By Quay Evano

Bayanihan is one of the most powerful, strongest and nationalistic word in the Filipino language. It is one of those words that define the Filipino — a must for his “Filipino-ness” to be complete. It has no literal counterpart in the English language but it can be defined as “working together towards a common goal for a compatriot or for the country.” The word evokes the image of camaraderie, responsibility, unity and sacrifice all done in the spirit of fun and nationalistic pride.

And this imagery is precisely what was seen during the first-ever Bayanihan Festival organized by the leaders of the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates headed by Engineer Orandantes Delizo, who has lived and worked in the UAE for more than two decades.

It was held on December 6, 2008 at the Megabowl Amphitheater, Zabeel Park in Dubai with around 5,000 Filipinos from all over the UAE taking part including Filipino clubs and organizations, Filipino schools, and Filipino companies who helped the organizers in many aspects of the event.

The whole day and evening affair started with a grand entrance of the national flags of the Philippines and the UAE and singing of the two country’s national anthems and followed by a parade of banners of the participating Filipino clubs and organizations, opening of the tiangge, and military, giving out of the Bayanihan Festival souvenir program, cheering squad, military silent drill and majorette exhibition performances.

By afternoon several competitions were held, such as the kids chess, kite flying, lantern-making, group tent, kids ballroom and Palarong Pinoy contests. By nightfall onwards, there were a lot of song and dance performances such as cultural dances, Latin dance numbers by two Filipino dance clubs and a Christmas carol performance by the Christian Voices Chorale. Much-awaited also was the appearance of Filipino celebrities Mark Herras, Jennylyn Mercado and Mang Mike who were the invited guest stars near the end of the show.

One of the highlights of the festival was the second job fair organized by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association UAE Chapter (UPAA UAE) for Filipinos who are looking for jobs, especially for those who have just arrived in the country on visit visas.

Thousands of Filipinos arrived in Dubai everyday looking for greener pastures, one that they cannot find back home in the Philippines. But with the global recession happening in the world right now, many OFWs in the UAE were also affected with the downsizing of manpower in several construction companies, thus losing their jobs. So, several Filipinos who have been laid off from their companies headed to the job fair to be able to transfer to a new company before their work visa runs out, forcing them to return to the Philippines.

Five Dubai-based companies participated in the job fair and these are Careertunity, Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance, Modern Freight, Wilbursmith Associates and Staff United.

The Bayanihan festival opened at 9 a.m. but even as early as 6 am, people were already lining up for the job fair with around a total of 400 people handing out their CVs and applying to these companies at the end of the event.

The first-ever Bayanihan Festival in the UAE proved that the Filipinos abroad can be one. Is a true testament to the Filipino expatriates’ resilience in the most trying of times and the never-ending belief that there is strength in national unity.

The festival was supported and attended by Philippine Embassy officials in the UAE headed by Ambassador Libran Cabactulan and Consul General Benito Valeriano along with former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo who visited Dubai to talk about Philhealth.

The proceeds of the festival will be going to the distressed wards at the POLO-OWWA in Dubai, the Filipino Expatriates in the UAE Foundation (FILEX), Gawad Kalinga 777, and the conflict-affected people in Mindanao.

The festival was also held in celebration of the Muslim celebration Eid Al Fitr (December 7 to 9) and Christmas Day and New Year’s Day which are all celebrated in this liberal Islamic country.

(Photos taken by Quay Evano. For more info and photos, you may visit www.bayanihanuae.org or http://quaynova.multiply.com/photos/album/17/UPAA_UAE_Job_Fair)

By Marjorie Gorospe

MANILA is a place where you can find a lot of colleges and universities in the country. Thus a portion of Manila has earned the name of “university belt.” Today, you find students roaming the streets of Manila. They come from different places to seek education here. Even foreign students would travel to Manila to finish college.

But for Ambao and Jimmy, their situation is a different. Both kids wonder the streets of Manila. They are among many families displaced by the war in Basilan. They ended up in Manila because they believed they could have a better life here.

I met Ambao and Jimmy — not their real names –in the streets of Manila. I asked them how old they were but I didn’t get a straight answer. I really am not sure of their ages. But they were really young and they are hard to miss because they are often seen playing improvised drums in the streets of Manila. They would hop from one passenger jeepney to another to play music — hoping passengers would be entertained and eventually give them loose change.

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By Anna Valmero

AT first look, anyone can mistake him as the lost twin brother of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. But blood relatives they are not.

Pacman’s double “Manny Paksiw” joined the motorcade of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao along Metro Manila. Riding a yellow truck at the end of the convoy, Manny Paksiw said it is his way of showing support for the international boxing champ.

“Hindi ko lang siya idol, kaibigan ko rin siya at ito ay paraan ng pagsuporta ko sa kanya bilang kaibigan [He is not only my boxing idol, he is also my friend and this is my way of supporting him],” he said.

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SOME people give up easily but not Filipino computer graphic artist Ronnie Sapinoso who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.

Rejected so many times because of his condition, Sapinoso wanted to become a filmmaker ever since he was kid. His interest was sparked after he saw the Disney movie Pinocchio.

“Nakita mo naman ako, walang nagtitiwala sa akin. Wala akong connection. [As you can see, no one trusts me. I don’t have any connections.],” said Sapinoso.

Sapinoso, currently a freelance computer graphic artist, said that if he would just be given a chance to work, then his wife would not need to leave and work in Singapore, leave him and their child in the Philippines.

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By Izah Morales

IN a local slum area where people are seen drinking alcohol, playing bingo, taking fleas out of a dog, there were women who chose to take the road less traveled.

Every Tuesday, about 50 women residents of barangay 182 Mulawin in Pasay City gather in the barangay hall to crochet bags out of plastic and recycled materials.

“Wala naman akong ginagawa sa bahay. Nababagot lang ako [I’m doing nothing at home. I just get bored.],” said Rosalina Aquino, 41, and mother of four children who was among the women who has decided to be part of a unique project.

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AGE does not matter in protests.

When I was covering a rally this week, I saw this four-year-old child who joined her grandparents in their call to extend and reform the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

There were also other children ages 10 to15 years who gave out flyers to passers-by.

I approached one of the children. His name was Ryan Christian Banayo, a 10-year-old boy whose parents are farmers at the Hacienda Yulo in Canlubang, Calamba City. I asked the boy why he was there and what they were fighting for. The boy just gave me an innocent look, and smiled.

His mother, Nancy Banayo, explained later that she wanted the child to see that they were fighting for their rights.

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By Marjorie Gorospe

SCAVENGING might be the last resort for most people. But for those who live near the Smoky Mountain, it is their only choice for living.

Dave Bajado, 18, never knew how to define a peaceful life. Recalling his childhood, all he can remember is her mother selling his sibling for P500. He has many siblings but all have different fathers.

When he was 12 years old, Bajado experience moving from one home to another. He admitted taking drugs mainly because of his peers’ influence. Along with his peers, they worked for an illegal recruiter who sent them to a bar in a province.

Bajado had no father figure to guide him. She also lost her mother soon after selling her child.

He was also taken in for rehabilitation after was caught using illegal drugs.

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By Marjorie Gorospe

Whatever is happening in America affects everyone. This is a bitter sweet reality of the globalization. This is also the reason why the world stopped to watch the US elections and subsequent victory of President-elect Barack Obama.

Benjamin Pimentel, a reporter and Filipino immigrant in America, is one of the millions of Filipinos who got interested in the US elections. Seeing the possibility that for the first time in history an African American would be ruling the America, Pimentel wrote a book aptly titled, “Pareng Barack, Filipinos in Obama’ America.”

Pareng Barack is a book about the reactions of Filipinos residing in America. The book is also a collection of stories Pimentel gathered from fellow Filipinos in America during the US Presidential campaign.

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WHAT would a Civil Engineering Licensure Examination (CELE) board topnotcher construct?

A home for the squatters was the answer of topnotcher Maricel Aquino who garnered a score of 99.1 percent in the November 2008 CELE.

“Ayaw ko kasi ng may palaboy laboy. Nung nagtrabaho ako dito sa Manila, nakita ko ang gulo. May mga squatters. Gusto kong magconstruct ng matitirhan nila [I don’t want to see people loitering in the streets. When I started working here in Manila, I saw chaos. There were many squatters. I want to construct a home for them.],” said Aquino.

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