Philippines' Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion is due to be completed and handed over by next month.
On Saturday, Hjayceelyn Quintana, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, visited the Dubai South site and said she was "immeasurably proud" to see the pavilion, named Bangkota, take shape.
She said Bangkota was a "truly world-class, sustainable structural showcase that is set to enthral Expo visitors, as well as make the Filipinos proud."
Named the ancient Tagalog word for coral reef, Bangkota aims to evoke the underwater ecosystem as a metaphor for the Filipino peoples' extreme interconnectedness and ability to build vibrant communities everywhere in the world.
We are immeasurably proud to witness the Bangkota vision evolving from a blueprint, and taking shape as a truly world-class, sustainable structural showcase that is set to enthral Expo visitors, as well as make the Filipinos proud
The pavilion seeks to tell a historical story of how the Philippines' Austronesian ancestors spread throughout islands in Southeast Asia and then embarked across the Pacific, while still being connected by the oceans of the world. This connectedness remains, among the massive, global Filipino diaspora, through technology.
Spanning almost 3,200 square metres, the structure was designed by Budji+Royal Architecture+Design and curated by Marian Pastor Roces, who chose artists that could best convey Philippine culture to the world.
The design incorporates nature through a wire mesh that curves around artificial coral atolls, filtering sunlight on to porous concrete clusters that represent the reefs. Videos will be projected on to the building, bringing the seabed to life.
The Philippines is the world’s third most coral-rich area after Indonesia and Australia. The country boasts some of the world’s top diving sites and the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Visitors to the pavilion should feel as though they are walking into a vibrant underwater world and realise the importance of conserving these ecosystems.
With global warming and pollution threatening reefs worldwide, conservationists in the Philippines are working to spread awareness among fishermen about abandoned plastic nets wrecking havoc on sea life. Educational sessions are organised in local communities, schools and colleges. This message will be reiterated in the pavilion.
The structure is located in the expo’s sustainability section and planners have focused on innovative architecture.
Building material was sourced from the UAE, in line with the country’s aim to produce a truly sustainable pavilion.
Trees and plants, such as the flame or fire tree that grow in the UAE and the Philippines. will be planted near artificial coral lagoons.
The Delonix regia sprouts fiery red, orange and yellow flowers in the UAE and also announces the arrival of the monsoon in the Philippines.
Expo 2020 Dubai is due to open in October, after having been postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Once the World Fair ends in April 2022, organisers will rebuild the structure in New Clark City, a green, high tech metropolis being built 100km north of Manila.
Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion designs:
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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