The Filipino Social Club-Philippine Independence Day Celebrations Organising Committee and the special event logo.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

A Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA)-licensed Filipino organisation has been designated by Manila’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as its official civic body partner at the six-month “Expo2020 Dubai” beginning Oct. 20, 2020.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana formally announced the unique participation of the Filipino Social Club (Filsoc, with CDA Licence No. 112 issued on June 24, 2019) on Saturday evening in Dubai.

In the same gathering, Filsoc unveiled its logo and plans for the 122nd Philippine Independence Day (PID) celebrations which shall commence on May 29 (Friday), the Southeast Asian nation’s “Flag Day.”

It was learnt that among the guests at the PID2020 on June 12 (Friday) at the Zabeel Hall of the Dubai World Trade Centre are the other CDA-licensed community groups and associations.

On Saturday, Quintana mentioned that the international exposition is the platform of all innovations by the country-participants.

Filsoc-PID2020 Organising Committee chairman Erwin “Tom” Lladoc Jr. said being prepared are 15 segments in competition formats, six of which had not been featured in previous PID events “because we want to innovate. We must be innovative.”

The six are Race to the Healthiest Profession (composite of 10 physical/ comprehension/speed/dexterity games) Challenge, Short Film Festival, Ang Talentadong Rehiyon (Regional Pinoy Got Talent), Global Filipino Awards, Outstanding Family of the Year, and Pinoy Senior Citizen.

On the possibility that Coronavirus 2019 would still be around in May and June, Lladoc said: “We are law-abiding citizens. We abide by the laws of the host government. We will hold the celebrations on a later date.”

Meanwhile, the logo for the Filsoc-organised PID celebrations consists of the Philippines’s ancient writing system called Alibata and Baybayin, and the Sarimanok, the mythical bird of the Maranao Filipino-Muslim tribe in Mindanao.

The logo was conceptualised and created by Donnell Gumiran, among the distinguished Filipinos in the Gulf with his 20-year advertising/branding/photography career that blossomed in the UAE and where, among other national regional and international awards received, he was adjudged first place in the Arts & Photography Category of the “8th Annual Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival 2020.”

The recent recipient of the 2020 Philippine Presidential “Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honor) Award” for Visual Arts explained: “The Alibata/Baybayin is a reconnection to our Filipino identity, our truly treasured past and roots. The Sarimanok symbolises our (agility), our ability to move independently as it also (speaks) of our heart.”

Gumiran added the merging of the Alibata/Baybayin/Sarimanok with the red/blue/yellow/white of the Philippine flag illustrates the “rise, movement and freedom” of the Philippines and its people.

On the Filsoc Expo2020 Dubai participation, Quintana said: “Filsoc is the official partner of the Philippines’s DTI for Expo 2020 Dubai. The   founding members/board of directors are closely collaborating with the DTI.”

She reiterated what DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez had stated late last year that the Philippine participation is “the undertaking of 110 million Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad; kaya huwag kayong mawawala (so, please be there).”

Quintana reminded them that as overseas Filipinos, they are “Ambassadors of Goodwill” whereby “consultative processes” are part of their communication acumen resulting in unity instead of divisiveness. 

“Let us think bigger. Let us think about our nation,” Quintana said.

Filsoc is accepting members on an individual basis. All its events are in line with the community service mission of the CDA. As per CDA guidelines, among its priorities is the promotion of activities and initiatives relevant to the youth.

Once-in-a-lifetime celebration – the largest event ever staged in the Arab world –Expo 2020 Dubai is set to welcome 190 participating countries, and millions of visitors from across the globe. Here they will experience warm Emirati hospitality at its finest, as well as the UAE’s values of inclusion, tolerance and cooperation. Youth are at the heart of our World Expo. Expo 2020 aspires to create a meaningful legacy that will benefit generations to come, both locally and globally, spanning everything from innovations and architecture to friendships.