Consul Ferdinand Flores, who arrived in Dubai back in Sept. 2014, has said his bye-byes to the city that never sleeps and, by his own account, made him a better person.
“It has been very good actually. Surprisingly good. I feel like I am a better person and better officer after my stint in Dubai,” Flores told The Filipino Times when asked how his two-year term has been.
But as stories go, bye-byes are not for long. “I’d like to come back as a tourist siguro in the future lalo na sa 2020 (when Dubai hosts the Expo 2020, an international fair),” Flores said.
The Philippine Consulate General has responsibility over an estimated 500,000 Filipinos, a humongous job stretching its manpower resources thin.
“The task is very heavy, but very rewarding,” said Flores. “What I finish in a day here is more than what I would have been able to do in a month at my previous post. Managing the expectations and needs of the Filipino community is quite challenging. We have a very sophisticated and well educated community, which is very refreshing and advantageous,” he added.
The secret to getting the job done?
“You need to sincerely like the job you do, with whom you do it and for whom you do it,” he said.
For his replacement, the consul advised: “Enjoy your stint in Dubai. It’s the best spot in the Middle East. Be the best, most emphatic and responsive officer to your staff and the public you serve.”
Flores, who went to school at the University of the Philippines from high school to his post-grad years, ended his tour of duty in Dubai officially on December 28. (Jojo Dass)
