Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: Dubai

  • Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2020

    Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2020

    Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2020

    CONSUL GENERAL PAUL RAYMUND CORTES

    Dubai, UAE

    Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes epitomizes the best of the Pinoy spirit as a leader who is optimistic, hardworking, compassionate, and selfless – and the UAE’s entire Filipino community can attest to this without hesitation. Beyond fulfilling his role in the diplomatic service, he has worked tirelessly to support the community through a diverse range of avenues.

    In 2019, under his leadership the consulate was able to help over 6000 Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates from January to November alone, extending court assistance, facilitating hospital services, and police station and jail visits through assistance to national services. Beyond consular duties, and with the support of community volunteers, he has spearheaded initiatives in the areas of education, sports, arts, and culture, not only to foster a stronger sense of community camaraderie but also to uplift the status of the consulate is a venue for learning and Pinoy pride.

    The year also saw some of the most memorable milestones for the local Filipino community.  One initiative that Consul General Cortes helped realize was the illumination of the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building, as well as the Dubai Festival City, with the flag of the Philippines during the Phil Independence Day celebrations.  It was an occasion of sheer Pinoy Pride which stood to symbolize the UAE’s recognition of the Filipino people, as well as the strong ties between the two countries.   The same occasion also saw the biggest Filipino gathering in the history of the UAE, at the PID 2019 celebrations attended by some 50,000 kababayans from Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

    __________________

    Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever.

    Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water

    Check out our recent candid unfiltered interview with Con Gen Paul Raymund Cortes in Illustrado Talks:

    Get a copy of Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Legacy Edition

    Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos Legacy Edition 2020

    ………………………..

    ILLUSTRADO MIFG 2018

    Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes

    Dubai & Northern Emirates

    Photo by Rozen Antonio

     

    Juggling his time between improving services and operations at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and Northern Emirates, whilst performing his duties as the most hardworking supporter of the local Filipino populace, and inevitably playing the role of de facto problem solver for some of the most challenging expat issues, Consul General Paul Raymund Cortez has closed yet another productive year with a resounding vote of confidence from the people he so diligently serves.  UAE-based The National newspaper referred to him as the “The Filipino who will never leave a fellow kabayan behind” – in their feature entitled UAE Portrait of a Nation, published in November 2018.  And quite rightly so, because the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have been blessed with his kind of involvement and enthusiasm which has not been seen previously in these parts.

    Con Gen Paul has always had a heart for supporting Pinoys across the country, and with the support of his leadership team composed of Vice Consul Marianne Bringas and Vice Consul Elizabeth Ramos, his beneficial programs barrel through to 2019.   These include more effective and efficient consular services; more proactive engagement with the community on sports, as well as revitalized programs for the youth via the Philippine schools;  the continuation of vigorous economic and cultural programs, as well as initiatives on business and entrepreneurship in coordination with the Philippine Business Council of Dubai; and a deeper engagement with the UAE government authorities.

    Always pushing to serve and to underline Filipino excellence in the Emirates, he affirms, “Things always get better.” With the growing, dynamic Filipino presence in the region and on the international field, he views the current moment as the perfect vantage point from where we could all aim for even more progress.

    He urges to “Continue working on improving your skills, talents, and knowledge and strategize the road towards entrepreneurship.”

     

    ……………………….

    Special thanks to our sponsors: Emirates Airline, Stars n Bars La Mer, Liali, Instax – Grandstores UAE, Dusit Thani Dubai, Gver – Your Friendly Marketplace for Sharing, Meeting Dancewear , MPQ, CMG, Filbrit, and our partners Rozen Antonio Photography,  Alex Callueng Photography, Jef Anog Photography, and Ethereal Photography.

     

    Browse the digital issue of Illustrado 100 Most Influential Filipinos of the Gulf 2018

    100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes – Trailblazer

    He’s easily the busiest Filipino in the emirates.  With almost all of his waking moments spent in the service of the people, it’s typical to see him whizz through, albeit thoroughly, his duties as a diplomat, as well as pull in double, nay, triple, maybe even quadruple duty during the weekends to fulfill his obligations to the community.  He also finds the time to write a column to inspire Pinoys via Illustrado on a regular basis.  But for Consul Paul Raymund Cortes super public servant and all-around ‘rockstar,’ it’s just how he chooses to serve.

     

    100 MIFG - Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes - Trailblazer
    Photo by Alex Callueng

    He reflects, “I would like to be a positive role model for my children, showing them in practice what it means to be a leader of the Filipinos here; what it means to be an inspiration for Overseas Filipinos to continually improve themselves and keep competitive in the global arena, and what it means to be a God-fearing soul in this sea of humanity.”

    On top of his drive towards continually improving the Consulate General’s service to the community, Con Gen Cortes is most upbeat about other achievements in 2017.  These include the staging of Dubai Dubai Musikahan which opened doors for Filipino artists, the partnership with Filipino Educators in providing pyscho-social training and services to the PCG staff, as well as their enhanced partnership with the community in mounting events that focus on Filipino communal spirit in Dubai.

    With his work intended to inspire, the Consul General says, “I hope Filipinos here can harmonize the visions of different organizations into a united one. I also hope we become more aggressive in showing the rest of the other ethnicities in the UAE the richness of our culture and our soul as a nation.”

     

    ________________________________________________________________________________Photography by: Alex Callueng

    Read more Illustrado 100 on www.illustradolife.com

  • Michael Cinco – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Michael Cinco – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Michael Cinco

    Fashion Designer

    Michael Cinco’s ingenuity for concocting couture fantasies that inspire one to dream is truly unparalleled, earning him and his brand consistent international acclaim; his gift, however, to fascinate the world – well, that’s just icing on the cake.  Inarguably, he is ‘the’ most notable and prolific Filipino designer on an international scale, of this generation.

    Adding to an endless list of A-list celebrities and royalty who have donned his pieces in the past, Michael’s creations were once again brought to the media forefront at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival when Thai-Danish actress and model Sririta Jensen turned heads in two-tiered masterpieces from his ‘Impalpable Dream of Swan Lake’ collection. Creating another iconic red carpet moment was American actress Laverne Cox, who wore a bold orange gown from his same collection at the 2020 InStyle and Warner Bros. Golden Globes After-Party.

    Moreover, Michael’s indelible influence on the world of fashion was recently immortalized at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Museum of Art (SCAD). The solo-exhibition in Savannah, Georgia, curated some of Michael’s most opulent signature creations worn by his star-studded clientele – of which include Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Beyonce.

    While Michael continues to outdo himself in ways bigger than before through reinvention that stays true to his awe-inspiring aesthetic, he also brings our country’s creative geniuses to the forefront with him and his work, as a further consolidation of how the Filipino is a global force to be reckoned with.

    (more…)

  • Mme Yasmin Balajadia Cortes – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Mme Yasmin Balajadia Cortes – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Trailblazer – Mme Yasmin Balajadia Cortes

    Community Patron

    Adored by many, Madame Yasmine Balajadia Cortes, supportive diplomatic spouse to Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, has, through the years, given proof to the invaluable capacity of women as effective ambassadors of culture and understanding.

    Representing the hard-working, optimistic and inspirational contemporary Filipina, she has been a leader within the Filipino community and the diplomatic corps as the head of the Filipino Ladies of Dubai, and the Vice President of the Diplomatic Ladies Group in Dubai.  Serving under the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) of Dubai and the Northern Emirates, she has dedicated her time initiating and spearheading many cultural initiatives that cultivate and introduce Filipino talent to the rest of the multicultural community in the emirates, in turn also continuing to elevate Filipino presence and morale. Among the notable events, she has espoused art exhibits and stage plays at the PCG, Dubai Dubai Musikahan, the Interschool Debate Competition and other community events.

    A proponent of Filipino excellence, Mme Yasmin Cortes constantly encourages her kababayans to pursue individual growth, stating that “One’s development should never be in comparison to other individuals are but more on how they’re able to rise from their previous benchmarks.”

    (more…)

  • Danabelle Gutierrez – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Danabelle Gutierrez – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechanger – Danabelle Gutierrez

    Poet

    Each year is increasingly monumental for poet and writer Danabelle Gutierrez. 2019 saw her working with big names in the industry, with performances at the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature, the Illustrado Day of Sisterhood, Sikka Art Fair, and a collaboration with Hyku Desesto on a Vogue Arabia project – in which her “Unbridled” poem was recited by singer Ciara. An established poet, author, and spoken word artist, Danabelle’s works have also been published in NYU Abu Dhabi’s Journal of Arts & Humanities.

    She was awarded as Film Ambassador by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and also as the as Best Writer at Rooftop Rhythms in Abu Dhabi.

    Danabelle is not one who stops at recognition. Hers is a character that is passionate, yearning for knowledge, and continue doing good work and inspire others do excel as well.  With a third book in the works, she says, “I’m still learning and refining my craft, and there’s still a lot of work that I want to create. I would like to think that my contribution if anything is that I have been able to inspire others to show up and do the work — to create or to perform.”

    (more…)

  • Architect Medardo Cadiz – 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Architect Medardo Cadiz – 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Architect Medardo Cadiz – 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Through his company, Cadiz International, Architect Medardo Cadiz stands tall in the world of global architecture representing Filipino creativity that is world-class. The makers of newly renovated Burjuman Center, Manar Mall in Ras Al Khaimah, and the awe-inspiring RAK Palace Majlis, Cadiz International, which has offices in the UAE, Philippines and the USA, works through the elements of the environment, context and content.  Medardo is fortunate to have worked with clients who give them the creative freedom to execute projects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also functional and efficient. They have completed many projects around the world, the most recent include Al Khawaleez Residence for a prominent Dubai family, the Waterfront World Fish Market, Samasta Movenpick Hotel in Bali, Golden Triangle Mixed-Use Development in Jakarta, One Galaxy Super Block in Surabaya, and Cadiz Residence North Carolina USA, among others. Medardo believes that Filipino architects are born creative. He knows this having employed and mentored many of them across his 30 years in practice. He adds, “It’s in the nurturing that can help them transcend to becoming world-class architects.” He also encourages Filipinos towards cultural immersion and cultivating friendships with both locals and other expats wherever they are. “Not only will you benefit from engaging with the local community, conversely the host community will benefit from you, exposing them to the wonderful Filipino culture and values. This is very important.” __________________ Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever. Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water Get a copy of Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Legacy Edition
     
    100 MIFG: Architect Extraordinaire Medardo Cadiz
    Photo by: Minileo Cadiz
     

    100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018: Medardo Cadiz – Architect Extraordinaire

      You may not know it, but highly acclaimed Filipino architect Medardo Cadiz, and his group Cadiz International, are the prolific masterminds behind some of the most remarkable architectural developments in the UAE. As the driving force behind projects like the newly renovated Burjuman Center, Manar Mall in Ras Al Khaimah, and the awe-inspiring RAK Palace Majlis building, Medardo has several new developments launching later this year including the Deira Fish and World Market. “It’s magical what’s happening in the UAE.  All the creative people, including the Filipinos, are busy innovating ideas and producing exceptional works that celebrate the multi-cultural makeup of the country,” Medardo attests.   As for his international projects, he and his group just opened the new Samasta Hotel/Lifestyle Village in Jimbaran, Bali – which was recently voted one of the top five best hotel/lifestyle and shopping developments in Bali. Also within the region, they and their Indonesian client won in the “Gold in Retail and Lifestyle” category from the prestigious FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards in Paris France, for their work on the Serpong City and Bekasi Center.   To be successful in the industry, it is most important is to be able to forge long-lasting relationships with clients, according to Medardo.  Having strong ties with clients like the northern U.A.E. Rulers and Crown Princes, Cadiz shares: “Have an entrepreneurial spirit.  Do more listening than talking.  Learn the client’s social and cultural values, their business goals and personality traits.”   With his wealth of experience, Medardo has taken several young Filipino architects under his and his firm’s wing, mentoring creatives to become confident in expressing themselves in the global arena: “After working several years at our firm, the alumni of Cadiz International go out into the world to become successful architects in their own right. For that, we are very proud.”   _________________________________________________________________________________________ Photography by: Minileo Cadiz

    Illustrado 100 was made possible by sponsors: Giordano, Liali Jewellery, Mitsubishi UAE- Al Habtoor Motors, Michael Cinco Couture, Mapúa Institute of Technology, Centro – Amwaj Rotana Hotel , Max’s Restaurant Middle East and GVER – Your Friendly MarketPlace for Sharing

    Co-Sponsors: Herschel Supply Co., Rove Hotels, The Medical City – Dubai , Filipino Institute UAE, MPQ Tourism, JAMES Travel and Tours Dubai, Off the Hook Seafood Restaurant, The Original Barrio Fiesta Restaurant – Dubai and Tapa King UAE. 

     

    Read more Illustrado 100 on www.illustradolife.com

  • Jovy & Janet Tuaño – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Jovy & Janet Tuaño – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechangers – Jovy and Janet Tuaño

    Photo by: Jef Anog

    Entrepreneurs

    Power couple Jovy and Janet Tuaňo have been very prominent entrepreneurs in the business scene in the UAE, pushing for the growth of the Filipino community for almost two decades now.  The pair are currently striving to elevate the status of Filipino cuisine and Philippine ingredients in the emirates through their groundbreaking project Filfood.

    Founder and former Chairman of the Philippine Business Council in Abu Dhabi (now Director of Trade, Investment, and Entrepreneurship) Jovy Tuano has been the backbone of the Filipino business circle in the capital since the council’s formation in 2004.  A professional who wears many hats, he is also a food innovator, a licensed real estate broker, and a business leader.

    Janet is a leading expert in banking with more than 25 years of experience, working with one of the UAE’s renowned banks as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), while serving as the custodian of the company’s professional systems, and providing invaluable support and expertise in the family’s business ventures.

    Under Asia Gulf Companies, they have established La Carne, which specializes in premium meats supplying the hospitality industry as well as discerning foodies.  More recently, Jovy and Janet have also launched ,the food innovation initiative, “FilFood” where they work with F&B operators, as well as with multicultural chefs and respected culinary figures.  Filfood has held conferences, as well as food festivals in the country.

    More than their professional achievements, the two are most proud of being able to raise two very capable global citizens who are humble and driven to succeed. Daughter Joan, who is now the Culinary Business Manager at La Carne, continues to grow the brand in the country, while the youngest Jose Marie, is making a name for himself in economics in Europe.

    (more…)

  • Ezra Santos – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Ezra Santos – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechanger – Ezra Santos

    Fashion Designer

    The beauty of fashion is the fact that it is constantly evolving in ways that are fresh and unprecedented. And to keep up with the industry’s unwavering pulse is to strike a balance between reinvention and one’s own design DNA. Leading fashion figure in the Middle East Ezra Santos, of Ezra Couture, has never ceased to amaze both loyal clientele and fashion critics each season.

    Internationally recognized, he has showcased breathtaking couture collections through the years on runways from Dubai, to New York, to Harbin, China. As he continues to design for an elite clientele that consists of A-list celebrities and royals, Ezra lives by the simple yet poignant mantra that is: “One must innovate to simply exist.”

    Ezra’s signature style spells timeless elegance, femininity, and drama. In 2019, his collection ‘Looking through the Eyes of Love,’ which graced the runway at Fashion Forward Dubai’s October edition, showcased a new facet of Ezra’s design sensibility – modern spun with an edgy neoclassical twist. Paying homage to Arabic women and the region’s distinct cultural aesthetic, the collection was received with immense acclaim.   Another testament to Ezra’s brilliance in drawing inspiration from culture is his take on traditional Philippine fashion elements and techniques in recent years.  He has created several collections with pieces based on the terno as well as classic weaving, reinterpreted into statement dresses and gowns for contemporary couture-wearers.

    (more…)

  • Country Champions: Team Pilipinas – DTI Expo 2020 Dubai Illustrado 300MIFG

    Country Champions: Team Pilipinas – DTI Expo 2020 Dubai Illustrado 300MIFG

    Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: Team Pilipinas – DTI @Expo 2020 Dubai

    World expos have forever been championing culture, innovation, and human ingenuity of all forms from all over. During these landmark events that only happen once every five years, countries gather to showcase their successes and game-changing ideas that rewrite history and foretell the future’s promise all at the same time. With Dubai Expo 2020 fast approaching, the Philippines is set to shine and elevate the collective image of its people in the global arena to end all global arenas – utilizing its landmark participation to tell a progressive yet unmistakably authentic narrative of our nation.

    Country Champions: Team Pilipinas - DTI Expo 2020 Illustrado 300MIFG
    DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez

    Spearheading this milestone initiative is the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under the leadership of Secretary Ramon Lopez (Chairman and Commissioner-General of the Philippine Organizing Committee), together with Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hijayceelyn Quintana, Architect Royal Pineda, and Curator Marian Pastor Roces.

    Through participating at the expo, the team endeavors to highlight the Philippines’ best in terms of trade, tourism, and investment, as well as other facets that showcase the nation for what it is – a creative and compassionate changemaker with a burgeoning economy that is ready for business. Secretary Lopez shares: “With our participation, we hope to create more goodwill for the Philippines and to attract greater interest not only for our products but also investments, as well as our tourist destinations.” He adds, “Alongside forging relationships with potential investors and trade partners, it’s an opportunity to project the Philippines as a progressive and innovative nation – that is also rich in culture and heritage – of concerned and professionally active individuals that are connected worldwide.”

    Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos

    Asec Gaetos remarks, “The goal of our participation is 3-fold: country branding, trade tourism and investments, and consumer engagement.” She also adds that the participation is largely a branding exercise that empowers Filipinos to tell their own story – and not anyone else’s.  She affirms, “It’s a story, a narrative of what and who the Filipino is, and it’s something that is supposed to elevate and change mindsets not only on how Filipinos look at themselves, but also likewise how the whole world will look upon Filipinos.”

    Country Champions: Team Pilipinas - DTI Expo 2020 Illustrado 300MIFG
    Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana

    With over 700,000 Filipinos in the UAE, Ambassador Quintana expresses that OFs will play an instrumental role in shaping the Philippines’ run during the 6-month event, “The Filipino community here can play a very supportive role even if everything is prepared already by the Philippine organizing committee.  There are other things that we can do to reinforce the message to elaborate on whatever could be done to highlight the many things that are going to be presented and projected during the expo.“  She continues, “This is our chance to shine; this is a global stage that we are going to have. I hope that we will be ready for that.”

    Country Champions: Team Pilipinas - DTI Expo 2020 Illustrado 300MIFG
    Architect Royal Pineda

    Architect Royal Pineda who designed the Philippine pavilion called “Bangkota” based on the coral reefs, shares the idea behind the most awaited structure. “The very essence of what we are doing is to reflect the real nature of the Philippines – our people being warm, sensitive, and caring.  We go the extra mile, and we are very soulful. That is what we are presenting and amplifying in this pavilion. We intend to showcase the beauty of our islands, our materials, our skills, and, most of all, our people. It is about collaborations – modern bayanihan, to show the world that we have something to offer – our gift to the world. And this, I believe, is important to find the identity, dignity, and honor of Filipinos.”

     

    Country Champions: Team Pilipinas - DTI Expo 2020 Illustrado 300MIFG
    Curator Marian Pastor Roces

    Curator Marian Pastor-Roces is excited to offer a new story of the Philippines through the pavilion – “That Filipinos are not just a product of that 500 years of history that we know of right now. That the Filipino has been in the making for thousands of years.”  She adds, “Most people do not know the story of our emergence into today. They will see a totally interconnected people, and this is an excellent platform for Filipinos because the whole expo is actually about connectivity. And we obviously are among the most connected, if not the most connected   people on earth.”

    The image of the Philippines as a growing global force to be reckoned with, coupled with deep roots and a caring and connected people, is set to be highlighted at the forthcoming event, which is slated to be the ‘World’s, Greatest Show.’  With the leadership of the DTI at the Expo 2020 in Dubai, the community and the country is set not only to seize opportunities on many fronts, but it is also set to take another step towards its progressively evolving narrative.

    Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever.

    Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water

     

    (more…)

  • Furne One – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Furne One – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechangers – Furne One

    Fashion Designer 

    Photo by: Rozen Antonio

    From gaining his first stylistic inspirations from his grandmother as a creative thinker in his youth, Furne One has transformed his bold ideas into articulate creations, acting as a catalyst in the Middle East and Philippine’s fashion movements.

    Launching his avant garde atelier ‘Amato’ in Dubai in 2002, the designer brought something distinctively contemporary to the regional couture scene – something unexpected, bold, edgy, future forward, romantic and sometimes even bizarre – but all at once very beautiful and exciting.  His creations have become coveted by the region’s elite, his dramatic shows have turned out into the most in-demand tickets during fashion season, and A-listers from all over the globe, too many to mention, have worn his pieces.  He has showcased his art around across the globe in runways, events and collaborations from the UK, Australia, Germany, to the USA. In recent years, Furne has also been holding shows in the Philippines, a nod to his roots.

    Ever the consummate hardworking and strategic professional that he is,  Furne views his field as one continuous adventure and challenge that he is geared to win.  “The fashion industry is a fast-paced world. It changes constantly. You must learn to adapt and evolve with it but also challenge yourself to swim against the tide and strive to create your identity.” He says, continuing to work away on his next greatly anticipated works of art.

    (more…)

  • Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi – Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf

    Gamechanger – Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi

    Global Business Leader

    Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi - Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf
    Photo by: Ace Reyes

    Global business leader, Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi’s success, is a testament to the capacity of an empowered Filipina to rise from the usual – from starting out as a chemist, to leading a company as a CEO, and growing it towards global success.

    Group CEO of the Prime Group (formerly Geosciences Testing Laboratory) based in Dubai, Mary Jane, has the satisfaction of being able to see the company that she leads evolve into a global force with ten branches across the world.  Raising the bar on quality and compliance solutions for companies across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, with partners in Europe, India, China and in the Philippines, Mary Jane and her company work towards facilitating and promoting halal certification, food safety and hygiene to manufacturers and suppliers.  She leads a 400-strong team of highly qualified professionals in the field of testing, inspection, certification and training.

    Despite all her accolades, Mary Jane considers her humble story as the most significant part of her life.  She shares, “My stories of triumphs, struggles, and challenges through the years have touched many lives and inspired the Filipino community to believe in themselves and do more. Empowering women and helping them to achieve their greatest potential is the lasting legacy I want people to remember of me.”

    (more…)