitful time with my wife and two kids. I consider a gift and a stress reliever after a long day at work.

Career Advice
There is a big reason behind why we ended up working here in the UAE. You may call it fate, or you can call it destiny. But good fortune is not enough. We need to harness our skills and work harder. But most importantly, we have to be thankful for all blessings that God give us. I believe that when we share our blessings, we will receive more blessings in return.

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My Enterprise
Event Plus is a Dubai-based full-service destination management company. It offers a full spectrum of destination services such as groups and incentives programs, conferences, corporate events, teambuilding events, AV production, weddings, destination PR, sales representation, and corporate outbound group travel.

My Beginnings
I have been in Dubai since 2003. Just like most of our fellow Filipinos, I came here with a hope that I will only stay for couple of years. Then 2 years became 5 years, and next thing I knew I was already on my 10th year mark. Eventually, I decided that I didn’t want to be an employee anymore. In early 2014, I launched Events Plus. I did everything on my own, from the business plan, down to the website. I had very minimal capital. I even worked from home during the first 6 months to save cost. My hospitality experience, determination and dream were all I had to start with.

My Struggles
Being an Asian entrepreneur with a start-up company is definitely not easy. We like to think that ethnicity doesn’t matter, but the reality is that some – if not most – people will assess you and your business at face value. And as a start-up company, the real struggle is to build a solid level of trust with your prospective clients. These are very challenging circumstances indeed, but you just have to plow through them, continue knocking down doors and give your 100%. One day, it will all pay off. This has been my experience as an entrepreneur.

We are now 4 people in the team with a representation office in UK and Germany. I’m also looking at setting up a satellite office in the Philippines, hopefully by next year. Despite the obstacles, I am proud to say that the future is looking bright for our company.

My Life As An Entrepreneur
The most obvious advantage of being an entrepreneur is being your own boss having the freedom to work whenever and wherever you want. You’re working for yourself and nobody else. You may find yourself working 18 hours at any given day, but in the end its all for you. Every day is full of opportunities.

But in as much as it is exciting and joyful, it can also be lonely and scary. The stress levels of making all the decisions can sometimes be overwhelming, and can put a strain on your personal life. Your work schedules can also be wildly erratic. However, the pro’s still outweigh the con’s. It’s all a matter of striving for work-life balance, and setting your priorities straight.

My Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
An entrepreneur’s life is not for everyone. It requires a lot of perseverance, determination, and most of all, patience. Always strive to give the best service to your customers and try to always say “yes,” even if their requirement seems impossible. It’s a fierce market out there. Your only edge is how well you serve the needs of your clients. If you think you have what it takes, go for it. Go for it now.

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By Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes

I reached one of the twin peaks of my diplomatic career a little over eighteen years after I took my oath as a Foreign Service Officer.  About 11 of us were blessed with the lucky charm of promotion into Chief of Mission rank, each of us pondering how our new responsibilities would change our worlds. I recall how one of my new batch mates jokingly counseled me to sing less than I often do as it would be deemed unbecoming. As Chief of Mission or Consul General or Ambassador, it is now incumbent to comport myself in a manner befitting the title His Excellency.

What it means to be a dignified diplomat sounds outright nebulous. It is societal sequitur, many opine, that as I was already on “top of the heap,” norms on deportment is now a tad more rigid than it was for young, uninhibited greenhorns. As junior officers, we enjoyed the liberty of spontaneity, though necessarily blanketed with prudence of course, and part of that convenience, in my case, included a lot of singing. Sadly, not anymore so!

Singing had always been my passion. It defines me; it paints me as a unique individual. I’ve always felt happiest when I sing. Until now, it is as if I continually rediscover one of the essences of my soul whenever I serenade an audience. I am passionate about music and performing and I carried all that as I entered the Foreign Service. Though my forays into artistic pursuits and diplomacy were unplanned, their serendipitous marriage could not have been a more perfect fit. It was this unconventional side (coupled with my ever-affable wife) that brought me closer to the Filipino communities I had served, allowing me a more personal approach as I functioned as a foreign service officer.

Advised to scale down on my singing and be a “Congen,” I thought about how much of myself I must divest to be an authentic public servant. As Consul General, I play the role of my ‘kababayans’ last ray of hope, their role model, and their de facto leader. Where does authenticity lie in the context of these roles? What does being true to oneself mean for those of us in the Foreign Service?

I mull over almost two decades in the diplomatic circle and nothing is more crystal clear than affirming that there should be no difference in the manner I shared myself as a junior diplomat to the way I am expected to fit in my new role. I step up my plate, fully convinced that there is possibly no way I can confidently live up to the hype by being less than myself.

Only when I am comfortable being my true self to the community can I be an effective leader. The arsenal of genuine public service is a bottomless well if filled only with truth in character. Anything less than the authenticity of oneself jeopardizes the foundation of a sustainable public trust in someone like the Consul General.

Keeping Up With the Con Gen: Of Being Consul General and the Real Me

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CONSUL GENERAL PAUL RAYMUND CORTES

When not performing his duties as the head of the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, or the obligations of a dutiful dad, passionate patriot Paul Raymund Cortes, mulls over how to further enrich the local Filipino community by promoting a more progressive mindset.

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Fe Ging Ging Hyde Photo by Eros Goze for Illustrado Magazine

Who would have thought that a virtually unknown Dubai-based Overseas Filipino would get the same award that marks the versatility and talents of the likes of Philippine cinema icons like Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor? Not in her wildest dreams, Fe Ging Ging Hyde would admit, and she herself was overwhelmed to bag the Best Actress title at the 34^thGawadUrian, the prestigious award-giving body in the Philippines for films. Well deserving in her portrayal of the title role in the 2010 film “Sheikha”, the talented Fe GingGing Hyde had a passion for film and the arts, something that she would share with whoever would listen, even as a young girl who grew up singing in her neighbourhood carinderia in Davao.

Now a full-blown Indie producer and actress, collaborating with her award-winning fellow Davaoeňodirector ArnerMardoquio, Fe has quite a string of respectable films in her portfolio – Riddles of My Homecoming (2013), The Journey of Stars Into the Dark Night (2012),  Crossfire (2011), Sheikha (2010), Hospital Boat (2009), with Sheikha, Journey of the Stars and Hospital Boat winning accolades at the Urian and Cinemalaya awards.

Despite her achievements as a filmmaker, Fe Ging ging Hyde also professes that her greatest role as yet, is that of a full time mother and wife. She also does not shy away from her humble beginnings, using her modest past to inspire others for a greater future, while utilizing her privilege and talent to make films to bring attention to the harsh political realities of her beloved Minadanao.

Read more on Fe Ging Ging Hyde – Illustrado Women of Substance

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Filipino Digerati Club Photo by Eros Goze for Illustrado Magazine

At the Filipino Digerati Club (FDA), an organization filled with people whose expertise or professional involvement comprises of Information Technology, it is all about connecting Filipinos through technologies and skills – and sharing thoughts and minds for personal development. The group has provided personal programs, computer literacy and education classes, high-quality computing and office procedurals to around 17,000 students in the last six years. Team building activities and internal seminars and mentoring were also provided to gain more knowledge.  The group encourages cross-functional responsibilities in order to prepare and build a mere volunteer in holding higher positions in the organization in the future. “FDA sets up different branches in different Emirates and trainings are conducted regularly every Friday,” says President Lillian Bautista. “FDA has gone far to, at least, five Emirates as part of reaching out to co-Filipinos from sub-urban places instead of them going to the Dubai branch which might be considered far for them. FDA is the only group with most branches. FDA has also the most number of offered courses, including livelihood programmes.”

Interestingly that has also become its main challenge – putting up different branches. During those times, there were no volunteers living on such Emirate and it took a while before establishing a new set of volunteers from the location until leaving them on their own. “Despite all the troubles or struggles FDA meets, being positive contributes to a better outlook in life,” she says. “All volunteers provide free services, not just to help others but to make themselves happy and fulfilled at the same time. It is always sweet music to the ears whenever a sincere “thank you” from Kababayans is received. It is very rewarding whenever a FDA graduate would inform that he or she was promoted at work, gained a better job or has put up his own business.”

As of now, FDA has more than 15,000 course graduates – some give updates about what’s going on with them; others send messages whether they are still in the UAE or otherwise.

Read about another Filipino organization helping out the community in the UAE

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Kevin Murphy Photo by Eros Goze for Illustrado Magazine

Kevin Murphy has carved a name for himself as one of Dubai’s most electrifying performers. He also happens to be one of the very few Filipinos with songs that ranked in the iTunes top 10, with “Fabric,” a collaboration with UAE-based EDM superstars Hollaphonics peaking at no. 4 in 2014. Additionally, Kevin was nominated for an award in the Best Local Act category of an awards show organized by a popular UAE- based entertainment publication – a truly remarkable feat, as he had only been in the country then for a little over a year.

Due to his multi-ethnic background, most people who first meet Kevin do not recognize him as a Filipino. He is always mistaken for an African-American. Instead of finding offense – or riding on – this confusion, Kevin uses it as a way to celebrate his Filipino identity. “It’s always funny when a kabayan approaches me and speaks to me in English because they think that I’m not a Filipino,” he says. “I take this as an opportunity to show to people how proud I am of being a Filipino. I’ve been a performer for a long time, and I’ve travelled to many countries. I say with confidence: angat talaga ang mga Pinoy! [the Filipinos are a cut above the rest]”

Check out other Filipino performers in the UAE

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