Bayanihan strong in the UAE

Bayanihan is one of the most powerful, strongest and nationalistic word in the Filipino language. It is one of those words that define the Filipino — a must for his “Filipino-ness” to be complete. It has no literal counterpart in the English language but it can be defined as “working together towards a common goal for a compatriot or for the country.” The word evokes the image of camaraderie, responsibility, unity and sacrifice all done in the spirit of fun and nationalistic pride.

And this imagery is precisely what was seen during the first-ever Bayanihan Festival organized by the leaders of the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates headed by Engineer Orandantes Delizo, who has lived and worked in the UAE for more than two decades.

It was held on December 6, 2008 at the Megabowl Amphitheater, Zabeel Park in Dubai with around 5,000 Filipinos from all over the UAE taking part including Filipino clubs and organizations, Filipino schools, and Filipino companies who helped the organizers in many aspects of the event.

The whole day and evening affair started with a grand entrance of the national flags of the Philippines and the UAE and singing of the two country’s national anthems and followed by a parade of banners of the participating Filipino clubs and organizations, opening of the tiangge, and military, giving out of the Bayanihan Festival souvenir program, cheering squad, military silent drill and majorette exhibition performances.

By afternoon several competitions were held, such as the kids chess, kite flying, lantern-making, group tent, kids ballroom and Palarong Pinoy contests. By nightfall onwards, there were a lot of song and dance performances such as cultural dances, Latin dance numbers by two Filipino dance clubs and a Christmas carol performance by the Christian Voices Chorale. Much-awaited also was the appearance of Filipino celebrities Mark Herras, Jennylyn Mercado and Mang Mike who were the invited guest stars near the end of the show.

One of the highlights of the festival was the second job fair organized by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association UAE Chapter (UPAA UAE) for Filipinos who are looking for jobs, especially for those who have just arrived in the country on visit visas.

Thousands of Filipinos arrived in Dubai everyday looking for greener pastures, one that they cannot find back home in the Philippines. But with the global recession happening in the world right now, many OFWs in the UAE were also affected with the downsizing of manpower in several construction companies, thus losing their jobs. So, several Filipinos who have been laid off from their companies headed to the job fair to be able to transfer to a new company before their work visa runs out, forcing them to return to the Philippines.

Five Dubai-based companies participated in the job fair and these are Careertunity, Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance, Modern Freight, Wilbursmith Associates and Staff United.

The Bayanihan festival opened at 9 a.m. but even as early as 6 am, people were already lining up for the job fair with around a total of 400 people handing out their CVs and applying to these companies at the end of the event.

The first-ever Bayanihan Festival in the UAE proved that the Filipinos abroad can be one. Is a true testament to the Filipino expatriates’ resilience in the most trying of times and the never-ending belief that there is strength in national unity.

The festival was supported and attended by Philippine Embassy officials in the UAE headed by Ambassador Libran Cabactulan and Consul General Benito Valeriano along with former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo who visited Dubai to talk about Philhealth.

The proceeds of the festival will be going to the distressed wards at the POLO-OWWA in Dubai, the Filipino Expatriates in the UAE Foundation (FILEX), Gawad Kalinga 777, and the conflict-affected people in Mindanao.

The festival was also held in celebration of the Muslim celebration Eid Al Fitr (December 7 to 9) and Christmas Day and New Year’s Day which are all celebrated in this liberal Islamic country. - Quay Evano, inquirer.net blogs, 12/16/08