New Filipino community council raises expectations

New Filipino community council raises expectations
Twelve Filipino community organisations were elected on Friday to form the governing council of Filcom DNE

Published in Gulfnews.com | September 19, 2011


Dubai: Various Filipino organisations expressed high expectations for the newly elected first governing council of the Filipino Community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates (Filcom DNE).

Twelve Filipino community organisations were elected on Friday to form the governing council of Filcom DNE. The council will represent the 101 organisations and clubs recognised by the Philippine Consulate in Dubai.

The new governing council was put in place in accordance with Filcom DNE's constitution and bylaws. Elections for president and key positions of the council will be held on Friday.

Jasmine Cipriano, chairperson of the women's rights advocacy group Gabriela, said: "We hope that the new governing council will initiate dialogues with concerned authorities about drafting policies and laws that would protect Filipinos, especially domestic helpers, in the UAE."


Cipriano also said she hopes that the new governing council will form an effective and accessible complaint mechanism for distressed Filipino workers.

"Filipinos have to know that with the governing council in place, there is someone to go to for help when they are in distress. The culture of victim blaming also has to be stopped," she told Gulf News.

Focus on unity

Filomeno Dieta Jr, president of the Filipino Association in Umm Al Quwain, said the new governing council should facilitate the formation of Filipino associations in other emirates.

"Currently, Sharjah and Ajman still don't have Filipino organisations. It also would be better if we could acquire a villa that would serve as a place for every Filipino," he said.

Jamalodin Dilawangun of Alpha Theta Omega and Dante Herras of the Filipino Bowling Club emphasised the need to focus on unity and solidarity among Filipinos in the UAE.

"Out of the 101 organisations, only 59 came to cast their votes. That time, we really felt the lack of unity among organisations here, and that has to be addressed," Dilawangun told Gulf News.

Meanwhile, Matilyn Bagunu, head of the St Mary's Filipino Community Choir, which topped the elections, assured the Filipino community that the new governing council will focus on consultation, representation and protection of Filipinos in the UAE.

"This time we will involve everyone. The council will be more consultative and all decisions regarding [the] concerns of Filipinos in the UAE will have to be made by the majority. Also, we will review the list of organisations and reach out to all inactive members," Bagunu told Gulf News.

Sheila Bacay, president of the Filipino Human Resources Practitioners' Association, which was also elected as council member, recognised the many challenges ahead.

"Besides uniting all the Filipinos, we will push for information campaigns on UAE laws, especially labour laws, so that Filipinos will know their rights," Bacay said.

Two-year tenure

St Mary's Filipino Community Choir, Filipino Human Resources Practitioners' Association, Filipino Dubai Teachers Association, Samahang Kababayan, United Filipinos Foundation, and the Filipino Computer Club will serve two-year terms.

Filipino Off Road Auto Club, Lambunaonons in the UAE, Migrante-UAE, Filipino Club-RAK, Impok Kapuso Kapamilya at Kaibigan, and Overseas Filipino Civil Engineers Association will serve one-year terms.

All the presidents of the member organisations of Filcom DNE will serve as council representatives.

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