14 December 2016 – Filipino artists performed during the shows organized by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), as part of the 45th U.A.E. National Day celebrations.
Upon the invitation of the UAE Ministry of Culture, a seven-member Philippine delegation from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit at Mananayaw sa Abu Dhabi (OPMMAD) represented the Philippines in the six-day performance tour.
The NCCA delegation is composed of Mr. Conrado Ong III, Tenor; Ms. Stefanie Quintin, Soprano; and five members of the Celso Espejo Rondalla (CER), namely, Ms. Elaine Juliet Cajucom, Messrs. Orlando Ocampo, Leonardo Bruno Jr., Rancris Denosta, and John King Layaban.
The eleven-member OPMMAD dance group was led by Chai Raagas, Chairperson of OPMMAD, an organization accredited to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The same dance group represented the Philippines in last year’s UAE National Day celebrations.
The Philippine delegation performed cultural dance and musical presentations in shows staged in Abu Dhabi Mall, Ras Al Khaimah Culture Center, Mega Mall in Sharjah, Dubai City Walk, and Fujairah Culture Center from November 29 to December 04.
Philippine Ambassador to the U.A.E .Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. expressed his deep appreciation to the NCCA delegation and OPMMAD dancers for their active participation, splendid performances and showcase of Filipino talent during the U.A.E. 45th National Day celebrations across the Emirates.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations – Cultural Diplomacy Unit (OUIER-CDU) of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for making possible the participation of a delegation coming from the Philippines for the first time in the UAE National Day celebrations to further promote Philippine culture and arts.
Lastly, Ambassador Vingno thanked the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai for its full support and assistance extended to the Philippine delegation in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, as well as to the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development for organizing this annual event. END
