Seize the challenge as one people

On June 12, 2016
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
Freedom should always be
exercised responsibly: Envoy
ET us not merely focus on the festivities,
but also remember and internalise the spirit of this
important historical milestone,”
Philippine
Ambasssador
to
Qatar HE Wilfredo C Santos
reminded Filipino expatriates on
the occasion of the celebration of
the 118th Anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence.
In an interview with Qatar
Tribune’s Ailyn Agonia, the
Filipino envoy talked about the essence of the annual event that gathers thousands of Pinoy residents
from across Qatar under one roof.
He discussed the current issues
that matter to the Filipino nation
including how citizens made the
most of their freedom during the
recently concluded Philippine national elections.
Marking his first year as head
of the Philippine mission in Qatar
recently, the Filipino envoy also
highlighted the milestones of the
Embassy under his leadership
including furthering the vibrant
bilateral ties between Qatar and
the Philippines and spearheading
new programmes aimed at actively promoting the rich Filipino
culture, heritage and identity
through performing arts and the
diverse Filipino cuisine. Excerpts:
L
Q. What is the significance of
celebrating Philippine Independence Day in a foreign
country?
A. The celebration of the Philippine Independence Day in a foreign country provides an opportunity for OFWs to celebrate this
country’s development.
important holiday even if they are
far from their home country. Just
like every other Filipino, our overseas kababayans are entitled to
be a part of the festivities and look
back at their history.
It is also important that we
showcase this important milestone for our host country, Qatar,
and members of the diplomatic
corps, in line with our cultural diplomacy thrust.
On Philippine politics:
“Change should not
solely come from the
President and his
team. It should come
from within us first
as Filipinos.”
In your personal opinion,
what does it mean to be
‘free’?
To be ‘free’ should not be simply taken from a political context
only, in this case, freedom from
our colonial masters. Right now,
to be ‘free’ requires a much more
comprehensive view. There is that
need for every Filipino to be free
from economic hardships, free to
choose our leaders (like what happened during the recent election),
and thereby, being also free to
shape our own destiny as a nation
and as a people.
PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO QATAR HE WILFREDO C SANTOS
What is your take on the
concept of ‘freedom without
responsibility’?
Freedom is not just a right
but also a privilege, as not all
people get to enjoy this and not
all countries allow its people
to fully exercise their freedom.
Hence, freedom should always be
exercised responsibly. ‘Freedom
without responsibility’ is tantamount to wasting this right and
privilege as this does not give us
the license to use our freedom the
wrong way (i.e., to sow chaos and
disorder, etc.).
Do you think the Filipino
youth are well-informed
about the history of the Philippines? What are the most
appropriate means of educating the new generation on
Philippine history?
I believe that there should be
continuous efforts to inform our
youth about our history, their history, because as time progresses,
there is a tendency to forget the
past, as we focus on the present
and prepare for the future.
However, like our national hero
Dr. Jose Rizal said, “ang hindi
How do you assess the results of the recently concluded Philippine national
elections?
I am very proud that the Philippines was able to hold a relatively credible and peaceful election
and this was even acknowledged
by foreign election observers.
Here in Qatar, I am thankful that
no major disturbance was ever
reported during the month-long
overseas voting.
marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan ay hindi
makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan.” (A person who does not
recognise his or her roots will
not be able to reach his goals or
destination”.) One of the means
to do this is through education.
We should ensure that the curriculum in all Philippine schools,
including overseas schools, offer
a comprehensive view of teaching Philippine history. Of course,
the role a family plays in keeping
their children informed about
their history, is important.
What are your personal
expectations from the new
leadership of the Philippines?
The fact that incoming President Rodrigo R Duterte got an
overwhelming mandate from
voters should encourage him
and the rest of the incoming
administration to work hard to
continue, if not exceed, whatever
gains were made by the outgoing
administration. As career officers and staff of the government,
we are always ready to provide
any assistance to our new leaders in providing efficient and
effective services to our kababayans and contributing to our
Do you honestly believe that
the new administration can
affect changes to the country?
The will of the people has
spoken and we should all unite,
regardless of political affiliation,
to work for the common good. I
am always optimistic and I am
confident that the incoming administration, with a fresh mandate, will move forward with
its goals for the country. And
change should not solely come
from the President and his team.
It should come from within us
first as Filipinos.
If you could suggest one reform of the legislature, what
would it be and why?
Instead of reforms, my only
wish is for all three branches
of the government – executive,
legislative and the judiciary – to
work closely together to institute
real change for the betterment of
our country.
You recently marked your
first year as Ambassador
of the Philippines to Qatar.
How has your first year in
office been?
Time surely flies fast, especially when you’re busy. And we
have been keeping ourselves busy
laying the groundwork for the
changes that we want to achieve
for the embassy, as well as furthering bilateral relations with
Qatar. So far so good.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 07 
Philippine Embassy in Doha officials and staff.
Message from the Department of Foreign Affairs
O
JOSE RENE D. ALMENDRAS,
SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
‘Seize the challenge as one people’
NE hundred eighteen years ago, bound by the desire
for liberty, equality and justice, our forefathers valiantly took a collective stand to break free and fight for
self-rule, and triumphed with the birth of the Filipino nation
and our people’s independence.
To this day, we continue to walk the path of our heroes.
Against every difficulty, we always have come together as a
people, united by our selfless love for the country and the
strong sense of duty to our fellow Filipinos.
In the past six years, the administration of President
Benigno S Aquino III has worked tirelessly to deepen the
meaning of our freedom for each Filipino. Bold structural
reforms were taken to successfully deliver our renewed
hopes for better lives.
With the conviction that transparent, open and streamlined processes allow for greater growth, programmes
were directed to broaden civic engagement and participation in governance, and to fortify the highest standards of
integrity, accountability, and trustworthiness in the country’s public leadership.
As a result, the Philippines is now widely acknowledged
for its steady rise as a dynamic economic hub with sustainable inclusive development, a vital and responsible member
of the global community committed to uphold and abide
by the rules of law, and a stronghold of democracy with its
constituent values that places primacy on the dignity and
worth of the human being.
In celebrating 118 years of Philippine Independence,
the Department of Foreign Affairs remains resolute and
determined to serve, defend and advance our fundamental
interest on the diplomatic frontlines: the peace and security
of the nation, the growth of the economy, and the rights and
welfare of our people overseas and even those at home.
It has been often said that for us to build the future, we
must honour the past. In keeping with this year’s theme of
“Kalayaan 2016: Pagkakaisa, Pag-aambagan at Pagsulong,”
our celebration of our freedom is a powerful reminder of
the true measure of our strength as a country; that is how
we can bravely seize the challenge, and together – as one
people, passionately driven by a shared vision of greatness
–can we prevail.
Mabuhay ang Kalayan at ang Sambayanang Pilipino!
02
Thursday, June 2, 2016
| PAGE
03
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
The 16th President
of the Philippines
Rodrigo Roa Duterte won with a landslide
victory, garnering more than 16,600,000
votes in the recently concluded 2016 Philippine national elections. He is due to take
office on June 30 for a term of six years.
The tough-talking leader becomes the first president of the Philippines who hails from
Mindanao.
W
T
HE Philippine Congress of-
ficially declared lawyer-politician Rodrigo Roa Duterte
as the 16th President of the
Republic of the Philippines
on May 30.
The tough-talking leader becomes the
first president of the Philippines who hails
from Mindanao. He was born in Maasin in
Southern Leyte and grew up in the province of Davao.
Duterte won with a landslide victory,
garnering more than 16,600,000 votes in
the recently concluded 2016 national elections, deemed as one of the most controversial and emotion-packed elections in the
history of the Southeast Asian country. He
is due to take office on June 30 for a term
of six years.
Known by the nickname Digong, he had
been a mayor of Davao City, a highly-urbanised city in Mindanao, for seven terms, totaling more than 22 years. His political career
also included serving as Congressman of
Davao City’s first district in 1998 and taking
the role of anti-crime consultant of former
Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2002.
At 71, born on March 28, 1945, he is the
oldest to become president of his country.
An article published on www.rappler.com
cited that besides his age, there are so many
notable ‘firsts’ about the new president.
This includes being the first president to
come directly from a local post, the first to
have filed his certificate of candidacy after
the official period, first self-declared socialist president and the first lawyer president
since Ferdinand Marcos.
Throughout his campaign, Duterte has
flaunted his intentions of eradicating illegal drugs and ending crime and corruption
within a specific time frame immediately
after assuming office.
While in a document filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Duterte
cited some notable plans on issues confronting overseas Filipinos. Among these
measures include the standardisation of
employment contracts and recruitment fees
acceptable to employers and employees to
curb illegal recruitment; implement overseas Filipino workers reintegration programmes that are specific to the needs of
OFWs to empower them and facilitate their
return in the Philippines; conduct of financial literacy programmes for the families of
OFWs and regulating placement fees especially for OFWs who are required to comply
with numerous training courses that entail
Rodrigo Roa Duterte at a campaign rally.
high costs (e.g. seafarers).
He also cited as part of his platform for
OFWs the provision of legal orientation for
both the OFWs and their families and establishment of heathcare programmes for
OFWs with special focus to those who suffer
abuse from their employers or those who
come home with serious illnesses.
Like in most overseas Philippine missions
that conducted overseas absentee voting, Duterte also was the top choice of Filipino registered voters in Qatar. He received more than
12,000 votes from the 15,694
voter turnout in Doha.
His landslide victory was celebrated
by his staunch supporters in Qatar. Yet,
he was reminded
by expatriates on
his obligations and
promises of being a
sort of ‘game changer’ in traditional Philippine politics. Some expatriates had expressed their hopes and aspirations from
the new leadership in a report published
earlier by Qatar Tribune. Among the notable appeals to Duterte was that of Dohabased human rights advocate and community leader Ressie Fos asking the new
Filipino leader to consider temporarily
stopping the deployment of Filipino household helpers in Middle Eastern countries
until clear and proper laws ensuring the
safety and rights of those in this sector are
in place.
Realtor Joseph Timothy Rivera
highlighted his anticipation of the
issuance of Executive Order on the
Freedom of Information, the efficient implementation of all laws
and the effective delivery of services by government.
Life Coach Peggy Margaret
Molina reminded Duterte to influence the Filipino nation and be
a real agent of muchneed ‘change’ in
the country.
President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte
A look at the Aquino administration
HILE the administration of outgoing Philippine President Benigno
Aquino III is marred by a number of
controversies – including slow relief during super typhoon Yolanda, his leadership was also hailed by many, especially
for transforming the Philippines into one
of the promising players in the region and
the world.
Below are some of the highlights of
Aquino’s term:
2012
At home and around the world, the
Philippines got recognised as an example
of stability and good governance.
On October 7, 2012, the historic
Framework Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) was released,
paving the way for the Bangsamoro political entity, and setting the stage for a
final, enduring peace in Mindanao.
In the same year, Aquino went up
against powerful vested interests and
signed into law historical legislative initiatives including the Anti-Enforced or
Involuntary Disappearance act, the first
of its kind in Asia, which criminalises the
unlawful arrest of civilians and ensures
the preservation and protection of every
Filipino’s civil liberties. He also signed
the Responsible Parenthood Law which
fosters public health and access to information on reproductive health.
Aquino’s first year in office was also
highlighted by a 7.1 percent GDP growth
in the third quarter of 2012.
Signing of landmark bills, impressive economic performance and completion of major road projects are among the legacies of outgoing
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.
The Philippines took the lead in upholding a multilateral and consensusdriven diplomatic approach with regard
to disputes in the West Philippines Sea,
and allocating Php 12 billion in 2012 to
enroll the poorest quintile of the population into universal healthcare.
2013
The Philippine economy continued its
stellar performance, posting some of the
highest growth numbers in Asia, including
ranking 108th, a jump of 30 notches from
2012, in World Bank Business report and
jumping 12 notches from 94 in 2011 to 82
in 2013 in Travel and Tourism Competi-
tiveness Report. In terms of infrastructure, the year also saw the completion of a
number of projects including the Ternate
–Nasugbu Road, Tarlac City-Gerona-Paniqui Section of the Tarlac-PangasinanLa Union Expressway (Tplex) Project and
Simuay-Landasan-Parang Road Project.
In October 2013, the Philippines registered an employment rate of 93.5 percent.
A total of 1.72 million jobs were created as
of December 2013.
2014
The Philippines is ranked 52nd (20142015) from 85th (2010-2011) in the
World Economic Forum: Global Compet-
itiveness Report. On March 30 2014, the
Philippines submitted its memorial to the
United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal.
The memorial presents the Philippines
case on the jurisdiction of the Arbitral
Tribunal and the merits of the claim over
the West Philippine Sea. On September
10, 2014, the draft Bangsamoro Basic
Law, now House Bill no. 4994, was submitted to the Congress.
2015 – 2016
In the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, the country reached the 95th
rank in 2015 compared to 144th in 2010.
In 2015, leading to the end of term of
Aquino administration, World Economic
Forum Global Competitiveness Report
ranked the Philippines 47th out of 140
countries (2015 to 2016) from 85th out
of 139 countries in 2010 to 2011. The employment rate was at 94.2 percent in the
first quarter of 2016, deemed the highest
in the last 10 years, according to the records of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
As per the records of Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Republic of the Philippines), the country’s
net foreign direct investments were at
$20.42 billion in the period from 2011
to 2015, while they were $11.77 billion
between 2005 and 2010. As per the records of the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), the country’s basic
education budget at Php 410.4 billion in
2016, rose appreciably from Php 161.4
billion in 2010.
In terms of infrastructure in the education sector, there are more than 89,000
classrooms constructed and over 95,000
classrooms programmed for construction
from 2010 to March 2016.
As of 2015, the landmark projects under the Aquino administration included
completion of the Laguindingan Airport,
ongoing development of 9 new airports
and ongoing rehabilitation of 63 airports
and 18 tourism ports. A new railway line
connecting Malolos, Tutuban and Legazpi (The North-South Railway Project)
was also developed.
(SOURCE: WWW.GOV.PH)
04
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
05
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| PAGE
07
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
‘Freedom should always be exercised responsibly’
 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
What would you consider as milestones of
your first year as head of Philippine mission
here?
In terms of economic diplomacy, the projects we
were able to organise under Kulinarya Qatar are milestones that I am proud of. In fact, the Philippine Embassy in Qatar is now ranked No. 5 from its previous
position of no. 11 among the Foreign Service Posts in
the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the
area of economic diplomacy. In addition, we continue
to make our consular services as efficient and convenient as possible, and one initiative we pursued in this
regard is the passport delivery service agreement we
signed with Q-Post.
Several cultural projects have likewise been organised to show the beauty and richness of our culture,
such as the widely lauded performance of Ballet Philippines and the gala screening of Heneral Luna, both of
which were held at Katara Cultural Village.
What is your view on bilateral relations between Qatar and the Philippines?
Ever since bilateral relations were established in
1981, our relations with Qatar have been cordial. But as
an ambassador, I want to do more in terms of furthering our engagements, whether it is political, economic,
cultural or people-to-people exchanges.
What are some current or upcoming agreements/cooperation avenues between Qatar
and the Philippines that excite you and why?
We are hoping that our bilateral agreements on
health, culture and visa waiver agreements for diplomatic and official/special passport holders can be
signed within the year.
Of course, in order to facilitate trade and economic
exchanges between our two countries, we are hoping
that negotiations on the agreement on the reciprocal
promotion and protection of investments would also
prosper leading to its eventual signing.
How do you see Qatar-Philippines relations in
the coming years?
There’s a lot of potential and room to
explore in terms of our relations. The fact that the
Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, while Qatar is also the
same here in the GCC, provides more opportu-
nities for interaction, especially on the economic and trade side.
What’s your assessment of the dynamics
within the Filipino community in Qatar?
What do you consider as the strengths and
weaknesses of the organisations and the
leaders here?
We are very lucky to have the United Filipino
Organizations in Qatar or UFOQ to help us coordinate the various Filipino community groups
in Qatar. That is a testament to the level of unity
of our kababayans in Qatar. They are fully committed to improving themselves as leaders and, in
fact, a leadership training seminar
was organised by UFOQ in coordination with the Embassy in February that saw some of our Filipino
community leaders participating.
I encourage our community organisations to hold such seminars because they serve as a
training ground for future leaders of our community.
as winner Janela
Mutya ng Pilipin
Courtesy call of
Cuaton.
Qatar.
Welcoming Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao to
Glimpses of
Ambassador
Santos’s First
year in Qatar
What are the new projects
and initiatives the community can expect under your
leadership?
We are continuously
Pinoy Fiesta
at LuLu.
looking for ways to serve
our kababayans better.
This year, we plan to roll out the new
e-passport system with better security features and which includes an online appointment
system that will allow applicants to determine a date and
time of their choice. The new
system will allow us to render
mobile passport services for
the benefit of our citizens residing outside Qatar. It will be implemented under the leadership
of my Passport Director in the
DFA Office of Consular Affairs,
who will be assigned in Qatar as
tar
no Journalists in Qa
e Alliance of Filipi
th
Consul General. Just stay tuned
by
film
ry
ta
en
m
Screening of docu
for upcoming changes that we
plan for this embassy.
At the Mega Voice Kids Finals. (PHOTOS: RENAN PRINCENA)
in
ssy participation
Philippine Emba
ing event.
HERO Qatar bowl
Opening of the first Philippine Property Investment Show in Qatar.
| PAGE
08
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
The pride of Filipino
community in Qatar
AILYN AGONIA
DOHA
ITH a 200,000-strong Filipino
community in Qatar, a handful
of these expatriates distinguished
themselves by bringing pride to
the community and the host country in different fields.
Twenty-eight year old Filipino filmmaker Jordan dela Cruz, from Qatar, participated in the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Though he did not bag any award as he was
part of a non-competition category, Dela
Cruz was one of the nine Filipinos whose
works premiered in the Festival’s Court
Metrage (short film corner). His ticket to
Cannes was his five-minute short film ‘Panaginip ni Nida Chua (May 25, 1985).
“Oh wow, nakapasok kami sa Cannes
(Oh wow, we made it to Cannes)!” was Dela
Cruz’s initial reaction, when he read the acceptance letter from the Festival. The young
filmmaker flew to Cannes with his family
and had the opportunity to rub shoulders
with the best in the industry from across
the globe, including Philippines’s pride
Brillante Mendoza, Best Director winner at
the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. Dela Cruz
flew back to Qatar with many great stories to tell of his first attempt at an international film event.
Few months before Pia
Alonzo Wurtzbach’s unprecedented victory in Miss Universe 2015 in Las Vegas, then
18-year-old Janela Joy Cuaton, former student of Doha
Academy and an alumna of
Philippine School Doha (PSD), got
the community here excited when she
was named one of the three winners in
Mutya ng Pilipinas 2015, one of the Philippines’s most prestigious beauty pageants.
W
WORLD CONQUERORS
Janela vied against 29 talented Filipinas
from across the Philippines and from Filipino communities overseas including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
She was crowned as Mutya ng Pilipinas
Tourism International 2015. She was also
chosen to represent the Philippines in the
Miss Tourism International competition to
be held in Malaysia in December.
“Besides being able to travel across the
Philippines and getting to know how wonderful our country is, the best part about
winning this pageant is being able to help
others. With the crown and title that I
have, I get to talk to people who have the
capabilities to share love and hope with
others. And that, I think, is the highlight
of my reign.
“Also, I have helped promote tourism in our country
in the hope that a lot
of
opportunities and growth
will knock on
the doors of the
Philippines.
Doha-based filmmaker Jordan dela Cruz (left) with acclaimed Director Brillante Mendoza at
the 2016 Cannes Film Festival in France.
Gaod Dragon Boat Team placed 6th in the international tournament held in South Korea last year.
A recent monumental victory for Filipinos was the crowning of Pia Alonzo
Wurtzbach as Miss Universe 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 26-year
old stunner became the third Filipina to hold the coveted title.
One of Qatar’s prominent ramp models
Janela Joy Cuaton is the reigning Mutya
ng Pilipinas Tourism International.
In the field of sports, legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao recently officially ended his illustrious career with a big win against American boxer Timothy Bradley held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in
Las Vegas. Presumptive Senator-elect Pacquiao defeated Bradley by
unanimous decision.
At the recently concluded 2016 Cannes Film Festival in France, the
entire Filipino nation celebrated the victory of veteran Filipino actress
Jaclyn Jose as the festival’s Best Actress. The recognition makes
Jose not just the first Filipino but also the first Southeast Asian to be
conferred with the honour at the prestigious event.
| PAGE
09
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
Message from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Qatar
T
moving forward. If only each and every
HE celebration of Independence
Filipino will commit to contributing to
Day reminds us of the sacrifice
the progress of our nation we can really
and suffering of our ancestors
achieve meaningful changes and develin the name of freedom. Because of
opments in our Motherland.
their bravery, Filipinos were able to
I thank the leadership of the United
wave the flag of our nation against
Filipino Organizations in Qatar (UFOQ)
foreign invaders on June 12 1898. It
for their unwavering support to the
has been more than eleven decades
projects and programmes of the Philipago since the Philippines gained
pine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)
its independence and this triumph
DAVID DES T. DICANG
under our Embassy and their dedicais reflective on the theme of the
LABOR ATTACHÉ
tion to host a successful celebration of
celebration of the 118th Anniversary
of the declaration of Independence Day, ‘Pagkakaisa, our independence day.
Pag-aambagan at Pagsulong’ (Unity, contribution,
Long live Filipinos! Long live the Philippines!
progress). It is essential to unite to keep our nation
Message from the United Filipino Organizations in Qatar
O
Festa-Qatar bagged the Championship title in the recently concluded Duterte Cup held in Abu Dhabi.
Here, in Qatar, I can say that
I have been really productive.
Besides reaching out to our
kababayans who are in need of
help, I get to inspire, empower
and nurture the younger generations, which I think, would be really helpful especially in the future. We Filipinos are talented,
we just need someone to inspire
and support our endeavours,”
Janela said.
The beauty queen will be back
in Manila in July for an extensive
training in preparation for the
international competition.
Several Filipino sports clubs
have been successful in representing Doha in international
tournaments.
Among
them
is Gaod Dragon Boat Team, a
group of Filipino dragon boat
enthusiasts. The team bagged
the 6th spot in the Dragon Boat
festival held in South Korea last
year. The group also competed in
Dubai. They also lifted the championship title in the 2015 Qatar
International Dragon Boat Festival. Gaod is again training to
represent Qatar in another tournament in Busan, South Korea,
to be held in September.
Festa-Qatar, a group of sepak
takraw enthusiasts, also brought
pride to their host country in
several international tourneys
including the recently concluded
Duterte Cup held in the UAE.
In terms of community
service, one of the most active Filipino community leaders in Qatar, Fidel M Escurel,
was recently announced as being among the recipients of the
Bagong Bayani Awards, a worldwide search for the Philippines’s
outstanding and exemplary Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
He is the recipient of the award
for community and social service
for his outstanding leadership of
various organisations, especially
in the Middle East and African
Network for Filipinos in the Diaspora known as Meanfid. He
will be receiving the recognition
at the Malacanang Palace, the
seat of Philippine government,
to be awarded by the new Philippine President in December.
Escurel, a native of Romblon,
is currently employed as Telecom and Web
Coordinator
of Qatar international
Petroleum
Marketing
Company
(Tasweeq).
He has been
part of the
annual community celebrations
of the Philippine Independence
Day since 1992, besides being
involved in other community
initiatives.
Another important recognition for Filipinos in the country
is the Best Community Award
given to the Filipino community during the Labour Welfare
Awards 2015, held on the sidelines of the third annual Labor
Rights Protection Conference at
the St Regis Doha, early in May.
The community was honoured
for being one of the most recognised communities for its framework in supporting its members.
The award was proudly received
by Philippine Ambassador to Qatar HE Wilfredo C Santos and the
top leadership of the UFOQ.
Other notable achievers in
the community were Jovelyn
Bayubay Revilla, recipient of
the 2nd Migration Advocacy
and Media Awards (MAM) in
the Print Media-Book Category
held in Manila in 2013, Frank
C Jamandre, recipient of the
2011 Bagong Bayani for
Community and Social
Service, and Haina
Uddin who brought
home a gold medal
and three bronze
medals after representing
Qatar
in the 2013 World
Championships of
Performing
Arts
(Wcopa) held in
Hollywood, USA.
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The 2016 Bagong Bayani awardee
for Community and Social Service
is Doha resident Fidel Escurel
Together, we form a strong force that will unite
N the occasion of the 118th Anniversary of the
all the Filipinos here in Qatar and once again creDeclaration of Philippine Independence, which
ate another milestone of showing not only to our
will be observed on June 3, 2016 at Al Majlis
Auditorium, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Conven- kababayans but to the different nationalities here,
tion Hotel, I wish to congratulate the men and women how rich and beautiful our cultures and traditions
are. This year’s PIDC 2016 theme:
of the United Filipino Organizations
“Kalinangang Pinoy at Turismo” is a
in Qatar (UFOQ) for their unwavering
perfect theme to showcase all our
support, dedication, friendship and
unique skills and talents.
their sense of volunteerism for the
This year’s PIDC event is marked
welfare of all Filipinos in Qatar.
with a series of associated activiWith this year’s theme ties leading to the grand community
Kalayaan 2016: Pagkakaisa,
celebration. The pre-PIDC calendar of
Pag-aambagan, Pagsulong, I am
associated events is in collaboration
humbled and honoured to have
with various multi-talented and active
you here celebrating with us this
Pinoy groups, organisations and clubs
historic event.
with the guidance of the UFOQ Council.
The Philippine Independence
Together they share a common goal of
Day celebration is perhaps the
EDGAR U. ANAMI
bringing good quality entertainment to
most anticipated, most colourful
UFOQ Chairman
all our kababayans everywhere in Qaand the biggest annual event of
tar, and to gather them at one venue,
the Filipino community in Qatar.
where they can interact and get to know each other.
The Philippine Embassy in Doha through the leadAgain, Maligayang pagdiriwang ng 118th Philippine
ership of HE Ambassador Wilfredo C Santos had
Independence Day sa ating lahat.
entrusted UFOQ’s Philippine Independence Day
Committee 2016 (PIDC 2016) to ensure that the
Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino dito sa Qatar at
event will be celebrated and shared by as many
Mabuhay ang ating bansang Pilipinas.
Filipinos as possible.
| PAGE
Beef Sisig
10
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
Pancit Palabok
Chicken Barbecue
Celebrating being
Pinoy – food-wise
AILYN AGONIA
DOHA
ILIPINOS love to eat as much as they
F
Kamayan sa Doha owner Mawi Salas Florida (left).
Hillside Restaurant owner Aisha Hassen al Baker (left).
Eve House of Catering and Events owners Emily Rosete and Layla
Bernal (right).
A variety of Filipino sweet delicacies.
love karaoke. Food is an integral part
of most of their social activities. Be
it a casual get-together, receiving
guests at home, paying a visit to a sick
friend or even during formal meetings, food is one
thing that they never leave out of their ‘agenda’.
Whether for almusal (breakfast), merienda
(snack), pulutan (finger food), panghandaan (fiesta
food) and other regular meals of the day, Filipinos
make sure to enjoy what they eat.
“Filipinos eat not just because they are hungry.
They don’t look at food and think about nutrients
or calories. Filipinos eat and prefer to eat together
to share. It’s about hospitality. It’s about honesty.
It’s about celebrating our identity,” said Mawi Salas
Florida, owner of Kamayan sa Doha.
Mawi’s restaurant located in Al Muntazah is
gaining popularity in the community and other nationalities because of the dining concept it is promoting- that is dining with bare hands!
Eating with bare hands is part of the Philippine
culture. It is mostly practised in the provinces and
when feasting on sumptuous Filipino delicacies in
the company of family and closest friends.
“The most popular and highly in-demand in our
restaurant is the boodle fight (military way of eating).
Food comes in boodle platters, boodle tabletop (latag sa mesa), or boodle unlimited buffet. This type of
dining combined with the right blend of ambience,
music and hospitality offers traditional Filipino culture of eating. It is fun and a bonding experience
which makes you feel closer to home,” the Filipina
restaurateur said.
Kamayan sa Doha is also frequently visited by
non-Filipino diners. Mawi said it is the comfortable
ambience of their place, including the carefully prepared food that attracts other nationalities.
“For me, hospitality plays a big part when comparing Filipino dishes with other cuisines. Right
from the preparation to serving, we give a lot of care
and attention to ensure that other than the food being delicious, every customer is given the best dining
experience,” she added.
Among the Filipino dishes, the most talked-about
is Adobo. The process of making Adobo involves
marinating meat in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic and
then letting it simmer in the marinade. The dish is
often considered the ‘unofficial national dish’ in
the Philippines because of being tasty yet simple
in terms of preparation and storage.
However, Filipinos often argue that there is
more to their cuisines besides Adobo. After all,
Filipino dishes are dominated by three cooking flavours: sweet (tamis), sour (asim) and
salty (alat). While other delicacies are inclined to be spicy (anghang) especially in
few parts of the Philippines.
This is what Gerry’s Grill, one of the largest restaurant chains in the Philippines with
a branch in Qatar, wants to highlight to Doha
diners.
“Filipino food stands out among other cuisines
because of the variety of flavours we infuse in each
recipe. We can cater to all taste buds for any specific cravings. Like if someone would like something
Dinakdakan
“Filipinos love
to eat because
we love sharing
great stories and
memories while
SHERWIN CASTILLO
dining. And
GERRY’S GRILL
whenever we
have something
to celebrate, our favourite
food is present on our tables
for sure.”
sweet with salty infusion, the dish Kare-kare (Philippine stew complemented by a thick, savoury peanut
sauce) is among the top choices. If a diner craves
for something creamy with a punch of spice, our Tinomok or Laing is the best meal to serve,” said Sherwin Castillo of Gerry’s Grill.
“Filipino recipes also point towards the region in
the Philippines where they originated. For example,
Roxas City, the seafood capital of Philippines, claims
they have the best seafood recipes. If you are up for
extremely hot food, dishes from Bicol are your best
bet. And if you want something leafy and packed
with a variety of vegetables, recipes from Ilocos will
satisfy your cravings,” he added.
Gerry’s Grill has about 74 branches across the
Philippines and six international branches. In Qatar,
it has branches in Al Mirqab, Al Jadeed St and in Al
Nasser Area. It also recently opened in Lulu Hypermarket Food Court in Barwa City.
The restaurant is best known for its variety of
grilled food, which is another feature of Filipino cuisine. Pinoys naturally love grilled food which is evident by the abundance of street-food in their home
country. Gerry’s Grill’s best-seller is the dish Inihaw
na Pusit (grilled squid) smeared with a special sauce.
“Filipinos love to eat because we love sharing
great stories and memories while dining. And whenever we have something to celebrate, our favourite
Kare
Kare
Chicken
Adobo
food is present on our tables for sure. If there is food
on the table, no matter how lengthy the conversation, all will patiently listen and interact. Our food
reminds us of someone or our own triumphs and
hardships in life,” Sherwin added.
According to Aisha Hassen al Baker, owner of
Hillside Restaurant located in the Food Court of
Quality Mall in Al Mamoura, Filipino food is also
popular in Qatar because of its affordability. She said
the value meals they offer, which consists of rice and
two dishes for only QR13, is what keeps the diners
coming back to their restaurant.
“Our spices and cooking styles differentiate Filipino dishes from other cuisines. In our restaurant,
the most in-demand dishes are Bulalo (white soup
with beef shanks and marrow bones), Bopis (meat
sautéed in tomatoes, chillies and onions) and Sotanghon Guisado (noodles). Besides Filipinos, we
also have Indian, Chinese and European diners,”
Aisha said.
Inihaw Republik, located in Al Hilal West, takes
pride in its Chicken Barbecue, which has piqued the
interest of not only Filipino diners in Qatar but other
nationalities as well. Inihaw’s barbecue is marinated with soy sauce, lemon and 7-up soda and then
splashed with a special sauce that keeps diners coming back for more, according to the restaurant owner
Manny Canchela.
“Dining goes back to a personal trait every Filipino embodies which is being family oriented or
with strong family ties. Add this to our penchant for
food, eating with family naturally becomes innately
the norm even at a young age. Philippine cuisine
caters to all taste buds giving the best experience
to diners. Among the most popular Filipino dishes
are Pancit, Kare-kare and Palabok. These varieties
prove our point about how Philippine dishes cater
to all, besides being delicious. Our cuisine boasts of
local dishes from every region in the country with
examples being: Pampanga locally famous for having the best cooks and Bicolanos for their affinity for
spicy delicacies. On a collective share of recipes, ingredients and expertise, our nation’s strongest suite
would be the ability to cater to anybody’s taste preference,” he added.
Layla Bernal, co-owner of the United Catering
(Eve House of Catering and Events) located in Matar
Qadeem, said that the Filipino style of dining, which
is also enjoyed by other nationalities, serves as bonding moment among expatriates.
“Filipinos are born food lovers and being hardworking people, one of our outlets is to find satisfaction in food and this is best achieved in
dining or eating together. Being tasty, healthy
and affordable are among the selling points
of Filipino food,” Layla said.
Eve House of Catering and Events is
one of preferred venues for Filipino gatherings, meetings and events. The place has
managed to create a professional set-up that
feels like home to many Filipinos.
Besides the usual dishes, among its bestsellers is Bistek Tagalor or the Filipino version
of beefsteak. The restaurant is also known for its
Chicken Inasal (a popular dish in the City of Bacolod in the Philippines) and Pancit. It also offers
Boodle Fight platters which is a hit among different
community organisations holding regular meetings
at Eve.
A typical Filipino budget meal includes a cup of rice and two viands.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
11
12
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
13
| PAGE
14
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
For two consecutive months, the
country’s tourism sector grew by
double digits: at 13.17 percent in January
and 20.42 percent in February.
SAMAL ISLANDS
DAVAO
HE country’s tourism industry performance is shining right from the
start of this year
and continued to break records
in February, reaching a total of
549,725 visitors for a doubledigit increase of 20.42 percent from 2015. In the past 62
months under the Aquino Administration, this has been the
highest growth rate and the biggest volume of visitor arrivals.
For two consecutive months,
the country’s tourism grew by
double digits at 13.17 percent
in January and 20.42 percent
in February. The total number
of inbound visitors recorded
from January to February 2016
is already at 1,091,983 or a 16.7
percent growth from the same
period in 2015 and surpassing
one million visitor arrivals in
just two months.
By regional grouping, East
Asia is the country’s biggest
source of arrivals with 565,971,
constituting more than half of
the total visitor volume. Korea
continues to supply the most arrivals to the country with a total
of 284,763 arrivals. This market accounted for 26.08 percent
which is more than one fourth of
the total arrivals. Except Hong
Kong, all countries from East
Asian markets posted increases,
with China reflecting the biggest
growth of 107.88 percent from
its arrivals of 62,976 in 2015 to
130,916 this year. Another high
T
COTABATO
CEBU
Typical rush of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
growth market is Taiwan, which
posted an increase of 30.89 percent.
The United States of America was ranked 2nd visitorgenerating market with 155,796
visitors, constituting 14.27 percent of the total and recording
a 9.54 percent increase from its
arrivals of 142,226 in the same
period of 2015. China which
provided 130,916 visitors secured the 3rd spot, with an
11.99 percent share to the total.
Japan followed by contributing
92,531 visitors, comprising 8.47
percent of the total inbound
traffic. The 5th major market
was Australia with 43,712 arrivals, comprising 4.00 percent of
the total. Rounding up the top
ten visitor markets are Canada
(+18.36%) with 36,773 arrivals,
Taiwan (+30.89%) with 35,344
arrivals, Singapore (+4.04) with
28,376 arrivals, United Kingdom (+20.98%) with 28,238 arrivals, and Malaysia (+2.33%)
with 23,990 arrivals.
Countries which also posted
substantial growth in inbound
traffic to the Philippines in January and February 2016 include
France with 12,502 (+22.10 percent), Spain with 5,092 arrivals
(+32.23 percent), Sweden with
7,073 arrivals (+21.09 percent),
Indonesia with 8,824 arrivals
(+16.66 percent), Switzerland
with 6,494 arrivals (+17.09 percent), Netherlands with 6,049
arrivals (+13.83 percent), and
New Zealand with 3,294 arrivals (+13.55 percent).
In the past five years, the
Daang Matuwid programme
under the Aquino Administration has made developing tour-
ism a clear policy mandate to
drive rapid and inclusive growth
in the country. Boosting tourism played an important role
in unlocking the much needed
investments in the Philippines’s
CHOCOLATE HILLS,
BOHOL
| PAGE
15
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
emerging economy, and raising greater awareness among the international community helped
open the door for tourism consideration. The
Philippines is now approaching almost double the
arrival figures that it started with in 2010.
“The biggest change during this administration is that we now have the Filipino people more
enthusiastic about tourism itself. And the growth
that we see today is precisely the result of our
people’s renewed confidence. We, as a country,
believe that we can deliver an experience to tourists that is more fun because we allow visitors to
take part in our joy. And the whole world is as
convinced that more people should visit and revisit the Philippines,” Tourism Secretary Ramon
R. Jimenez Jr. said. Tourism activities for the month of February
2016 generated an estimate of PhP 27.49 billion
earnings, posting a growth rate of 42.09 percent
from PhP 19.35 billion earnings in February 2015.
Korea remained the top spending market during
the month with receipts amounting to PhP 12.92
billion. USA ranked second with an aggregate visitor spending of PhP2.87 billion. China rose to the
third place with expenditure totaling PhP1.71 billion followed by Japan with PhP1.45 billion. Completing the top five spending markets is Australia
MANILA SKYLINE
with a total spending of PhP0.96 billion for the
month of February 2016.
The month of February 2016 recorded an average daily expenditure (ADE) of Php 4,907.47.
On the other hand, average length of stay (ALoS)
of visitors for the same month was registered at
10.03 nights. Moreover, the month’s average per
capita expenditure of visitors was computed at
Php 49,221.93.
“This unprecedented growth we are now experiencing did not happen overnight. It is the work
and effort of the Filipino people who have nurtured and sustained this progress despite various
political and economic challenges. Truly, it is the
passion and energy of the Filipinos for the Philippines that became instrumental in driving these
numbers. In only a few years time, we have finally
achieved an enhanced orientation for the DOT as
the country’s primary marketing and selling unit.
We have restored confidence in the Philippines
through a professional, well-planned, and wellsupported tourism industry. While we have successfully ushered in an era of modern Philippine
tourism, we believe this is just the beginning of a
more promising future,” Secretary Jimenez said.
(Source: Department of Tourism Philippines)
Philippines aims to attract tourists with Halal food
T
HE Department of Tourism (DOT)
has set its sights on seeking a larger slice of the global Halal tourism
market.
Citing a recent Crescent Rating data
that sees the 117 million Muslim travelers to rise to 168 million by 2020, Philippines’ Department of Tourism Secretary Jimenez “the Philippines is one of
the countries in Southeast Asia that is
determined to partake 20 to 25 percent
of the $200 billion global Halal market.
The market is already there, with arrivals from Malaysia, for one, growing at
double-digit rate. The only thing that is
wanting is capacity.”
The agency has worked with National Commission on Muslim Filipinos
(NCMF), Halal International Chamber
of Commerce and Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (Hiccip) and CrescentRating, to prepare the kitchens and facilities
of 43 hotels, resorts, restaurants, and
other tourism-related establishments in
Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Davao, Bohol,
Zamboanga City, General Santos City,
Koronadal, Cotabato City, Surigao City,
and Siargao Island, to be halal-certified.
HALAL-CERTIFIED ESTABLISHMENTS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
BOHOL
Bohol Beach Club
South Palms Resort Panglao
The Bellevue Resort
BORACAY
Alta Vista
CARAGA
Hotel Tavern
Siargao Bleu Resort and Spa
CEBU
Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan
Maribago Bluewaters Resort
Persian Kebab Tandoori
Shangril Mactan Resort and Spa
DAVAO
Al Sultan
Banana Beach
Ecoland Suites
Park Inn by Radisson
Pearl Farm Beach Resort
Marco Polo Davao
Rumah Karl Restaurant
Southern Philippines Medical Center
Tinhat Boutique Hotel & Restaurant
Villa Margarita Hotel
Zabadani Inc.
MANILA
Berjaya Hotel Makati
Dusit Thani Manila
Edsa Shangri-La Manila
Marco Polo Ortigas
Marriot Hotel
The Mabuhay Manor
SOCCSKSARGEN
Alnor Hotel and Convention Center
Family Court Inn and Hotel
FB Hotel
Green Leaf Hotel
Hotel San Marco
The Farm at Carpenter Hill
ZAMBOANGA
Astoria Regency Convetion Center
Azenith Royal Hotel
Barcode Restaurant
Bay Tal Mal Restaurant
Dennis Coffee Garden
Dulang Restaurant and Catering Services
Grand Astoria Hotel
Palacio del Sur
Woodland Resort
(Source: Philippine Halal Tourism Project)
| PAGE
16
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
GDP grows 6.9% in
first quarter of 2016
E are pleased to be turning over a strong and stable economy onto the next
administration, said Emmanuel F Esguerra, Director-General at the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA).
The Philippines’s socio-economic
planning chief highlighted that the
country exceeded market expectations
with a 6.9 percent growth in the first
quarter of 2016. He further added that
the performance of the Southeast Asian
country for the period even exceeded
that of regional giant China.
“The growth is above market expectations given average consensus forecast of 6.6 percent for the first quarter.
This robust performance of the economy increases the likelihood of achieving the official GDP growth projection
of 6.8 to 7.8 percent for 2016, despite
a weak agriculture and fishery sector.
Also, among 11 selected Asian economies that have already released their
growth data for the quarter, the Philippines was the fastest-growing economy, followed by China at 6.7 percent,
Vietnam at 5.5 percent, Indonesia at
4.9 percent, and Malaysia at 4.2 percent,” Escuegarra said during a press
briefing on the 2016 Q1 performance of
the Philippine economy held recently.
The official’s statement, published
on the agency’s website, also highlighted few points on the Philippine economic performance including growth
in construction at 12 percent during
the period compared with 7.6 percent
in the last quarter of 2015 and 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2015. He also
cited that public construction saw a reversal of its 23 percent contraction last
year to 39.9 percent in the first quarter of 2016 as capital outlays of big departments posted significant increases.
While private construction also picked
up by 7.1 percent, from only 1.1 percent
last year.
Esguerra also noted the acceleration
of economic growth for the first quarter
of this year driven by gains in the industry and services sectors. The industry sector recorded a growth of 8.7-percent, the highest in five consecutive
quarters, supported by manufacturing,
construction, and utilities. Also, the
services sector recorded a 7.9-percent
growth, on the back of faster growth in
trade, finance, and real estate, renting
and business activities. The strength of
both the industry and services sectors
once again shows the ongoing structural transformation taking place in our
economy, which is crucial for sustaining economic growth and generating
W
The Philippines’s socioeconomic planning chief
highlighted that the
country exceeded market expectations with a
6.9 percent growth in
the first quarter of 2016.
He further added that
the performance of the
Southeast Asian country
for the period even exceeded that of regional
giant China.
quality jobs, he added.
However, he also pointed out the
poor performance in the agriculture
sector he attributed to the impact of El
Strong domestic
demand boosts
imports in March
C
Nino. Overall, he noted an exciting economic growth for the Philippines.
“Ultimately, the economic performance of our country from 2010 to the
first quarter of 2016 remains the highest growth average recorded by the
country that is backed by sound macroeconomic fundamentals. This is a
testament to the good governance and
equally good economic reforms that we
have implemented since the beginning
of the Aquino administration. This
continuing high growth pattern should
encourage all of us to continue working and making our own little contributions to the growth of the economy and
higher well-being of our people.
“These are exciting times ahead as
this government will soon be turned
over to a new presidency. We are hopeful that the economic agenda of the incoming administration—that includes
agricultural development, increasing
infrastructure spending and expanding the government’s conditional cash
transfer programme, among others—
will continue and build on the gains of
the last five years,” the official said.
(SOURCE: WWW.NEDA.GOV.PH)
ONTINUED demand for capital
and consumer goods drove imports
growth of 11.7 percent in March
2016, according to the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA), an independent cabinet-level
agency of the Philippine government
responsible for economic development
and planning.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that imports reached $6.4
billion from $5.7 billion in the same period. This is on account of higher purchases of capital goods at 24.1 percent
and consumer goods at 39.4 percent.
“The continued strength of merchandise imports and the fact that it
is fuelled by spending on capital goods
bodes well for the economy. This
growth also mirrors the positive prospects of the economy that are expected
to be sustained for the rest of the year,”
said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary
Emmanuel F. Esguerra.
Additionally, among 11 select Asian
countries, only the Philippines posted
positive growth of imports in March
2016. South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan showed the steepest declines.
“Given the general sluggishness of
import activities in the region, government support for higher spending on
infrastructure is critical not only because it supports domestic demand but
more importantly, because it increases
the country’s attractiveness to investors,” the Cabinet official said.
Imports of capital goods continued
their double-digit growth path for the
seventh consecutive month by reaching
$2.1 billion in March 2016. This bodes
well for robust economic activity.
Similarly, imports of consumer
goods increased to $ 1.2 billion in
March 2016 due to higher spending on
both durable goods (67.9%) and nondurable goods (15.6%) during the period.
“Expected to fuel imports growth in
the near term will be the continued expansion of public and private construction, along with investments in durable
equipment. Meanwhile, increased employment opportunities with increased
government spending for personnel
services and maintenance and operating expenditures will contribute to the
growth of consumer goods imports,”
said Esguerra, who is also NEDA Director-General.
However, purchases of raw materials and intermediate goods as well as
mineral fuels and lubricants declined
during the period owing to the waning
demand for wheat, inedible crude materials, and lower import payments for
other mineral fuels and lubricants, and
petroleum.
“The government needs to stay on
course towards improving the climate
for doing business in the country. This
will improve our attractiveness to both
local and foreign investors. The passage
of the Customs Modernization Act is a
step in this direction, as it will reduce
opportunities for corruption and technical smuggling,” said Esguerra.
In terms of market source, imported goods from Thailand rose significantly by 84.2 percent, overtaking
China (45.3%) and Japan (48.9%), and
replacing the United States as one of
the top three import source since August 2014.
(SOURCE: WWW.NEDA.GOV.PH)
| PAGE
17
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
Four institutions in QS
varsity rankings for 2015
University of the Philippines, Diliman campus.
F
OUR universities from the
Philippines made it to the
list of top universities in Asia
released by education firm
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
The country’s national university,
the University of the Philippines (UP)
is ranked 70th out of 300 –seven spots
lower than its 2014 rank.
Following in ranks 114, 143, and 181
to 190, respectively are Ateneo de Manila
University (ADMU), University of Santo
Tomas (UST) and De La Salle University
(DLSU).
ADMU, the third oldest university in the
Philippines, surfaced with a better rank as
it was ranked 115th in Asia in 2014. While
UST, one of the world’s largest Catholic
universities in terms of enrollment found in
one campus, and DLSU, a Roman Catholic
research university, retained its position in
the ranking since last year.
This year’s top three schools in Asia
are the National University of Singapore,
the University of Hong Kong, and the
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and
Technology.
According to a report published by CNN
Philippines, the QS University Rankings:
Asia has been highlighting top schools in
the region since it was launched in 2009.
The London-based education group uses
nine indicators in determining ranks in
Asia namely: Academic reputation (30%),
Employer reputation (10%), Faculty/student ratio (20%)
Citations per paper (15%), Papers per
faculty (15%), Proportion of international faculty (2.5%), Proportion of international students (2.5%), Proportion of
inbound exchange students (2.5%) and
Proportion of outbound exchange students (2.5%).
The Philippines’s top university in the
ranking, UP, was established in 1908 and is
now a university system composed of seven
constituent universities and one autonomous college spread throughout 15 campuses in the archipelago.
The institution is often cited as the
Philippines’s top university. As of 2012,
seven Philippine Presidents, 13 Chief Justices of the Philippine Supreme Court,
36 National Scientists and 40 National
Artists of the Philippines have been affiliated with UP. It has also produced 15,000
doctors, 15,000 engineers, 8,000 lawyers,
23,000 teachers, and thousands of graduates in other academic fields, which comprise some of its approximate 260,000 living alumni worldwide.
UP has the most National Centers of
Excellence and Development among higher
education institutions in the country, and
is one of the only three schools in Asia that
have received institutional recognition in
the Ramon Magsaysay Awards.
Max’s tasteful
journey to Qatar
M
AX’S Restaurant was established in Quezon City, Philippines in the
year 1945. From humble beginnings of a single roadside café to over
120 restaurants across the Philippines, North America and The Middle East, Max’s today is a household name and has come to be the most
loved Filipino brand.
Max’s Restaurant is
famous for its delicious Filipino dishes
which combine sweet
and savoury flavours,
the legendary ‘Sarap
to the Bones’ Max’s
Fried Chicken, cosy
interiors and heartwarming service.
Max’s opened its
first restaurant in Qatar at Al Sadd, Doha in
September 2015. This
resulted in an overwhelming
response
and sheer demand
from the Filipino community. Max’s opened
its second restaurant
at B-Ring Road, Doha
in March 2016. Max’s
has recently launched
its home delivery
service. The ‘Sarap to
the Bones’ experience
is now just one call
away. The increasingly popular ‘4Sharing
Meal’ will be launched for the first time in June. This meal is based on the
love of sharing in the Filipino community and such, is perfect for 4 persons.
Guests can look forward to new ‘4Sharing Meal’ every month featuring a
range of new dishes.
Max’s currently operates 9 restaurants in the Middle East, 6 in the UAE,
2 in Qatar and 1 in Kuwait. As it moves into its 71st year of operations,
Max’s will expand with new openings in the region taking its signature
Filipino fare closer to the community.
(Advertorial)
(SOURCE: CNN PHILIPPINES/RAPPLER.COM/WIKIPEDIA)
| PAGE
From organisations highlighting
popular sports like basketball,
volleyball and football, to
groups catering to diverse
interests of Pinoy health
buffs such as dragon
boating, mountain biking, dancesport, sepak
takraw, there’s something for everybody.
18
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
United through
sports & wellness
Festa-Qatar showcasing the sport sepak-takraw.
Filipino Fitness and Health in Qatar promotes healthy lifestyle through Zumba and aerobics.
AILYN AGONIA
DOHA
in
sports
and
physical
activities is a high
priority among
Filipinos in Qatar. This is evident by the growing number
of community organisations
dedicated to promoting certain sports or advocating
healthy living through various forms of exercise.
From
organisations
highlighting popular sports
like basketball, volleyball
and football, to groups catering to diverse interests of
Pinoy health buffs such as
dragon boating, mountain
biking, dancesport (activity that combines sport and
dance), sepak takraw (kick
volleyball), there’s something for everybody.
“Engaging in regular fitness or sports activity is necessary for expatriates, since
we spend most of our time at
work. It is a way of ensuring
we maintain healthy bodies
and it gives the necessary
balance in our lives. In most
cases, focusing on sports activities keep expatriates from
being drawn to vices,” said
Pinoy Basketball of Qatar
(Pibaq) President Pat Carido.
The group, which is at
the forefront of promoting
Filipino basketball in the
country, currently has 780
active members, including
Filipino youth. It has organised various tournaments for
all categories – newbies and
professionals – and has been
engaging young children
through its basketball clinics
and camps.
“Besides initiating SBP
(Samahang Basketball ng
Pilipinas) programme, our
concern includes educating the community when it
comes to international basketball rules. Making basketball leagues in Qatar professional is part of Pibaq’s plan.
We also intend to promote
camaraderie and continuous
E
NGAGING
Philippine Embassy endorses the new health programme Weight Loss Challenge.
learning among referees and
coaches here,” Carido added.
Upcoming events of
Pibaq include SBP Referees
Accreditation and Licensing Seminar scheduled on
June 14 to 17, Junior Falcons
Academy (youth basketball
camp) for 15 to 18-year-olds
and 10 to 14-year-olds slated
for June 10, the 1st PIDC
Basketball GCC Invitational
Cup 2016 featuring Filipino
teams from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Dammam and Doha in
July, and Allan Caidic’s Basketball Academy on July 29.
Another
organisation
gaining popularity in the
country is the Filipino Expatriates Sepak Takraw Association Qatar or Festa-Qatar.
The group has piqued the interest of joggers and passersby at the Corniche with their
regular exhibition games of
sepak takraw, a sport native
to Southeast Asia.
“Being part of sports
groups is a worthwhile di-
Health talk for the community by Beats and Bytes Production.
Basketball clinic for the young by Pinoy Basketball of Qatar.
Friday Zumba by FFHQ.
version among expatriates.
It keeps you entertained and
in touch with other Filipinos
having the same interest.
Working abroad is not just
performing your responsibilities at work. You also
need to find an activity that
you can do during your free
time. Sepak takraw is not
really a popular sport even
among Filipinos. It is part of
our mission to educate our
kababayans and other residents on this physical activity,” said Festa-Qatar VicePresident Harold Angeles.
He added that among
their plan this year is to hold
a summer tournament sometime in June or July in preparation for the 2nd International Invitational Sepak
Takraw Championships taking place in Dubai in August.
Festa-Qatar also takes
pride in representing Qatar
in various international tournaments such as the recently
concluded Duterte Cup held
in Abu Dhabi, where it lifted
the championship title.
Dance for fitness is also
at the core of sports and
wellness initiatives within
the community. Through
Filipino Fitness and Health
in Qatar (FFHQ), Filipinos
and non-Filipinos alike have
caught the Zumba fever. The
group’s regular Friday session at the Corniche has been
uniting all nationalities to
the tune of Latin-American
dance music!
“We are privileged at the
FFHQ to be able to serve
the community through our
regular two-hour Zumba
sessions. I have heard of so
many people who appreciate what we do for the community. A British expatriate
who regularly attends our
session once said that fitness
and exercise became more
enjoyable and fun because
of what we do. A member
from Egypt, comes to Corniche with his family just to
A tournament organised by Festa-Qatar at the Corniche.
dance with us. He said he
had lived in Dubai, Kuwait
and Saudi Arabia and didn’t
have this kind of opportunity
to engage in exercise on this
scale. We are receiving a lot
of compliments about this
initiative,” said FFHQ Chairman Randy Frogoza.
The group has about
more than 3,000 members
on its official Facebook page.
The crowd during its regular
Friday sessions is about 200
people or more all dancing
along with some volunteer
instructors. This summer,
FFHQ intends to continue
with their sessions at an indoor venue.
Recently, the Philippine
Embassy Doha even joined in
the call for ‘a healthier Filipino
community’ by endorsing the
Weight Loss Challenge programme organised by Beats
& Bytes Production. The programme involves fitness activities as well as talks on health
and wellness and nutrition.
| PAGE
19
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
LBC Balikbayan
Drums for
sending more
secure cargo
M
AJORITY of the Overseas Filipino Workers are look-
ing for a cargo service provider that they can trust for
sending their balikbayan boxes back home. LBC Express, the leading cargo and courier service provider
launched the LBC Balikbayan Drums as an alternative for secured cargo sending from the Middle East.
“Our aim is to provide peace of mind for our customers
whenever they avail our cargo service. LBC Balikbayan Drum
was launched to provide additional options for sending their
packages. At LBC, we always take extra steps to help ensure
the safety of packages our customer entrusts to us.”, shared
Mark Agalo-os, VP for LBC Middle East Operations.
A lot Middle East have shifted from boxes to LBC Balikbayan Drum. Norna Igsoc from Doha, Qatar was one of the customers who availed the product, “Gumamit ako ng LBC Balikbayan Drum kasi safe at useful at marami kang mailalagay
na padala. Magagamit pa siya kapag dumating na sa Pilipinas.
First time ko magpadala sa LBC at so far, it turned out well.”
(I used LBC Balikbayan Drum because it’s safe and useful and I can put a lot of things inside. It can even be re-used
when it is delivered to the Philippines. This is the first time I
sent to LBC and so far it turned out well.)
“We understand that we are the link between the overseas
Filipino and their loved ones back home and this makes us
more keen in finding ways of providing the best cargo sending
experience to our customers whenever they send their packages through LBC”, added Agalo-os.
(Advertorial)
| PAGE
20
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
Bigger
investments,
more jobs
UOYED by the approvals
by the Philippine Board of
Investments (BOI) in the
first four months this year investments reached Php 117.26
billion, up by 64 percent compared to the Php 71.62 billion
posted in the same period last
year. These were generated from
101 projects and are expected
to create 16,366 additional
jobs, once fully operational. For April alone, a total of Php
55.33 billion was generated,
which recorded a remarkable
225 percent increase compared
to the Php 17 billion generated
for the same month in 2015.
Among the big ticket projects
approved in April were GMR
Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (Php 16.75 billion), a
PPP project for the Cebu International Airport Project (Phase
2 – operation and maintenance
of Terminal 2); Light Rail Manila
Corporation (LRMC Php15.15
billion), modernisation of the existing system – operations and
maintenance of Manila LRT 1 Integrated Railway System Project;
and Cordillera Hydro Electric
Power Corporation (Php12.18
billion), renewable energy
developer of 60MW Kapangan
Hydroelectric Project in Benguet.
“The remarkable growth in the
agency’s investment approvals
is spectacular, given the sluggish global economy,” said Trade
Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo. “The
significant growth in investments
was mainly driven by infrastructure and power sectors,
elevating the country’s productive capacity to further grow at
higher rates,” he said.
“Equally significant, these
infrastructure and power
projects are dispersed across
the country, ensuring support
for future growth in areas
outside the national capital
region,” he added.
At the sector level, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply recorded the largest
share of investment commitments at Php 48.97 billion (42
percent), followed by the construction sector with Php 31.90
billion (27 percent), real estate
activities, specifically, the economic and low-cost housing subsector with Php 19.61 billion
(17 percent), transportation and
storage with Php 10.06 billion
(nine percent); and manufacturing with Php 5.97 billion (five
percent). Of the total investment
approvals, 84 percent or Php
98.54 billion came from local
investors and the remaining 16
percent or Php 18.73 billion
from foreign sources.
B
(SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF TRADE
AND INDUSTRY)
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Filipino divers in Qatar led by Fritz Cabunilas (scuba diving instructor) usually meet over the weekends to enjoy scuba
diving with their families and friends. Scuba diving is one of the activities enjoyed among community members.
LBC Qatar Team: We Like to Move It
| PAGE
21
| THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
Mount Makiling
Forest Reserve
Tubbataha Reefs
Natural Park
Mount Apo
Natural Park
Raising awareness about
country’s protected areas
T
The Guidebook to
Protected Areas of
the Philippines aims
to showcase the
country’s natural
wealth by highlighting
the biodiversity
richness, research
and conservation
programmes, and
ecotourism destinations
in the country.
HE Biodiversity Manage-
ment Bureau of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR)
of the Philippines recently
launched the Guidebook to Protected
Areas of the Philippines.
The book aims to showcase the Philippines’s natural wealth by highlighting
the biodiversity richness, research and
conservation programmes, and ecotourism destinations in the country. Envisioned as the first of a series, the publication will eventually feature all protected
areas in the Philippines, so that more
people can appreciate the natural beauty
of the country, and contribute to the conservation of its rich and increasingly rare
biodiversity.
“Our inter-relationship with the environment is also evident in Filipino culture, with natural elements inter-woven
into myths and legends, music and the
arts. Increasing pressures, however,
from deforestation, habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and many others,
threaten the integrity of the country’s
ecosystems and the wildlife they harbour. We are in a race to protect the
country’s biodiversity, and various approaches are currently in place to ensure that more generations of Filipinos
will continue to see the magnificent
creatures as well as the exceptional
landscapes and seascapes found in our
shores,” said DENR Secretary Ramon
PJ Paje.
The book cites 240 protected areas
under the National Integrated Protected
Areas System (Nipas) covering a total
area of about 5.45 million hectares, or
14.2 percent of the total area of the Philippines. The book highlights a mere fraction of the country’s protected area sys-
Ninoy Aquino Parks
and Wildlife Center
tem, featuring initial components of the
Nipas, Philippine Asean Heritage Parks,
and the home of the Biodiversity Management Bureau, the main DENR agency
tasked with the conservation of the nation’s biodiversity.
The featured protected areas include
the 22.7 hectare Ninoy Aquino Parks
and Wildlife Center which is home to
135 species of trees and shrubs, 73 species of birds, 11 species of reptiles, nine
species of fish, five species of mammals
and three species of amphibians, and
the Batanes Protected Landscape and
Seascape encompassing the entire province of Batanes with 96 species of fern
and fern allies, 251 species of flowering
plants, nine species of mammals and 104
species of birds.
Also included is the Northern Sierra
Madre Natural Park, one of the last re-
maining wilderness in the Philippines
with 1,079 species of trees, 55 species
of mammals, 294 species of birds, 25
species of amphibians, 65 species of
reptiles, 36 species of freshwater fish,
128 species of butterflies and 35 species of dragonflies.
Other protected areas include Bangan Hill National Park, Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape, Mount Makiling Forest Reserve,
Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park,
Sagay
Marine Reserve, Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, Central Cebu Protected Landscape, Mimbilisan Protected Landscape,
Mount Malindang Natural Park, Mount
Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Mount Kitanglad Natural Park and
Mount Apo Natural Park.
(SOURCE: WWW.DENR.GOV.PH)
Batanes Protected
Landscape and Seascape
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Thursday, June 2, 2016
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Thursday, June 2, 2016