For the very first time, hundreds of artists from different fields assembled in a special event that aims to create a solid community of Filipino performers working in Dubai, and the Northern Emirates.
The “Salu-salo: Pagtitipon ng mga Alagad ng Sining” gathered all artistic working Filipinos inside the Bulwagang Rizal, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) office. It allowed every artist to express their ideas, hopes, and aspirations in shaping the spirit of music, painting, architecture, and performance (singing, dancing, poem reading) with Filipino quality and values.
Games, exercises, expressions, and open discussions, which intend to raise the profile of Philippine arts in the UAE community and nearby regions were also conducted.
Godwin Sy, 25 and a painter in Dubai for five years was so grateful for this gathering.
“Napakahalaga ng meetup na ito para makilala ang bawat isa at iba pang mga Filipino artists dito at maisip ng lahat na hindi sila nag-iisa. Sa tingin ko nagulat ang lahat dahil napakarami ng dumalo,” he said.
“Marami kasi sa atin ang takot dahil pakiramdam ng iba ay wala silang suporta na nakukuha. Pero kapag may pagkakaisa, hindi malabong aangat tayo when it comes to art,” Godwin explained.
According to Consulate General Paul Raymund Cortes- who spearheaded the event, the goal was to make a strategy to push forward the arts and culture, and to present the best image of Filipino culture not only in the UAE but also in the whole world.
“Napag-usapan natin kung ano ba talaga yung kailangan nating gawin especially when it comes to pushing advocacy towards Filipino arts, culture, and heritage,” Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said in an interview.
“For the past four years na nandito po tayo sa Dubai, we’ve met various Filipino groups of Filipinos involved in the arts,” he said.
We’ve never met them as a whole so that we could discuss in totality ano ba talaga ang kailangan at ano ba yung strategy na dapat i-undertake ng Pilipinas at ng Filipino diaspora so that we can push forward the advocacy and the awareness on Filipino arts, culture, and heritage,” Cortes added.
He also said that the government should not detach itself from the dreams and ambitions of its constituents since UAE is a place where every nationality congregates. For him, it is very important to show the narratives of Filipinos.
Cortes also explained that art is the totality of culture and at the same time, leads to the discussion of economics.
“Art is economics. Ang sining binebenta natin yan. It’s a way of enticing others to visit the Philippines, tangkilikin ang mga produkto natin, yung tradition natin, yung pagkain natin para lalong umunlad ang ating ekonomiya,” he said.
