The two executives were accompanied by prominent Filipino PR Man, Art Popoy Los Banos, who is the company’s Head of Corporate Communications seen in photo with Nagabhushan holding the award certificate.

“Discharging business responsibly is crucial to sustainable excellence and success. Golden Peacock Awards recognize the best among organisations, which have significantly embedded risk management strategies and sustainability practices into their operations and decision-making processes, leading to improved company performance,” said Dr. V.K. Agnihotri, IAS (Retd.), Director General of IOD, India.

Tristar has been previously recognized for its CSR programs, Occupational Health & Safety , Business Excellence and ESG best practices.

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He was welcomed by Tristar Group Founder and CEO Eugene Mayne who initiated the conference in 2019 to draw industry and global attention to the importance of the physical and mental health of workers at sea.

According to the Seafarer Workforce Report on the Global Supply and Demand of Seafarers in 2021 by The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the Philippines is the largest provider of seafarers for both officers and ratings globally.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of seafarers is paramount, especially as Filipinos comprise most of the world’s maritime workforce, tirelessly navigating global waters and powering the shipping industry. The ‘Safety at Sea’ Conference by Tristar Group underscores a commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety, which protects not only the lives of our seafarers but also the integrity of global trade. The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai applauds this initiative, recognizing that prioritizing safety strengthens the shipping industry’s resilience and safeguards Filipino seafarers’ valued contributions to the world economy,” said Consul General Angeles days before the event.

The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Art Popoy Los Banos, assisted the consul general and his team during the event which was held at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Dubai.

The post Consul General Angeles at Tristar ‘Safety at Sea’ Conference appeared first on The Global Filipino Magazine.

Just like the 2023 event, seafarers based in India, the Philippines and Myanmar will be able to participate via live streaming of the sessions.

According to Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne, the aim of the Safety at Sea Conference is to increase dialogue and raise global awareness to promote seafarer safety and welfare. “We are delighted to see organisations across the maritime industry prioritising safety and supporting the Conference,” explained Mr. Mayne.

The Conference agenda includes discussions and workshops, with the objective to take forward key areas to improve safety, which impacts every other part of a company’s business performance. Speakers include prominent figures in the industry, including Dr. Grahaeme Henderson OBE, the former President of Shell Shipping and Chair of the industry consortium Together in Safety.

Presenting on Leadership and Building Trust will be Captain Karen Davis, Managing Director of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum, and on Incident Prevention and the Golden Safety Rules will be Stuart Edmonston, Safety and Risk Management Director of UK P&I Club.

“We are privileged to have industry leaders like Grahaeme, Karen and Stuart, sharing their significant expertise at the Conference and we are looking forward to a lively debate, with the opportunity to make significant progress in the important area of seafarer safety,” added Tim Coffin, CEO of Tristar’s Maritime Logistics division.

The Conference will be held at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, and will be live streamed around the world to seafarer gatherings on ships and ashore.

The post Tristar supports World Maritime Day 2024 with Safety at Sea Conference to be held on November 7 in Dubai appeared first on The Global Filipino Magazine.

An orientation was held this Sunday afternoon, August 4, which was attended by Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver who gave an inspirational speech encouraging the enrollees to complete the program and help in nation building as social entrepreneurs.

The Secretariat of the program which is called Ateneo Leadership and Social Enterprise Program Overseas Filipino Literacy, Innovation, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship (ALSE OF-LIFE) said that enrolment is still open until Friday, August 9, by sending an email to uae.alse2024@gmail.com.

The mission-driven program was initiated in 2008 in Rome and has generated almost 4,500 graduates from 32 countries. ALSE OF-LIFE teaches three modules on Servant Leadership, Financial Literacy, and Social Entrepreneurship to prepare Overseas Filipinos for their eventual reintegration.

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I was expecting a major announcement for Overseas Filipinos but what the president said were just updates from last year’s SONA such as the unpaid wages of our ‘kababayans’ (compatriots) in Saudi Arabia and the repatriations of our ‘kababayans’ from Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen. The latter is a normal government SOP.

It seems that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has lost the president’s ears, unlike when the first secretary, the late Susan ‘Toots” Ople, was still alive when at the first SONA the president said a mouthful about the new department.

Little is known about the department’s ‘Aksyon Fund’ or the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan Fund which is intended to be used for legal, medical, financial, and other forms of assistance to OFWs, including repatriation, shipment of remains, evacuation, rescue, and any other analogous help or intervention to protect the rights of Filipino nationals.

The Philippines News Agency posted a story on July 4 that DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported that nearly 1 billion pesos from the fund has been disbursed which has aided at least 52,000 workers in terms of legal and labor assistance and around 10,000 others provided with financial assistance. President Bongbong Marcos Jr. could have reported this and made us confident that the government is really for the welfare of Overseas Filipinos who have remitted 37 billion US dollars last year.

The post What the president didn’t say about Overseas Filipino workers welfare appeared first on The Global Filipino Magazine.

Let’s face it, almost all OFs will not be reintegrating back into Philippine society as the opportunities overseas are better than living and working in the Philippines. OFs have significant contributions in every country they are present in. Every host country and every employer will tell the world that OFs are excellent, talented, friendly, and, most of all, caring skilled workers, artists, professionals or entrepreneurs.

As so-called ‘modern-day heroes’ because of the remittances that have helped keep the country economically afloat, OFs should also be heard where they are. The presence of embassies, consulates and migrant workers offices in the major countries which host OFs does not guarantee that all requests for assistance, complaints, and grievances will reach the president’s ears or his inner circle at Malacanang Palace.

President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. can first start establishing the global Presidential Action Center in the UAE, either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, covering the EMEA region which has over three million OFs, who are mostly migrant workers compared with the OFs in North America who are considered immigrants.

It will make a lot of sense to have the Presidential Action Center in the UAE where there are two international aviation hubs. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are 8 flight hours to London and Johannesburg, 7 flight hours to Milan, 5.5 flight hours to Kenya, 4 flight hours to Cairo and Tel Aviv, 3 flight hours to Jeddah and Amman, 2 flight hours to Riyadh, 1.5 flight hours to Kuwait, and 1 flight hour to Doha. This would be practical in case of an emergency response to any major incident involving OFs in the region.

The post Suggestion for PBBM to include in his SONA appeared first on The Global Filipino Magazine.

In 2019, I attended the 26th National PR Congress conducted on September 24 and 25, at the SMX Convention. I was fortunate to be a moderator in one of the Breakout Sessions on Social Impact Communication with panellists Chito Sobrepeña, President of Metrobank Foundation, and Monique Castro, Senior Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager of Pepsi Cola Philippines, on the second day.

Thank you to congress chair Ana Pista of Ardent Communications for the opportunity and to PRSP president Andy Saracho of Philippine Veterans Bank for the warm welcome. I would like to mention, too, board directors Norman Agatep of Grupo Agatep and Jude Galford of Insular Life, and ex-officio director Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, a PR and Business Communications Consultant.

“Be part of the biggest gathering of public relations and communications professionals, reputation leaders, storytellers, and key opinion leaders with the aim to elevate industry practices in the Philippines,” announced Lady Ochel Espinosa , chair of the 30^th congress. Lady is the Regional Insights Director for Emerging Markets-Southeast Asia of Isentia and is the VP-External of PRSP.

The late PR professor and practitioner Bong Osorio wrote: “September is public relations month in the Philippines by virtue of Proclamation No. 1357 signed on August 13, 2007,  by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. As such the Public Relations Society of the Philippines is tasked to hold a public relations congress every September of every year, with PR practitioners from the public and private sectors in attendance.”

Back to 2019, I encouraged the participants to check and support any of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and to be courageous in recommending action plans to top management. I told them to speak up whenever they are invited to a senior management meeting. 

Case study: In early May 2000, Unilab President and COO Do Ejercito called for a high-level meeting with all marketing and distribution heads. The meeting was facilitated by the Strategic Marketing Group, and we were invited as Corporate Affairs and Communications Group. The issue: Unilab will announce a price reduction on some OTC and ethical medicines. through double spread colored ads in all major newspapers. This was recommended by the ad agency the group was working with. Well, for obvious reasons the agency will get commissions per insertion. I objected and said that it was not politically correct to convey the good news through double spread colored ads. It doesn’t look good that we are paying hundreds of thousands to announce a price reduction. It shows that the original prices are very high that we can afford to place the expensive ads. 

I countered that it is best to explain through a press release that the lowering of prices was a result of the two-year re-engineering efforts of Mr. Ejercito, who became President and COO in 1998. There were significant savings generated out of the organizational changes and the company is passing on the savings to the general public by way of price reduction of several medicines. I was triumphant. Mr. Ejercito agreed with my recommendation. The ads were still placed but only after the press release. Check this link on news by Philippine Star – https://www.philstar.com/business/2000/05/12/99000/unilab-reduce-prices-65-essential-drugs

In February 2021, Ana was so kind to invite me for free to attend the 27^th National PR Congress which was virtually conducted from February 17 to 19. For obvious reasons, it was difficult to hold it in September 2020 when the pandemic was at its peak in the Philippines. The last day of the congress was a Friday, which was a still a weekend in the UAE, and I listened to the talks while in my pajamas.

In 2022, the congress was held on September 1 and 2. It was the first time PRSP had a joint hybrid event with the 29th National PR Congress and the 28th Student PR Congress at The Manila Peninsula. I told congress chair Cathy Yan of PLDT and Smart that I really wanted to attend since I was already in the Philippines on holiday, but the dates were also my last days. You know there are so many last-minute things and errands to do on the last days whenever we, overseas-based Filipinos, visit the homeland.

Here in the UAE, our company, Tristar Group, is a corporate member of the Middle East Public Relations Association or MEPRA since July 2021. I am the representative of Tristar in all events and activities of the association. The last event I attended was on March 16 at the Media Skill and Crisis Communication session presented by International journalist and media trainer, Nick Walshe. On July 26, I will be attending the workshop on ‘Transdisciplinary and Multidimensional: The Rising Role of Strategic Communication Practitioners in the New World.’

The post The importance of attending PR congresses and workshops  appeared first on The Global Filipino Magazine.

For TGFM readers who are not familiar with FilSoc, here is the very first press release I issued on August 5, 2019, as the Founding PRO:  

“The Community Development Authority (CDA) of Dubai Government has issued a license to operate to the Filipino Social Club or FilSoc within the emirate of Dubai.

The CDA regulates and provides licensing services to Non-Profit Civil Society Organizations which organize ongoing social, cultural, artistic or entertainment activities.

Dr. Omar AbdulAziz Al Muthanna, CEO, Regulatory and Licensing Sector of CDA handed over the license to FilSoc’s founding members led by its President, Ericson P. Reyes, recently at the CDA headquarters.

‘A license is a tool given to empower communities that wish to deliver social services. Our goal is not limited to merely giving a license. Our success lies in playing the role of the catalyst for Social Innovation. We set the playing field by creating standards and frameworks that promote creative thinking and innovative solutions. Applicants who demonstrate competency in managing the organization may only be licensed. We look at certain criteria’s which include the organization’s structure, board members, location, innovation, smart services, and sustainability. Licensed associations are encouraged to move away from short-termed, bubbled-pop solutions that rarely impact the lives of the beneficiaries and to start providing more sustainable programs,’ Dr. Omar AbdulAziz Al Muthanna said.

FilSoc is a CDA-regulated association that envisions to be the organization of all Overseas Filipinos who would like to participate in non-profit community services through social, cultural, sports, welfare, entertainment-related activities. The club will collaborate with other licensed social groups in the community and will support the major programs of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Dubai Government’s community engagement programs.

Reyes said: ‘We will have clear targets as to what we are going to do, how we are going to serve the community, and on how we are going collaborate with other CDA-regulated social clubs; and we are free to make decisions in supporting the programs of the PCG and especially the host government of Dubai.’

The founding members are Ericson P. Reyes (President), Cesar B. Mora (Vice President), Jomana A. Mohammed (Secretary), Orandantes M. Delizo (Treasurer), Olympia R. Pineda (Auditor), Arthur Lawrence A. Los Baños (PRO), Wendell T. Castro (Board Member), Gina T. Salazar (Board Member), Ahmad Almatrooshi (Board Member), Matilyn V. Bagunu (Founding Member), Marilyn Roscales Kasimieh (Founding Member), and Alan S. Bacason (Adviser & Legal Representative).”

The presidency has been contested by Ericson, Olympia or Olie, and Marilyn or Wafa. All the best to these three veteran community leaders. The CDA will announce in a General Assembly the eventual winners.

Thank you, Election Committee, members 𝗔𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼, 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮, 𝗔𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘀, 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗯𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮, 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇, and 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗮. They served for two full days over the weekend and for three straight nights this week.

Now, I can finally declare that I am retired from FilSoc events as well as most Filipino Community activities except major gatherings like the Philippine Independence Day (PID) and official functions of Philippine diplomats and visiting Philippine government officials. All the best and God bless the new set of FilSoc officers who will serve for two years.

The post All the best to the new set of FilSoc officers who will serve for 2 years appeared first on The Global Filipino Magazine.

When I recently went to the Philippines to attend the Los Banos clan reunion in Legazpi, Albay, I used my own BMW brand again.  On June 26, my wife and I rode the Dubai Metro from Discovery Gardens to Terminal 1 for my Philippine Airlines evening flight to Manila. She rode the Dubai Metro going back home after I got my boarding pass. We always ride the Gold Coach whenever we go beyond Mall of Emirates. My wife did not join me as she visited her mother in Oman during the Eid Al Adha holidays.

I flew to Legazpi on June 28 afternoon on a Cebu Pacific aircraft and returned to Manila on July 1 evening on a luxury bus which took almost 12 hours to reach Cubao the next morning. Whenever we are back home, we stay with our son who lives across Ateneo University.  On July 2 afternoon, my son and I took the LRT 2 by riding at the Katipunan Station. We transferred to the MRT 3 line in Cubao by walking through three interconnected malls. We took the train going to Makati and went down the Ayala Station. The two rides cost Php35 only per person. There is a 3^rd line which is the LRT 1, built and operated in the early 80s.

LRT 1, LRT 2 and MRT 3 are also interconnected so if one wants to go to Baclaran from Katipunan, then he or she should take two lines, LRT 2 going to Recto Station and transfer to LRT 1 going to Baclaran. Or if he or she wants to spend more and have an adventure then the person can transfer at the Cubao station to ride the MRT 3 and then transfer again at the Taft Station to ride the LRT 1. Currently, all passengers of the three lines should wear face mask and are not allowed to talk on their mobile phones. Using social media and chatting, however, allowed.

My eldest brother Jojo brought us back to Quezon City in his vehicle after we had late lunch with him and my cousins Bong and Trixie, and nephew Ral at Glorietta. It was about a kilometer walk from the Ayala Station to the food outlet. What’s so nice about the Ayala Station is that you can go to Makati Medical Center without getting wet when it rains as you will always have a roof under your head.

I came back here, our second home for 22 years, on July 3 past 1 pm Manila time and arrived at Terminal 1 around 6 pm local time. So how did I go home to Discovery Gardens? You guess it right, via Dubai Metro. This is my own BMW brand.  

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This is what happened to Felino Palafox, Jr. more than four decades ago when as a 27-year-old and recently married architect he was invited to work in Dubai, becoming the first Southeast Asian and Filipino architect and urban planner to work in the emirate which was then under the rule of the late Shiekh Rashid bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.

Last Sunday, June 18, Palafox was conferred the Global Filipino Architect: The First Lifetime Achievement Award at the UAP Dubai Awards 2023 held at the Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk.

“If not for Dubai I would not be where I am today,” he said and shared that Shiekh Rashid instructed the team of architects and urban planners to plan and design a first world city in 15 years. Palafox quoted the late Dubai ruler as saying ‘Build me a garden out of the desert. Build me a city that will lead’.  Jebel Ali Port was constructed in the late 1970s and opened in 1979.  Dubai Drydocks opened in in 1983 becoming the largest ship repair facility in the Middle East. And the rest is history – a first world Dubai where we are currently enjoying.

From the website of Palafox Associates: “Architect Jun Palafox has lectured in more than 20 countries across the globe, including institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He has traveled to and observed more than 1,000 cities in 79 countries. He is a recipient of several local and international awards. In 2019, he was recognized as the Most Outstanding Professional in the Field of Environmental Planning by the Professional Regulation Commission. In November 2017, he was awarded by the JCI Senate as one of the three Top Outstanding Filipinos for the field of Architecture. Forbes Asia Magazine has cited him as one of the 48 Heroes of Philanthropy in Asia.”

Well done Christian Vasquez and the outgoing officers of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)-Dubai Chapter for an exciting UAP Dubai Awards 2023. The last one was held in 2019. The UAP Dubai Awards is a global architecture award recognizing design excellence. It was created to advance the appreciation and exposure of quality architectural design worldwide.

“Throughout my tenure, my aim has been to champion excellence, foster collaboration, and promote the values that define our profession. Together, we have strived to create spaces that not only inspire but also positively impact the lives of individuals and communities. It has been a privilege to witness the transformative power of architecture firsthand,” expressed Vasquez in his final official speech as the outgoing president. “As I pass on the baton to the next Chapter President, I am filled with optimism and excitement for what the future holds. Our organization is poised for even greater success, and I have no doubt that under their leadership, we will continue to thrive, innovate, and make a lasting impact.”

All the best to the new team under the leadership of Jan Michael Peramide. Our very good friend, a little brother, Eric Fajut is an Executive Director, alongside with Jon Llarena and Jeff Lopez. Aside from Christian, I would like to say good work, too, to the previous teams, specifically the one under Ronald Salcedo who had invited me and my wife, Rachel Salinel, in two occasions in 2012 – one as judge for the ‘3 Best Dressed Mafia’ and the other as special guest which was attended by then Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Grace Princesa. By the way, my wife was one of the resource speakers when the chapter sponsored a ‘Health Day’ at the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in February 2022.

As what I mentioned when I presented the nominees for the Hospitality Project of the Year Award, architects are close to my heart because my eldest sister, Ivy, is also an architect who graduated from UST in the early 1980s. She practiced her profession for more than 25 years in the Philippines, Guam and Las Vegas. Go fly high Global Filipino Architects!

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