SIBF: 'It's a blessing to come together in Sharjah,' says Filipino expatriate

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The 41st Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) saw an entire day devoted to celebrating the rich values and heritage of the Philippines at the ballroom at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The ‘Kabayan Cultural Fun Day 2022’, celebrated under the theme ‘Filipino readers of today, global leaders of tomorrow’, showcased a plethora of performances and activities that took visitors of the book fair on a delightful journey to discover and get acquainted with the culture and traditions of the Asian island nation.

With more than 7,000 islands and rich in culture and natural beauty, the day-long celebrations of Filipino heritage, music, culture and cuisine reflected the pride that the large diaspora of Filipinos in the UAE carry towards their country.

Vice Consul Paola Belle D. Ebora from the Philippines Consulate attended the colourful and lively celebrations.

Students from UAE Filipino schools performed traditional dances and speech choirs to entertain a full-packed audience. From dances to food stalls, singing competitions, and science and technology games, the SIBF 2022 ballroom buzzed with activities throughout the day.

“It’s been a blessing to come together in Sharjah, a city famed for its cultural activities, to organise an event to promote our heritage. I thank the Sharjah Book Authority and the Philippines Embassy for this opportunity to come together at SIBF, the largest book fair in the world today,” said Dante Delizo, Chairman of the Kabayan Volunteers Group.

Following the cultural programmes, Filipino author and motivational speaker Lloyd Luna talked to an audience in a session titled ‘From Mess to Messenger: From a Painful Journey to a Joyful Destiny’.