Filipina entreps make it in Dubai

FILIPINA nurses, teachers, engineers and singers have long been recognized abroad for being topnotch in their fields wherever they may be. In business, Filipinas are also making their mark, from Josie Natori and Monique Lhuillier in fashion to Loida Nicolas-Lewis, chairman of TLC Beatrice, in business and finance.

In Dubai, two Filipinas are making it in the business world. Named Women of Substance by Dubai-based lifestyle magazine Illustrado are: Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi, a Filipina chemist who rose to the position of CEO in a reputed multi-disciplinary testing laboratory in the UAE and the first Filipina awardee in the prestigious Emirates Business Women’s Awards in 2008; and entrepreneur Isabelita Sabado-Warren, creator of Nanay Tuneng, a Filipino brand of condiments. Warren is also an active community volunteer and philanthropist who launched a feeding program in her hometown of Magdalena, Laguna last year.

This marks the second year that Illustrado magazine presented the Women of Substance awards to celebrate female empowerment and to be a source of inspiration to the local Filipino community. “This is our way of saying thank you and acknowledging the contributions of our female compatriots to society, and at the same time a vehicle with which to uplift the morale and profile of our community out here,” remarked Lalaine Chu-Benitez, Illustrado publisher and editor-in-chief. “By highlighting the achievements and efforts of our kababayans [compatriots], we wish to drive the message that all of us can make a mark someday if we only put our mind to it.”

Aside from Al Mahdi and Warren, the four other Women of Substance awardees honored at the Montgomerie Golf Club in Dubai last April 4 are Lilian Vargas, a senior manager at Dubai Duty Free who started out as shop assistant 24 years ago and now oversees 1,600 employees; Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Gulf Today senior reporter and UAE Filipino Press Club president; nurse Juliet Solas of Al Wasl Maternity Hospital, the only Filipina who has received a Dubai Government Excellence Award; and Clarita de Quiroz Craig, a classically trained pianist, singer, music writer and famous international model.

Benitez was quick to point out that this was not a popularity contest. “We actually take pride in showcasing the achievements of real people – real role models, to show that we can be significant despite our ordinary existence today.” Filipinos are really world-class! - INQUIRER.net blogs, 04/07/09