DUBAI: It was the night when Filipinos as well as companies and brands preferred by the million member-strong community shone.
Achievers of the Filipino community based in UAE were announced at The Filipino Times Awards 2019, the largest event that honors exemplary Filipinos in their respective industries and recognizes top brands in the UAE.
The fifth edition of the most-distinguished community awards–held at Sofitel Dubai The Palm–celebrated the competence and achievements of 17 Filipino professionals in their respective fields.
As well, leading home-grown brands in the UAE have won big while six brands were conferred with Company Awards for their distinct product features and offerings which gained high popularity in the community.
Gracing the event was Ambassador Hjayceelyn Aurora Quintana, head of the Philippine mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who, in her speech, noted the event was being held on the eve of the 48th UAE National Day.
“On this Year of Tolerance and on the eve of the 48th founding anniversary of the United Arab Emirates, let us dedicate the 5th The Filipino Times awards to our host nation.
“We salute this nation for being a showcase of multiculturalism and diversity. With 200 nationalities living and thriving here, indeed the words of UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed still resonate to this day and I quote: ‘Past years have emphasized the importance of unity as a vital necessity for providing a better life to the people, for ensuring stability in the country and for realizing the hopes and aspirations of our people,’” the ambassador said.
She further said: “Unity, ladies and gentlemen, is the foundation of a successful community. We are grateful to this country for being a good example to all of us.”
Quintana said there is “an added significance when this kind of awards is held in a foreign country. To the awardees, ang inyong tagumpay ay tagumpay ng bawat Pilipino! Your success in the UAE is the success of each of the Filipinos living and working in this beautiful nation.
“The glamour of tonight’s awards will only be complete if the whole community shines with it. No one should be left behind.”
Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, for his part, said the fifth edition of The Filipino Times Awards is a validation of the limitless potentials of the Filipinos.
“It just goes to show that the field of excellence of overseas Filipinos is growing wider and wider. There are more to choose from since five years back,” he said.
“My advice to the other Filipinos is that it doesn’t take an award to tell you that you are excellent. In every single step of the way, there is a step toward perfection and at any given moment you are on your most perfect stage,” he added.
Individual awards
Over 500 nominations were received under the individual category that started on August 15. The 47 individual finalist for the 16 individual categories went through a rigorous process—which involved background information checking as well as written and oral presentations—by a panel of judges composed of 11 professionals who are prominent in their respective fields.
Dr. Karen Remo, the CEO and Managing Director of New Perspective Media Group, Publisher of The Filipino Times congratulated the winners of the Awards and said: “There are around 1 million Overseas Filipinos who call the UAE their home. The country’s commitment to fostering the spirit of tolerance has made it easy for many professionals to shine and stand out in their field. I am truly proud of our winners not only for shaping the landscape of their respective industries, but also for raising the Philippine flag high in the Middle East.”
Vince Ang, General Manager, The Filipino Times said: “The Filipino Times, through The Filipino Times Awards, has always been keen to discover individuals who have helped change the image of the Filipino community in the Middle East for the better through their outstanding contribution to the region’s progress. Their success in their respective industries reflects our success as a community—and we look forward to meeting more exemplary Filipinos in the future.”
Brands awards
Meantime, Emirates, RAK Bank, Du, Global Village, and Noon were among the top 25 brands preferred by Filipinos in UAE, according to the fifth edition of the awards, which gathered over 76,000 online votes during the voting period from September 1 to October 25.
Over 500 nominations were received under the brand category, of which, 269 brands were shortlisted. The winners were revealed in a red-carpet event that was held at Sofitel Dubai The Palm. Furthermore, six brands were conferred with Company Awards for their distinct product features and offerings which gained high popularity in the community.
With around 1 million in number, Filipinos in the UAE are the third largest expat population and are one of the fastest growing consumer segments in the country. Companies understand that getting their loyalty is vital to their continuous business growth in the country.
Remo said: “As one of the largest expat communities in the UAE, the Filipinos have become a major consumer segment for many brands – both local and international – in this country. The winners of the 5th edition of The Filipino Times Awards have proven that their services have benefitted the lives of many Overseas Filipinos. I am confident that many more brands will up their game to capture the hearts of this important target market.”
Ang said Filipino consumers in the UAE now have more purchasing power and are more discerning when it comes to choosing the brands that they vote for.
“In addition to familiarity, they opt for brands that provide good customer experience,” he said.
The Filipino Times Awards 2019 was sponsored by RAKBANK, Honda, Prime Group, Prime Medical Centre, UAE Exchange, West Zone and Frontrow International. It has also partnered with Book My Show as the official invitation system partner and P&A Grant Thornton as the auditing partner.
The Filipino Times Awards was organized by The Filipino Times, the largest free newspaper in the UAE and the biggest digital platform for Filipinos in the region.
