DUBAI //A new social centre is a priority for the first governing council of a Filipino community group, elected in Dubai yesterday evening.
Filcom Dubai-NE, which serves as an umbrella for 99 Filipino community groups, supports the programmes and activities of the Philippine consulate in Dubai.
Twenty member organisations vied for the top 12 seats on the group's first governing council.
The groups that won two-year terms in the ballot were the St Mary's Filipino Community Choir, Filipino Human Resources Practitioners' Association, Filipino Dubai Teachers Association, Samahang Kababayan, United Filipinos Foundation and Filipino Computer Club.
Six others - the Filipino Off Road Auto Club, Lambunaonons in the UAE, Migrante-UAE, Filipino Club -RAK, Impok Kapuso Kapamilya at Kaibigan and Overseas Filipino Civil Engineers Association - will serve one-year terms.
Next Friday the 12 elected members will choose a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, auditor and committee chairmen.
Matilyn Bagunu, the programme director of St Mary's Filipino Community Choir, which received 52 votes, said the win was overwhelming."I really didn't expect us to get the highest number of votes," Ms Bagunu, 39, said.
Her group is aiming for the creation of a Filipino social club in Dubai. "But we can't decide on it now," Ms Bagunu said.
Jerry Tan, 52, the president of Dubai Pinoy Expat Tennis Club, said: "It's unfortunate that we still do not have our own social club unlike the Egyptians and other expatriate groups in the UAE. I'd like our governing council to push through with previous plans to build one."
Ansar Damsani, 57, the president of the Overseas Filipino Muslim Association, added: "Our community is growing. We badly need to build a community centre to host our weekly programmes and sports activities, and showcase or sell Filipino products."
Manuel Cordova, 40, an electrical technician in Dubai, said the centre would mean a lot to domestic workers on their days off.
"It can also be a place where people can run to when they have problems," said Mr Cordova, who is the president of Samahang Kababayan (Group of Countrymen).
Sheryll Bacay, 33, the president of the Filipino Human Resources Practitioners' Association, said a social club would help unite the 99 community groups.
"The Filcom is like our second family," Ms Bacay said. "But we should serve its purpose, to help and upgrade the skills of our countrymen and make this umbrella organisation world class."
Benito Valeriano, the Philippine consul general in Dubai, said he fully supported the community's call for a social club.
"I'm dreaming of it," he said. "But it's a community initiative. On their own, I know they can do it."
rruiz@thenational.ae
Maestro
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
