Over the years, the Ateneo LSE (Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship) program has transformed the lives of many overseas Filipinos across 27 countries, empowering them with the knowledge to become the next wave of entrepreneurs who have an advocacy in helping their community. The largest organization of its kind, their accredited programs have provided entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership skills to thousands of Filipinos worldwide.
Aside from the training and lessons, Ateneo LSE in the UAE is also helping the Ateneo School for Government to expand its reach across the Middle East, with their sights set on Oman and Bahrain. The organization has also helped students in Qatar begin their entrepreneurial education journey. Through their many deeds and accomplishments, the UAE Ateneo LSE has been selected to host the upcoming 2020 Global Ateneo LSE Homecoming summit in Dubai.
Founding President JR Papel shares his thoughts, which align with the organization’s values and aspirations, “Filipinos should find their passion or interest that they think can add value to their community. They should consistently hone, push and develop themselves to be able to push this passion that it eventually becomes their identity and life’s mission. This gives us a deeper reason to wake up every single day.”
Marketing maven Rosemarie Tacorda has led the communications initiatives of some of the most impressive world-renowned hotel brands in the emirates including the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, The Address Hotel, Intercon Hotel Group, Jumeirah Creekside, and the Palazzo Versace – undeniably raising the bar for marketing in the luxury hospitality industry in the region. A professional who “walks the talk”, she is a proponent of the mindset that in order to elevate Filipino branding, we must think and act as world-class citizens.
With her definitive contributions as the Director of PR and Marketing at Palazzo Versace Dubai’s since its opening, paying off – now the hotel ranks as number two, behind the illustrious Burj Al Arab, on the Best Hotels in the Middle East list published by leading luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler – Rosemarie just recently moved on, leaving the brilliant team that she has built, to her next adventure. She joined the Park Hyatt as Director of Marketing and PR, in late 2019, and is looking forward to taking part in the hotel’s future growth.
On how Filipinos can excel in their chosen sector, Rosemarie advises, “I believe that we should just live authentically, free of pretensions. It is also important to always be a good person, free of judgments. Be someone who strives to give the best always, and leave mediocrity behind.”
A Filipina at the forefront of marketing communications efforts at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Dubai, Danelle Ruth Palang has been championing the brand’s sustained success in the last decade. As Director of Marketing Communications, she has been the backbone of the hotel’s launch projects as well as campaigns through the years.
In 2019, Danelle proudly notes that she has brought three of their F&B outlets to TripAdvisor’s top 50 and 100 restaurants in Dubai out of over 10,000 competitors. She has also launched two more outlets in 2018 and 2019.
An innovator within her field, she works in order to inspire her peers, as well as contribute to the progressive representation of Filipinos in the region. She shares, “I sincerely believe that if we remind ourselves that we are only as good as our last performance, and aim to outclass our most recent one, then our achievements would be boundless, competition will be healthier because there is no person greater than the other – only one’s self becoming better and better each time.”
Izhcka Zeta belongs to an exclusive circle of designers who have the distinction of mounting a well-lauded fashion show in the home of haute couture. His collection “Monarchs of the Opera” was presented at the opening of the International Fashion Week in Paris in September 2018 at La Maison, Champ Elysees. The designer’s runway debut will always be the defining moment for the eccentric designer who is the Creative Director of renowned UAE atelier Jacy Kay Couture.
Photo by: Rozen Antonio
Not only bold, and tasteful, but also intellectual, Izhcka’s painstakingly birthed designs always combine a variety of elements, his obsession du jour, melded together beautifully to intentionally form a story. “I would like to be known as someone who is different – able to create dresses that are unique and varied. Some designers have one distinct look, and while it marks the designer’s identity, it can also become boring and monotonous. I would like to be known as someone who is not inhibited by the limitations and expectations of society or of my own bias.”
He adds, “Filipino designers should be truly competitive, not just inspired by others’ works, but leading and generating original concepts and ideas. There should be something uniquely Filipino embedded in our creations so our identity will not be lost. We should also align with the 2020 of Dubai: driven by technology, language-proficient, and truly competitive. This way, we understand the demands of the market and are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed.”
One of the Filipino pioneers in the photography industry, Chris Calumberan has earned respect in the field, not only for the quality of his work but also his level of professionalism and his long-standing good reputation in the market.
Providing stills and film production for a variety of clients from various industries including automotive, industrial, beauty, retail, corporate and food and beverage, he has worked for many prestigious brands including Audi, Saks Fifth Avenue, Philips, McDonalds, Hermes, Homes R Us, Paul, Bateel, Wafi Mall, Fifa, including designers Michael Cinco, Souhad Acouri, Adam Couture and many others.
A well-known advocate for the community for many years, Chris has always shared his art, not only to teach other aspiring photographers but also to utilize it in pursuit of advocacies he is passionate about. He has facilitated photography workshops and courses and he has also been a featured speaker in several photography events including the Phototalks ExeLens event held at Queen Elizabeth 2 by Toshiba. He has mounted a solo exhibition – “Kumer Solo” the first photo/art exhibition held at the Philippine Consulate General – Dubai and the Northern Emirates – kicking off a series of creative events. In recent years, he has also participated in an Alzheimer’s Awareness project and has initiated his own single plastic awareness initiative, utilizing his photography skills for even greater causes.
#ThisWeekinIllustrado – updates from our #GlobalNeighborhood
Here’s our first episode on a new collab project with our Illustrado friends from around the globe.
This Week – corona virus in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok; cozying up Manila; the Riyadh you didn’t expect; cold weather in Hanoi, Toronto and Florida; and art, literature and thoughts on Brexit from Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi.
Want to join our team at This Week in Illustrado? Or simply want to share a peek at your life with our global neighborhood? Just PM us your video via Illustrado Magazine on Facebook.
Industry pioneer Milo Torres has undeniably consolidated his presence in the UAE’s highly competitive market for commercial photography. Dubai Duty Free, Air France, Emaar, Yamaha ME, and Patchi are among the many prestigious brands he has worked for in the last 15 years since he established his company in TECOM/Dubai Media City. As a Filipino who has established himself firmly within the field, he affirms that his fellow Filipinos can also achieve a high level of success through forming mutually beneficial connections with one another: “We should collaborate, even beyond the media production industry so we can achieve oneness in our goals.”
An engineer by trade, but a creative at heart who puts importance in helping other Filipinos, Milo, has been an active volunteer in the Filipino community through the years. Apart from providing his photo and video coverage services at community events – including the Palarong Pinoy in Dubai and Umm Al Quwain, the Pinoy Spring Festival, Pinoy Winter Festival 2018, Wet Olympics (Dubai and UAQ) – and serving as a Contributor and Art Director for many Philippine Independence Day celebrations, Milo for the past decade has also conducted free training sessions in photography, website development, programming, and computer assembly/networking for kababayans.
The Philippines is slated for landmark participation at the forthcoming Dubai Expo 2020 with Bangkota – a theme representing the best facets of the Philippines and the Filipino people.
Illustrado spoke recently to Architect Royal Pineda – Team Leader and Designer of Bangkota, and shed light on the significance of the pavilion, as well as the Philippine National Day scheduled for March 16, 2021 to the Filipino community across the world.
#taasnooFilipino Arch. Royal Pineda talks to Illustrado about the significance of Bangkota – the theme of the Philippines at Dubai Expo 2020, as well as the Philippine National Day scheduled for March 16, 2021, and how Filipinos have so much to be proud of. #proudFilipino #proudtobepinoy
Read more about the landmark participation of the Philippines at #DubaiExpo2020 here:
DTI Hosts Sneak Preview of the Philippines participation in Expo 2020 Dubai
From L to R: Arch. Budji Layug, Marian Roces, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Arch. Royal Pineda, Assistant Secretary Rosvi Geatos, and Undersecretary Rowel Barba
The Department of Trade and Industry hosted a select group of lifestyle editors and writers in a round table lunch for a Sneak Preview of the PHILIPPINES participation in Expo 2020 Dubai last 11 June 2019. The DTI revealed “Bangkota”, the ancient Tagalog word for coral reef, as the theme of the Philippines’ (PH) participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai in October 2020 to April 2021.
The theme highlights not only the country’s natural resources but the similarities between the coral reef and Filipinos: both grow into colonies that thrive throughout the world. Expo 2020 Dubai is the latest edition of the World Expo that started in London in 1851. Dubai’s 428-hectare Expo will feature 190 country pavilions to be visited by 25 million tourists.
The Philippine pavilion will be a 3,000 square-meter space with a 1,300 square-meter enclosed area, designed by Budji+Royal Architecture+Design and curated by Marian Roces. It will feature five exhibits, an artisanal café, and Go Lokal! stores. After the Expo, the exhibit will be installed permanently in New Clark City.
“Our most important goal in participating at the Expo is to present a country brand that reflects our rich history and our values as caring, compassionate, and creative people,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
Although the Expo is not a trade fair, Secretary Lopez said that the government’s budget of just under PHP1 billion will be earned back through tourism, trade, services, and investments, as the DTI will also organize an investment mission to maximize the opportunity.
He added that the interest to join the Expo came from President Rodrigo Duterte because there are around 700,000 Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates. The President since issued Administrative Order 17 assigning DTI to lead the Philippine Organizing Committee (POC) for Expo 2020 Dubai. The POC is also composed of the Departments of Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Budget, Labor, Science and Technology, and Information and Communications Technology.
HONEST YET PROGRESSIVE DESIGN
DTI Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos shared that Expo 2020 Dubai organizers thought that the PH pavilion is “humble, honest, yet progressive.”
Architect Royal Pineda of Budji+Royal Architecture+Design said they used mesh instead of concrete as the primary material as a way to present ourselves truthfully, rather than compete with other countries.
RESET THE FILIPINO MINDSET
Curator Marian Roces curated five main exhibits, namely 4,000 Years Young, Modern Becomes Filipino, The Muslims of the Philippines, The Coraline People, and Oceans Pacific, to illustrate the country’s history even before the arrival of the Spaniards. The exhibits endeavors to change the world’s mindset about the Philippines and the Filipinos’ mindsets about themselves.
In line with this, the POC chose March 16, 2021 as the Philippine National Day to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in PH. The celebration aims to shift the mindset of this being the day that Magellan discovered the Philippines, to the day we discovered Magellan.
Dubai –DuBlog Power Card has officially been launched last August 8, 2019, at 8 PM, hence the iconic 08.08.08 theme at Burjuman Arjaan Rotana Hotel. The event was attended by various social media personalities, community leaders, press representatives, and his excellency, Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes and spouse Dra. Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes.
Founded and headed by DuBlog CEO, Lance Japor, DuBlog Power Card was formulated for its advocacy to reach out to the Filipino community with the means of letting them experience more, by paying less. DuBlog Power Card, by the name suggests, is a discount card that entitles the cardholder a POWER to enjoy a huge range of hot deals on food, special services, beauty and lifestyle, training centres, cargo, travel, and a lot more! The card’s one-year validity from the launching month provides discounts ranging from 10 to 25% off on the total purchase, offers such as buy 1 get 1 free scheme, installments on different products, and free items and services. The card demonstrates a win-win result as the card is fully packed with favourable deals for the price of 50 AED only. It will also showcase and introduce different kinds of businesses in the market while making it accessible to everyone to experience.
The cardholder will have the power to explore the city’s bests and indulge in your guilty pleasures without breaking their pockets. With over 750,000 Filipinos all over UAE, the power card targets to empower all OFWs of any status, while making sure that they get the most out of their needs and interests with the power brought by the DuBlog Power Card.
As DuBlog is known for its advocacies in every event that they do for the community, the idea of coming up with this unique discount card was created in dedication to those whose monthly incomes are between below the minimum to average. By means of these special savings, Filipinos of different social status can avail and enjoy what everyone else is experiencing.
DuBlog Power Card can be availed in 4 ways: online orders, direct purchase from partner merchants, dedicated sales team, and through resellers. More details are provided on their official Facebook page and website for the list of partner merchants and their respective discounts and offers.
With this unique project launched and made for the Filipino community, the team aspires to continue touching lives and bring more valuable experiences to everyone in the community by using smarter ways of spending their money.
Pinoy comfort food favorite Tapa King has just opened their 75th outlet worldwide in Al Wahda Mall’s new extension in Abu Dhabi at a launch ceremony led by the leadership of Landmark Zenath Group, franchisees for Tapa King in the UAE, attended by prominent members of the Filipino community – including representatives from the Bayanihan Council, the business sector, as well as Filipino influencers based in the capital.
The brand, which has been in the UAE for the last 5 years, now has a total of four outlets in the country, with the Al Wahda branch as the fourth in its list.
Lalaine Chu Benitez, Mr. Deen Sadiq, Mr. Jovy Tuano & Mr. Mohamed Kafrawi- F&B Manager of Tapa King
Deen Sadiq, Group Director of Landmark Zenath Group, franchisees for Tapa King in the UAE, shared, “We’ve had a lot of inquiries and requests from our customers to open in Abu Dhabi for such a long time, but we were waiting for the right location to serve the community. Fortunately, we have found it in the new extension of Al Wahda Mall where there are other Filipino restaurants as well. We welcome everybody to Tapa King Abu Dhabi in Al Wahda. You have been supporting us through the years, and because of your support, we have been able to open our fourth outlet, so thank you very much.”
Mr. Jovy Tuano, Bayanihan Council Vice-Chairman Ronald Precilla, Bayanihan Council Chairman Elmer Casao & Ms. Janet Tuano
Community leader, Elmer Casao – Chairman of the Bayanihan Council also remarked, “I am really happy that a new branch of Tapa King has just opened here at Al Wahda Mall. This is good news for everyone, for every Filipino because they are not only promoting our very own Filipino brand, but they are also providing [job] opportunities to our fellow kababayans.”
Tapa King in the UAE which serves Filipino comfort food favorites like its signature variants of tapa served ‘tapsilog’ style, as well as other well-loved dishes like sisig, bulalo, kare-kare, and so much more, has been operating in the Philippines since 1987. The company started franchising in 1997 and has expanded internationally with its first global store in Singapore in 2010, with the UAE following suit in 2014. Currently, Tapa King has the biggest network in the Fast Casual Filipino Restaurant Chain sector in the world.
ABOUT TAPA KING
It all started with a grandmother’s closely-guarded recipe for delicious tapa Handed down from one generation to the next; this recipe somehow found its way into the hands of two of the family’s most enterprising members. And the rest, as they say, is history.
In 1987, a restaurant that would serve only Filipino fast food such as tapa and tocino was established. This Filipino meat would be served with garlic rice and egg, typifying favorite Filipino breakfast items that can be enjoyed all day. This tapa recipe has been parlayed into a very successful chain of fast-food eateries offering not one, but several tapa recipes for different tastes. While the tapa is undoubtedly the star of the show, there are other Filipino delicacies available.
1997 was the year when Tapa King started to award franchise stores to a few friends due to the potential seen by many for this growing Filipino fast-food chain. The demand for more Tapa King stores grew because of the consistent quality of products that the increasing market has tasted. Tender high-quality beef cut into strips and marinated perfectly served with a fried egg with golden brown edges, Garlic Rice to add to the perfect Filipino comfort food that can be served morning, lunch, dinner, late night during over-time or even gimmicks. It is a meal any time of the day that tastes like freshly home cooked food! 2010 was the time when *Tapa King* opened the first Tapa King global store in Singapore.
For over 30 years, Tapa King has been consistently serving its market with the same high-quality products, good service, and upgraded store design. In Sept 2012, Tapa King Inc. was acquired by the Ulti-Premium Foods Corporation and is looking to bring Tapa King to the next level. Tapa King Inc.’s program of expansion and upgrading will be an aggressive one that is ready for the market of today and the future locally and globally.
