05 November 2015 – Philippine Representative Emmanuel D. Pacquiao started his first ever visit to Dubai with a courtesy call on Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund P. Cortes at the Philippine Consulate General on November 03, accompanied by his entourage of supporters, advisers and friends. 

Pacquiao, one of the most celebrated athletes of his generation especially in the field of professional boxing, is currently in Dubai to participate in the 2015-2016 Philippine Basketball Association season games to be held in Al Wasl Sports complex from November 06 to 07.  Pacquiao's Team Mahindra Enforcer will first see action on the opening night when it faces Alaska Aces, which would later face Barangay Ginebra on the second and final day.   

Consul General Cortes and his family welcomed Pacquiao at the Rizal Hall together with the Consular staff, leaders of the Filipino community of Dubai and the Northern Emirates, representatives from Dubai-based media outfits, and other selected guests. 

Pacquiao gamely posed for pictures with and autographed jerseys of his Filipino and foreign basketball and boxing fans during the much-anticipated visit. 

During the courtesy call, Consul General Cortes provided Pacquiao and his delegation a brief summary of the Philippine-UAE relations especially the Assistance-to-Nationals cases involving Filipinos.  

Dubai Based artist Tom Alvarado is more popularly known as The Singing Painter in the local artist circle. His maiden exhibition at the Consulate titled "Inang Bayan" coincided with the recent screening of the epic historical drama film “Heneral Luna”, held exclusively at the Consulate General and the launching of the newly renovated Rizal Hall.  As a gesture of gratitude, Alvarado presented Consul General Cortes a portrait made especially for the event.

The Inang Bayan exhibition will run from November 03 to 30 at the Rizal Hall and will serve as the opening salvo to the proposed Artist of the Month Exhibit at the Consulate General. END