Photo: MoFAIC Undersecretary Ahmed Sari Al Mazrouei recently received a copy of Ambassador Hjayceelyn M. Quintana’s credentials. (WAM photo)
ABU DHABI: Ambassador Hjayceelyn M. Quintana said is confident the Philippine Embassy can satisfy the requirements of Filipinos in the UAE as she officially begins her tour of duty following a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) where she presented her credentials last week.
She likewise lauded the performance of the Philippine embassy and consulate staff in the UAE with whom she has spent time to observed and worked with.
“I have all the confidence that I have a very good team in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai. In my first 10 days, I’ve seen how they work. That doesn’t mean that there’s no room for improvement, but at least I know that I have a very good starting point. Filipinos deserve the best service we can give,” said Quintana.
Quintana leads a team of 26 embassy personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs and 9 local hires in the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, apart from the team at the POLO-OWWA and some 50 staff at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.
A Middle East expert
In an earlier interview with The Filipino Times, former Ambassador to the UAE Constancio Vingno Jr. said Quintana has the experience and expertise on her belt to lead one of the busiest posts for OFWs in the world. “Quintana is a young and dynamic career diplomat who is a Middle East expert,” said Vingno.
Prior to her appointment to the post, Quintana served as the Philippine’s Consul General in Oman, and as Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs (OMEAA).
Quintana took up diplomatic studies at Oxford University in the United Kingdom as a British Chevening scholar. She pursued a master’s degree in international public policy at John Hopkins University in Washington DC as a Fulbright scholar.
A first-placer in the competitive Foreign Service Officers’ Examination, Quintana has been posted in Beijing, Washington DC, and Dublin.
Meeting with MoFAIC
MoFAIC Undersecretary Ahmed Sari Al Mazrouei recently received a copy of Quintana’s credentials. Her appearance at the MoFAIC last week formalizes the beginning of her tour of duty in the UAE.
The UAE government’s news agency, WAM has reported that Quintana looks to represent the Philippines in the UAE and praised the wise and strong leadership of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as she has observed that the country enjoys a prestigious regional and international standing.
The report furthers that Al Mazrouei wishes success for the ambassador as she performs her duty to lead the strategic cooperation between the Philippines and the UAE.
Quintana assumed the post vacated by Vingno, whose tour of duty officially ended in December last year but had to be extended till June this year.
hello everyone,
sana po makarating ito sa kinauukulan
we have a good law and government here in UAE, thank GOD for that.
but sadly, still there is abuse in the side of most DOMESTIC WORKERS, contract are not followed by most employers specially local, contract are just a paper for them to get working visa for DH.
most DH are afraid to complaint, that they might loose thier job or thier employer do bad things to them, dont have the knowledge (low lvel of education), dont even have the chance because they are not allowed to go out. most of them are from the agencies recommended by a friend(came as tourist visa)
what are these things?
handling of personal docs, they didnt even let them read or sign the contract
1 paid day off per week
no. of working hours
sick leave
annual leave
holidays
minimum wage of 1500, delayed salaries
sadly still many local employers are not following these law
im asking our government to do something about this. if they can ask for inspection if the employers are following the law or not.
thank you very much