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Philippines adjoin with the UAE to inculcate a sense of responsibility

Around 700,000 Filipinos have made the UAE their second home, all keen to secure opportunities that would make them contributors to this vibrant and innovative society

Some 121 years ago, the Filipino nation and its people carved for themselves to what historians would call Asia's First Republic. It would be the first time in over 333 years of colonial rule that the nation would join the ranks of the free world, ready to choose its path and to determine its own dreams.
The young Republic would face more challenges in the next half century, a process that would imbibe a greater sense of patriotism among its dynamic population, whetting a tenacious appetite of dogged ambitions and aspirations of a people eager to shape its own destiny.  
Today, Filipinos, a proud race of over 105 million with over 10 million living overseas, continue to make itself felt in the prosperous global community.
Some 700,000 have made the UAE their second home, all keen to secure opportunities that would make them positive contributors to this vibrant and innovative society.
The Filipino diaspora in the UAE has made great strides in the fields of education, healthcare, engineering, human resources, architecture, sales and retail, management, and in service.
They have become a major economic, social, and cultural influence in this multi-ethnic community. Their presence has added more sparkle to this already exuberant society.
In consonance with this direction, our migrant society has taken, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai remains resolute in its commitment to creating useful and meaningful programmes for its community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
It has sought to engage with its constituency to make them more active custodians to the shaping of our heritage.
Our strategy to provide avenues for our community in the arts, music, dance, sports, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, trade and investment, and corporate social responsibility reinforces this vision.
Indeed, the seeds planted over 121 years ago has become a pillar for the Filipinos in this part of the world to drive themselves to become not only more prosperous citizens of this vibrant economy but more importantly, models of humanity and paragons of virtues in this UAE society that prides itself with happiness, tolerance and respect. 
As we celebrate Philippine Independence Day this year, I call on all my fellow Filipinos of Dubai and the Northern Emirates to inculcate this sense of responsibility to continue living by the aspirations of our heroes and the generations of Filipinos who had come before us.
I also wish to remind my kababayans that our cause to become agents of hope for our heritage must likewise be founded with our obligation to peacefully coexist with others who, just as we, are also on a journey to define their own narratives - for it is in the sharing of these opportunities that assures the preservation of our histories and our humanity.  
Happy Philippine Independence Day to us all. May our celebration spring forth further joy among us as we share this vivacious Filipino spirit with everybody regardless of race, religion, economic status, academic background, and nationality. Mabuhay!
 
Paul Raymund Cortes is Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in Dubai, UAE.