DUBAI // Filipinas in the region will be honoured next month at an annual gathering to celebrate female empowerment.
"The Filipina's strong image as a strong woman in whatever area she occupies cannot be denied and is appreciated," said Lalaine Chu-Benitez, the editor of Illustrado, a Filipino lifestyle magazine based in Dubai that is organising the awards.
Since 2008, the Women of Substance awards have honoured 29 Filipinas in the Middle East, including community leaders, volunteers, entrepreneurs, social activists, artists, mothers and philanthropists.
"By recognising these great models, who are special in their own right, I believe we have provided inspiration to the community," said Ms Chu-Benitez.
"We've promoted the idea that achievement and being able to contribute something to the world can be done by anybody.
"It is not based only on financial or corporate triumph, or even one's popularity in the community."
More than 30 Filipinas have been nominated this year.
"There are a lot of good strong women in our community and that definitely reflects in the quality of the nominations," said Ms Chu-Benitez.
"However, we cannot just honour somebody on the basis of being a good or prominent individual."
"Within our nominees we have women who have been able to quietly elevate themselves and their families from very humble beginnings, through sheer hard work and determination," said Ms Chu-Benitez said.
Nominations closed on January 15. The judges will be looking for Filipinas with exemplary character and integrity, who are role models for the community.
"I work hard to inculcate in my Emirati students professional ethics, commitment and responsibility," said Susan de Guzman, a lecturer at Sharjah Women's College and one of the seven winners last year.
"Some day, when I leave the college, I hope that they, the future owners of companies, will treat my compatriots well and with respect."
The Women of Substance event will be held on March 30 in Dubai, and a Day of Sisterhood on April 6, which will include discussions of topics of special interest to women.
rruiz@thenational.ae
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam