Enrique Gil, Carmela Lorzano celebrate Philippine Independence Day with Filipinos in Dubai
The two stars brought joy and a sense of home to the overseas community as they took the stage and thrilled the crowd with lively performances.
Carmela, the Grand Winner of Sing-Galing Season 2, captivated the audience with her powerful renditions of 'Ang Huling El Bimbo,' 'A Million Dreams,' and a medley of well-loved OPM songs.
Meanwhile, Enrique delighted fans with his song numbers, including 'I Like You (A Happier Song)' and 'Akin Ka Na Lang.'
Their much-anticipated appearance served as the grand finale of the whole-day celebration, capping off the event on a high note as attendees eagerly waited to see them perform live.
The celebration, organized by the Filipino Social Club – Dubai, was held on June 14 at the Dubai World Trade Centre Exhibition Halls 1 and 2, bringing together Filipinos from across the UAE for a day of cultural performances, a unity parade, and community activities celebrating Filipino pride and heritage.
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Filipino Times
7 hours ago
- Filipino Times
Keeping the Filipino identity alive: How an OFW is reviving Baybayin in Dubai
Dubai's streets bustle with over 200 nationalities, reflecting a city where cultures intersect and identities constantly adapt. For many overseas Filipinos living here, it is easy to be influenced by foreign languages and lifestyles, especially when daily life revolves around English, Arabic, and other tongues. Yet even in this multicultural mix, Filipino identity continues to thrive, with Gino Banola as one of its most passionate champions. An OFW, Bicolano artist, and martial arts practitioner, he preserves a piece of his homeland by breathing life into a script many thought was fading into history. Spending 14 years in Dubai carving a life as a 3D designer, entrepreneur, and martial arts practitioner, Banola now adds teaching Baybayin calligraphy to his roles to showcase the beauty and resilience of Filipino culture. Baybayin, a pre-colonial Filipino writing system once considered dying, becomes, in his hands, more than a script—it is art, pride, and a bridge connecting Filipinos abroad to their roots. Inspired by Arabic calligraphy In an interview with The Filipino Times , Banola recalls discovering Baybayin while developing his clothing brand that celebrates Filipino culture, heroes, and heritage. Though he initially didn't know how to read or write the script, experimenting on a whiteboard of his child ignited a passion. 'Nilalagay ko ang Baybayin sa bawat design ng shirt, pero hindi pa ako marunong magsulat at bumasa. Then one time, I tried to write it sa whiteboard ng anak ko, then 'yun na. I found the beauty of it, 'yung flow, and I felt proud of our identity, that we have our own writing system,' he shares. Dubai's own embrace of Arabic calligraphy further shaped his vision. Observing how Emiratis preserve their cultural identity even in the futuristic spaces, such as the Museum of the Future, Banola found inspiration to do the same for Baybayin. He notes that if Arabic script can thrive alongside modern ambitions, the Filipino writing system deserves the same pride and recognition. 'Mayroon din tayo nito. May mailalatag din tayo sa lamesa na pwedeng makipagsabayan sa Arabic Calligraphy, which is the Baybayin or Philippine Script calligraphy,' he says. Although learning Baybayin scripts comes naturally to Banola, his journey is shaped by long nights of practice and research to find his own artistic voice, all while balancing life as an OFW, a parent, and an entrepreneur. He had no mentors, and the process wa largely self-taught, as not many practiced Baybayin calligraphy, especially overseas. 'That's why most of my Baybayin calligraphy is insipred by Arabic calligraphy, kasi 'yun ang laging nakikita ko,' he adds. Introducing Baybayin in Dubai It wasn't long before Banola felt compelled to share his passion with others. Partnering with Krishna of Tribe Creatives, he launched his first workshop in November last year at the Dubai Public Library in collaboration with Dubai Culture. This was followed by a series of workshop that continued to attract both Filipinos and non-Filipinos. 'Nakakataba ng puso na parang naibalik ko ulit sa kanila ang isang part ng identity nila,' he shares. 'For non-Filipinos, namamangha sila na mayroon din tayong sariling way ng pagsulat, at the same time nakakalungkot din kasi nagtatanong sila bakit hindi natin ginagamit.' Just recently, in time for Buwan ng Wika celebration, Banola also held a Baybayin calligraphy workshop in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai. 'We should embrace it as Filipinos because no one will do it for us. Isa itong yaman,' he says. A calling to promote and preserve Banola believes that promoting Baybayin internationally can have a greater impact than limiting it to the Philippines, offering a platform to showcase Filipino culture globally. However, teaching abroad comes with its own set of challenges. Even in the Philippines, the script was not commonly used, so introducing it to a foreign country required extra effort. 'Kaya siguro kaunti lang may alam nito lalo na dito sa UAE, kasi marami tayong obligasyon, trabaho, kaya hirap um-attend yung iba sa workshop dahil sa schedule,' he says, adding that he tries to address this by holding workshops on Sundays and choosing easily accessible venues. He also emphasizes the timeliness and broader cultural significance of his work, noting how modern Filipino society is heavily influenced by foreign cultures. 'It's my calling here abroad to promote it, preserve it, and I think it's the right time kasi sa panahon ngayon, naco-colonize na ulit tayo without knowing it,' he says. 'Tandaan natin, mas madali maging alipin ang isang tao kapag hindi niya alam ang kanyang pagakakakilanlan, kaya sobrang importante [ng Baybayin].' Banola's efforts extend beyond workshops. Baybayin was also woven into his teaching of Filipino martial arts, particularly Arnis, both of which he considered as traditional Filipino art forms at risk of being forgotten. 'When I practice or teach Arnis, lagi kong sinasabi na nagba-Baybayin din ako. I always introduce Baybayin, and I also give a Baybayin calligraphy to attendees of workshop as a giveaway,' Banola says Inspiring the youth and future generation After more than a decade of working abroad, Banola built his own family in the UAE, and even for his children, he wanted the Filipino script to serve as a stepping stone to understanding their roots. For Filipinos born and raised in the UAE, Baybayin serves as a bridge to identity, Banola says, as it provides a tangible link to their heritage, offering a deeper understanding of who they are and the richness of Filipino culture. 'I hope my Baybayin art inspires the future generation to find their identity, to be proud as Filipinos, so then they always carry the flag, and represent it sa kahit ano mang ginagawa nila, small or big,' he adds. Through these efforts, he hoped that Filipinos would begin to give Baybayin the recognition it deserves, integrating it into their branding and becoming part of a movement to spread awareness. He believes that if the Filipino community in the UAE collectively adopted Baybayin, its impact would ripple back to the Philippines, especially the younger generation. Through workshops, clothing designs, and martial arts, Banola is ensuring that a script once at risk of fading lives on—linking the past to the present, the Philippines to Dubai, and a sense of identity to every Filipino willing to trace their roots. By reviving Baybayin overseas, Banola reminds the Filipino community that heritage does not fade with distance; it thrives wherever we carry it.
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Zawya
Inaugural cohort of content creators graduate from the Beautiful Destinations Academy, powered by Dubai
RELATED TOPICS EDUCATION RELATED COMPANIES Beautiful EXCELLENT PLZEN Dolby Labs DCAS Cohort Two begins in September 2025 with new creators and an expanded curriculum, while applications for Cohort Three are now open for a January 2026 start Dubai, United Arab Emirates – In a remarkable fusion of creativity and tourism, the first cohort of global content creators have graduated from the Beautiful Destinations Academy, Powered by Dubai. For 12 immersive weeks, four participants – Arthur Edelmans, Ethan Chang, Hugo Sudraud and Olessia Pliousnina – lived, learned, and produced stunning content in one of the world's most visually dynamic cities, ushering in a new era of destination storytelling. Launched in April 2025 and developed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Beautiful Destinations, this first-of-its-kind initiative has set a new standard for innovation and excellence in destination marketing by blending education, tourism, and digital content creation to empower storytellers. By directly investing in the next generation of creators and providing them with the tools and platform to build their careers, the Beautiful Destinations Academy is cultivating a new wave of elite creators. As part of the programme, the cohort created content to elevate Dubai's unique appeal through compelling, culturally resonant storytelling. The graduates are then free to pursue careers anywhere in the world, and the top creators from each cohort will also have the opportunity to be officially signed with Beautiful Destinations. Under the mentorship of the Beautiful Destinations team, consisting of established content creators, the inaugural cohort participated in an intensive hands-on training programme. Hosted in Dubai for the duration of the training, the curriculum combined content creation techniques, storytelling theory, and location-based shooting across Dubai's most iconic and hidden gems. These included Margham Desert, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort, Zabeel Park, Hatta Wadi Hub, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai Autodrome, The Green Planet Dubai, and more. His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: 'This graduation marks a significant milestone in Dubai's journey towards becoming a global leader in the creator economy, as envisioned by our city's leadership. We are pleased to have worked closely with the team at Beautiful Destinations to bring this vision to life and forge new pathways for the tourism sector when it comes to digital storytelling. 'By equipping talented content creators with cutting-edge skills and providing them unparalleled access to our city's iconic landscapes through strategic partnerships like this, we are not only showcasing our city's incredible offerings but also actively crafting a new narrative for the future of travel marketing. This aligns seamlessly with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai's position as a leading global destination for business and leisure. We hope the graduating class has left with an experience of a lifetime, and are excited to see the next cohorts continue in their footsteps.' Jeremy Jauncey, CEO and Founder of Beautiful Destinations, said: 'When we launched the Beautiful Destinations Academy with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), our goal was to raise the bar for travel marketing. This first cohort proved what happens when you treat creators like the skilled storytellers they are. In just 12 weeks, they rapidly upskilled, honed their abilities, and created exceptional content – with speed, emotional impact, and relevance – that could sit alongside global brand campaigns. Dubai gave them the perfect canvas. Our message to the industry is clear: if you're still treating social as a side channel, you're already behind.' The Cohort One graduates have praised the impact of the programme, as well as the creative inspiration Dubai provided them: Arthur Edelmans, 28 from Latvia, said: 'I came to Dubai to grow as a filmmaker, but I didn't expect it to be this personal. Every shoot, every edit, every conversation with the mentors made me reflect on why I create in the first place. The Dubai experience gave me a thousand stories to tell, and the tools to tell them better. I'm leaving not just inspired, but sharper and a better filmmaker ready to create at the next level.' Ethan Chang, 21 from the United States, said: 'Before the Academy, I knew how to make content. Now I know how to tell stories that truly resonate. Shooting in locations that I've always dreamed of and learning side by side with top creators pushed me to create my best work. What really changed me was the community – the bonds, honest feedback and support from one to another. That's what shaped the creator I am today.' Hugo Sudraud, 27 from France, said: 'The Academy felt like a launchpad. It pushed me technically, but also creatively – every week brought a new challenge, a new location, a new way to experiment. What we made here wasn't just for social – it felt cinematic. I'm proud of the work and beyond that, so happy for the connections I made here. Everybody is amazing and we are all aligned with the same purpose, sharing our experiences and ideas. I'm even more excited about what comes next.' Olessia Pliousnina, 27 from Canada, said: 'This experience elevated how I see myself as a filmmaker. I came in confident in my voice, but I've never had this level of mentorship or the freedom to push my creative boundaries across such a range of styles and locations. Dubai sharpened my skills and deepened my vision. I arrived with a camera, I'm leaving with a refined purpose.' The momentum continues with Cohort Two set to begin in September 2025, featuring a new intake of talented creators, an expanded mentor line-up, and exciting new modules focused on editorial distribution, brand pitching, and advanced campaign strategy. Applications for Cohort Three will be open until 18 September 2025, with creators expected to commence their journey in January 2026. Jeremy Jauncey continued: 'As we move into Cohort Two with DET, the ambition only grows – a bolder curriculum, deeper distribution, and even stronger creator output. And we're just getting started. More than ever before, the industry needs high quality, always on, consumer first travel content. The ability to deliver that at scale is what we're building with the Beautiful Destinations Academy.' In today's increasingly digital landscape, global travellers are inspired to pick destinations through short-form video and social discovery. Authentic and engaging content, created by talented storytellers, is integral to capturing the attention of the younger, tech-savvy generation. By investing in programmes that cultivate creative talent, Dubai is showcasing its unique offerings and attractions through the lens of those who experience them firsthand and possess the technical knowledge to best appeal to the 'modern traveller'. This approach is actively shaping the future of destination promotion, perfectly aligning with Dubai's broader ambition to lead the creator economy and set new standards for content in the tourism space. To view final submissions, click on the links below: For more information about the Beautiful Destinations Academy, Powered by Dubai, please visit: About the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) With the ultimate vision of making Dubai the world's leading commercial centre, investment hub and tourism destination, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is mandated to support the Government in positioning the emirate as a major hub for global economy and tourism, and in boosting the city's economic and tourism competitiveness indicators, in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the emirate's economy by 2033 and further consolidate Dubai's position as a leading global destination for business and leisure. Under this remit, DET is driving efforts to further enhance Dubai's diversified, innovative service-based economy to attract top global talent, deliver a world-class business environment and accelerate productivity growth. Additionally, DET is supporting Dubai's vision to become the world's best city to visit, live and work in by promoting its diverse destination proposition, unique lifestyle and outstanding quality of life, overall. DET is the principal authority for planning, supervising, developing and marketing Dubai's business and tourism sectors. It is also responsible for licensing and classifying all types of businesses, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. DET's portfolio includes Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC), Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), Dubai SME, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) and Dubai College of Tourism (DCT). For further information, please contact: mediarelations@ About Beautiful Destinations Beautiful Destinations is the award-winning destination marketing company behind some of the world's most influential travel content. With a global community of over 50 million followers across social platforms, Beautiful Destinations creates authentic content that inspires people to explore the world.
The National
14 hours ago
- The National
Rio Ferdinand on decision to move to Dubai, Man United's prospects and the pros and cons of social media
Rio Ferdinand played most of his club football for the Uniteds of Manchester, Leeds and West Ham, winning everything there was to win under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. The South Londoner, now 46, also played 81 times for England and was widely regarded as one of the best central defenders in world football. He's about to move to Dubai with his family. Before he did, The National sat down with Ferdinand in Chicago. You're about to embark on a new chapter in your life and move to the UAE. What's your thinking behind it? There's not one reason. I went for the Global Soccer Awards at Christmas and I hadn't been there properly for about seven or eight years. I used to go there all the time before. We spent time with a couple of (partner) Kate's friends who lived there and I just saw a different side to it. I also have a business out there, Football Escapes. I thought about moving, then we went back again in February for a little look at the schools just in case and it just pricked my mind to think about it. That was almost like a big kicker for me because the education system felt different, felt better for my kids. The children who are coming are 14, which is perfect because it's their two years of GCSEs starting this August. Then we've got a four and a two-year-old, so it's perfect timing for them as well. And the curriculum is English curriculum, but it's just done a different way. I feel the teachers in the UK feel a little bit like undervalued, underpaid. In Dubai, it feels like they're valued and the lifestyle means that they're happy and vibrant with a good energy for the kids. Lifestyle, safety, weather and just a new life. I wanted a new chapter and I've been doing TNT (TV) since I retired for the last 10-11 years. When I made the decision, I thought 'this must be 30 years when my life is driven by the fixture list'. Not now. I'm not leaving football, but it's just not the governing body of my life now. I've got to be honest, it feels nice. Those games when you're by the pitch at a European game actually take up three days … There's a lot of research talking to the producers, the director, the pundits. Doing the clips in the days before the game. You travel to the game the day before and leave the day after. That's three days where you can't do anything in your diary. For every Champions League week, I was doing two games. I love it. I still love it now. It's just I wanted to do something new and different and I'm quite instinctive. I've got a lot of interests outside of football like investments, tech investing especially. And I've got shareholdings in a lot of companies that I've never utilised with my own network that's been built up all over all these years to really benefit those companies. So I'm looking forward to doing that and investing time in that and networking and bringing it all together in that sense and still doing loads in football. And the way I present stuff with my media company, I'm going to supercharge that because I've got more time. I want the headspace and the bandwidth to be able to kind of go in and operate in different areas, which I haven't been able to. And I get thrown so many opportunities that I can't take because I've got five kids that I want to be around. I've got a wife. We want to visit everywhere. My kids are going to embrace everything. Me and my wife will be the same. I'm excited by it, I've got to be honest. My four-year-old is mad about football, so I've got to find the best football school, the best coach out there to try and create another footballer, because my two other boys play. So I'm leaving them behind, but they're young men now who are trying to forge a way in the game. Were TNT surprised when you said you were leaving? I think so, it was quite instinctive. It wasn't like something that's built up over years. They're great people there and it was amicable. And I can go back if I want. I would never do anything like this without speaking to my family. Kate was the same and said: 'What's the worst that can happen? You can come back in a year'. And even if I did it's not going to be coming back with your tail between your legs, but having tried something. You don't get many opportunities in life to do something a bit different either because of the industry I'm in. You've got to be here, you've got to do this, you're led by the schedule. This is freedom that I've never had since I was 16 years old and it'll be interesting to see how I deal with that, which I'm looking forward to. Many footballers have moved to the UAE Yes. Patrice Evra. [Michel] Salgado. Loads of them have said to me to go. Patrice has created a whole image of himself through social media. I was one of the first footballers to go on Twitter and I remember all the lads like Gary Neville, Patrice and Wayne Rooney asking what on earth I was doing. The manager [Alex Ferguson] was the same. He said 'What's this Twitter business, all this rubbish?' I explained it to them all and they didn't have a clue. The boss just walked off halfway through the explanation but he didn't try and stop me. He let me make my own decisions. I just saw myself in the fans' shoes. I would want to see behind the curtain. I just embraced it. It exploded and here we are now in a social media world. But I love that tech space, there's something about it that I love, it's ever evolving, it never stands still. There are so many opportunities out there for us with tech and that's part of the YouTube channel. We've got a podcast which has got about four different strands. It's called Rio Presents. So it's got Rio Meets where we do the real headline interviews like Cristiano [Ronaldo], Becks [David Beckham], [Robert] Lewandowski. We've got some good ones coming out. We've done an unbelievable one with Wazza [Wayne Rooney] and Michael Owen. Michael Owen's one's unreal. Do you feel you can get under players' skins because your trust levels are high with them? Watch the videos. These players become different, their whole body language just grows. Whereas, no disrespect – and I know you know some players well – it's not like that with all the journalists. With me, there's no agent in the room. And I'm not bound by the studio rules now, which I was before. New chapter, new rules. Is the geography also a reason for the move? I've been unable to go to Asia much because it's so far. There's so many fans in the world that support Man United and have supported me because of that, but I never get to touch and feel it, never get to go and see it. I'm going to be in the Mena region in Dubai – six, seven hours closer now to going to many places in Asia. I'm going to be travelling around the world. I'm going to be going to Madrid, I'm going to be going to Argentina, I'm going to be going to Africa, I'm going to be going everywhere to talk football with the fans and bring the fans closer to us. Are you still in touch with your old United teammates? We have a WhatsApp group. It's more the 2008 era, than some of the younger ones. Edwin ([Van der Sar] recently joined it. Nemanja [Vidic] was in it and he walked out because there was too much going on. Just deleted himself. Patrice comes in and out because someone says something Patrice doesn't like, he just deletes himself and then asks me to come back in because I'm the admin. Wazza, the De Silva twins, Anderson, Ashley Young, [Danny] Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Fletch [Darren Feltcher], Sheasy [John O'Shea], [Michael] Carrick, Quinny, everyone, all the lads in it. From that era really. Is the fact many of you were all so successful - and now in the media - a problem for the current players? It's probably a bit of a noose around the neck of the current squad the last few years. I always would say that if someone had a problem with me and I sat with them and explained what I was saying, they would realise that I'm not a personally vindictive person. If you'd played bad, if we had a sit-down and a conversation over a cup of tea, and I said what I said on TV, I think you'd shake my hand on the way out. I'm highlighting the mistake that you've made and how you can make it better, and I'm not sitting here saying I was perfect, but in my job, in my role, I've got to say what I see - but without being personal, and that's the line. I try and be constructive in the way that I talk. And then you get some players, I think it's not necessarily them, it's their circle, that send them stuff and then if the context is wrong it warps reality. And that's why I went on social media at the beginning, because it was almost like, 'this is my chance to say what I mean.' Do you miss the innocence of early social media? There is an innocence that's gone and you've got to almost be a bit more polished and perfect because everything can be traced, there's no hiding place now. I was talking to someone about whether it was better to play in my era or not. I think it's harder now. If I played badly, the only real outlets were Match of the Day that night if it was one of the main games and then the Sunday papers, then it was gone. Now it's social media that never goes away, so if there's a video of you making a mistake or getting twisted inside out, it's just regurgitated constantly, it's always there. And then your mates are sending it to you, or you're in a group and everyone's having a laugh at you. And people think you're a hard man really, but that is chipping away at your confidence. And I don't care who you are, a player without confidence or a little chink in it is not the same. Have you been stung by social media? I've got thick skin; I couldn't care less what someone says about me. It does wind me up sometimes, but then at the beginning I was a bit kind of volatile and I'd go back. I got fined quite a lot of money over the years when I was playing because of certain things I'd said and retaliated to certain people, but then you quickly learn, you mature. But I look at it for these players now. When you're winning nothing affects you, you've got your wings on and you're just rolling with the punches, it's fine. The moment you start losing or your form drops, it creates an element of doubt. When there's that creak, certain things that will get in, criticisms and noises will end up being there and when you're trying to be your best and trying to play and you're fighting for form, it's hard to get them away. We talk about Man United, but you were a top player for Leeds and for West Ham. Is there a space in your brain for them? Mixed feelings with Leeds fans. The sensible Leeds fans could sit there and go, 'OK, at the time I didn't understand it, but then I've seen how in trouble the club were and they had to sell. He's gone to Man United who are one of the teams we don't get on with but he's gone and won a load of trophies, so he's justified in why he's going there'. But it's tribal. Leeds was probably one of the most enjoyable, carefree times of my life. And I loved the football. I've got a [WhatsApp] group with all the Leeds lads. I had a great time there, but some of the fans are quite volatile towards me. West Ham? West Ham fans, I love it, I love them. I love West Ham. That was my home as a kid. You can never forget that. You can never take away those memories and then moments. Me and Frank Lampard together, coming through the FA Youth Cup team. Then we had John Moncur, Steve Lomas, Steve Potts, Alvin Martin, [Paolo] Di Canio, Trevor Sinclair - some of the best memories of my life then. I'm always forever thankful to West Ham for what they gave me, the platform. But it's just that most of my career has been at Man United and that's who everyone wants to talk to me about. How will your main three former clubs do this season? The three Uniteds. If Man United could finish in the top eight, that's a good improvement. That and some consistent football. I'm happy with the recruitment of the players with Premier League experience, which is great, a must. I still would want one more or two more. You must see now an improvement in results, but you must see a style of football where it looks like these players are playing almost blind. The ball's going, you can see the patterns of play repeating themselves on a regular basis because that's when you're knowing that the training is transferring to the match. And I haven't seen that enough. And only in the best teams and teams that win and are consistent, you're seeing transferable skills and patterns from training that transfer to games. That's what our team was. People think ours was all off the cuff. There were so many things transferred from the training field that we'd done. Third men running, rotations. These are all things that we were doing with your eyes closed, but this manager hasn't had the time yet. And that's why he didn't want to come at the time that he came because the pre-season is so important. I don't think fans realise how important a pre-season is. West Ham? West Ham need to recruit a few players. They've obviously lost their most creative player outside of [Jarrod] Bowen in [Mohammed] Kudus. I think it could be a tough season for West Ham if they don't recruit well. Survival is the biggest thing. But I'm of the thinking that the three teams that came up again could be the ones that go down. And if this keeps happening, it's not good for the model. But let's see.
