40,000 Filipinos in Dubai celebrate Philippine Independence with cultural show
On Saturday, over 40,000 Filipino expatriates celebrated the 127th Philippine Independence Day at Hall 2 of the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event, which lasted from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, turned the venue into a festival of culture and pride.
With such a large gathering, it was impressive how the “energy never faded” throughout the day.
Even before the doors opened, the venue was bustling with excitement. Family members and friends came together from every corner of the city, ready to take in the cultural immersion offered, all while draped in the colors of the Philippine flag.
Attendees could indulge in some of the more notable Filipino dishes such as adobo, lechon, and halo-halo for dessert at food stalls that lined the venue.
Everything from Photography and art to music and gaming were on offer around the venue which was made available through the interactive exhibits that were placed in the main stage.
Lastly to entertain the audience, local artists put on a show with modern songs alongside traditional folk dances.
For Em Serrano, a Filipino expat in the UAE for 11 years, “This event always feels like going back home,” True to her style, Em is known to turn heads and this year was no exception with a dress she designed herself for the celebration that fashionistas in Dubai like to call the ‘Pasasalamat’ celebration. Em claims to have attended this celebration for the past 7 years. She is known to be a headturner.
“It is more of a burgundy dress than red, but culturally UAE’s colors and the black remind me of Ramadan caps.” The Dress represents fundamental factors of Philippines as well as UAE, which is the essence of unity. “To them (Philippines) it’s a deep feeling of respect and communication that’s why I asked her to make this especially for today,” She added.
The Filipino Dignitaries who attended were Hans Leo J. Cacdac Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers and other high-ranking Filipino diplomats.
“As always, there are mixed feelings attached. UAE has been so good to us. I would definitely quote myself expressing to the crowd that events like this show how deep our friendship runs. It’s truly an honour to take part in this celebration of our Philippine Independence Day here in Dubai,” Cacdac told the audience. Serrano isn’t the only one who’s bound to leave the award ceremony for lunch.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, who witnessed Kalayaan 2025 celebrations, commended the spirit, strength, and hope of the Filipino people while underscoring the important relations between the UAE and the Philippines. “Your knowledge, skills, creativity, and compassion have enriched many sectors of our society,” he noted while underscoring the shared openness, mutual respect, and human dignity which are the pillars of both countries.
Rashed Al Tamimi, director of Emirates Loves, also praised the Filipino community, focusing on the overarching cultural framework of the Filipino festive celebration:
“This celebration marks the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence, and we are proud to host this event. The Filipino community is a vital and vibrant part of the UAE. Their culture, celebration, and unity illuminate our world. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum says, ‘Tolerance is not just a slogan we raise, but is a way of life we live.’ And today, we live that value.”
Historic friendship
Beside the festive activities, the event highlighted the steadfast friendship that the UAE and Philippines share. Linked by mutual respect and shared values, the two nations officially marked their diplomatic relations in 1974.
The contribution of Filipinos in the healthcare, education, retail, and engineering fields is impressive and greatly valued considering their contribution towards the advancement of UAE.
The GDRFA Dubai Section took part in the festivities and drew attention to their booth. Some of the services on offer included video call interaction and provisioning of golden residency. GDRFA also hosted entertaining activities and distributed gifts including a stage quiz with alluring prizes confirming the administration’s commitment towards the cultivation of social wellbeing and integration.
For most of the people, the gathering was beyond the national ceremony but the deep sense of self pity and pride of being so far away from home. The celebration commemorates the Philippines’ declaration of independence from Spanish rule on June 12, 1898.
The celebration came to an end with echoing music and waving Philippine flags, a strong message was depicted, the Filipino spirit is not just in UAE, but surprisingly flourishing.
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