Post by admin on Aug 31, 2005 10:49:52 GMT 8
The Filipino: A standout in Dubai
by Tessa C. Mauricio
Source : Manila Times Online
Life is not always unkind to the overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Although there are many Flor Contemplacions, Sarah Balabagans and Angelo de la Cruzes who suffer tragic fates while striving to support their families in the Philippines from across the world, there are also a good number of OFWs who do find the greener pastures they seek abroad.
Filipinos working in Dubai can attest to this: They land more than just blue-collar jobs over there, oftentimes, managerial positions in the service industry. A Manila Times executive who visited Dubai in July, in fact, met a Filipina who holds the third-highest position in a furniture company. He reported that she can afford to live in a villa that fetches 100,000 Dirhams a month—the equivalent of P1,500,000!
While it took this lady several years to make it to the big time, the point is that the Filipino’s talent is recognized and rewarded in the Middle Eastern city, and that success stories can and do happen for the OFW in Dubai.
And so, come September 28, moviegoers can finally expect to see a film on OFWs that will not leave them heavy-hearted when the end credits roll.
A time for love
Simply titled, "Dubai," the Aga Muhlach-Claudine Barretto starrer is a love story set against the impressive backdrop of a cosmopolitan city and the beautiful sand dunes where life is not too tough for the lead characters.
Muhlach plays the role of Raffy whose nine years of hard work in the city earned him a good-paying job at a courier service company; while Barretto, as Raffy’s girlfriend Faye, is employed as an operations manager in a big city theme park.
Free of problems like exploitation and discrimination in Dubai, there is time for Raffy and Faye to fall in love. In fact, a love triangle even ensues when Raffy’s younger brother Andrew (John Lloyd Cruz) follows him to work in the city.
"We were able to veer away from the plight of the OFW in this movie and present a very intimate story because of the better conditions of Filipinos who live in Dubai," announced the director Rory Quintos at a press conference on Monday.
Screen playwrights Ricky Lee and Shaira Mella Salvador teamed up for the script and researched on stories of OFWs in Dubai, via personal interviews and through countless e-mails. They were happy to discover that, as Lee put it, "Itinataas ng ating mga kababayan ang karangalan ng Pilipino doon. [Our countrymen make us proud in Dubai]."
"For a change," added his partner Salvador, "we can show that the Filipino is sought after because of his skills, ang kanyang kasipagan at ang galing ng kanyang pakikisama [because he is hardworking and he works well with other people]."
"It’s no wonder that some of our kababayan over there say that they’d rather stay in Dubai dahil ang gulo dito sa Pilipinas [because of all the chaos in the Philippines]," Muhlach narrated.
Barretto, meanwhile, marveled at the how developed Dubai is, but was quick to add that for all the city’s riches, she would "still choose to live in Philippines," even with all its problems. Ditto with Cruz who confessed that he will not be able to cope with homesickness if he were to work in another country.
A film for every Filipino to see
Despite the drama that unfolds in "Dubai"—the conflict that threatens to break the bond between brothers Raffy and Andrew—the film is a feel-good story overall because of the high points that Quintos, Lee and Salvador mentioned.
Star Cinema, the production outfit of "Dubai," is therefore making sure that as many Filipinos in different parts of the world get to see the movie to uplift their spirits. To let them know that the Filipino is a standout.
A world premiere is set for the movie on September 28 in Dubai, and the cities of Milan, San Francisco, Vancouver, Saipan, Guam and Vienna, together with over 100 theaters across the Philippines.
"This is a promise fulfilled to our countrymen in Dubai who had asked Malou Santos (Star Cinema’s managing director) to make a movie about them," shared Salvador. "We don’t own the story. The story belongs to the Filipinos of Dubai."
by Tessa C. Mauricio
Source : Manila Times Online
Life is not always unkind to the overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Although there are many Flor Contemplacions, Sarah Balabagans and Angelo de la Cruzes who suffer tragic fates while striving to support their families in the Philippines from across the world, there are also a good number of OFWs who do find the greener pastures they seek abroad.
Filipinos working in Dubai can attest to this: They land more than just blue-collar jobs over there, oftentimes, managerial positions in the service industry. A Manila Times executive who visited Dubai in July, in fact, met a Filipina who holds the third-highest position in a furniture company. He reported that she can afford to live in a villa that fetches 100,000 Dirhams a month—the equivalent of P1,500,000!
While it took this lady several years to make it to the big time, the point is that the Filipino’s talent is recognized and rewarded in the Middle Eastern city, and that success stories can and do happen for the OFW in Dubai.
And so, come September 28, moviegoers can finally expect to see a film on OFWs that will not leave them heavy-hearted when the end credits roll.
A time for love
Simply titled, "Dubai," the Aga Muhlach-Claudine Barretto starrer is a love story set against the impressive backdrop of a cosmopolitan city and the beautiful sand dunes where life is not too tough for the lead characters.
Muhlach plays the role of Raffy whose nine years of hard work in the city earned him a good-paying job at a courier service company; while Barretto, as Raffy’s girlfriend Faye, is employed as an operations manager in a big city theme park.
Free of problems like exploitation and discrimination in Dubai, there is time for Raffy and Faye to fall in love. In fact, a love triangle even ensues when Raffy’s younger brother Andrew (John Lloyd Cruz) follows him to work in the city.
"We were able to veer away from the plight of the OFW in this movie and present a very intimate story because of the better conditions of Filipinos who live in Dubai," announced the director Rory Quintos at a press conference on Monday.
Screen playwrights Ricky Lee and Shaira Mella Salvador teamed up for the script and researched on stories of OFWs in Dubai, via personal interviews and through countless e-mails. They were happy to discover that, as Lee put it, "Itinataas ng ating mga kababayan ang karangalan ng Pilipino doon. [Our countrymen make us proud in Dubai]."
"For a change," added his partner Salvador, "we can show that the Filipino is sought after because of his skills, ang kanyang kasipagan at ang galing ng kanyang pakikisama [because he is hardworking and he works well with other people]."
"It’s no wonder that some of our kababayan over there say that they’d rather stay in Dubai dahil ang gulo dito sa Pilipinas [because of all the chaos in the Philippines]," Muhlach narrated.
Barretto, meanwhile, marveled at the how developed Dubai is, but was quick to add that for all the city’s riches, she would "still choose to live in Philippines," even with all its problems. Ditto with Cruz who confessed that he will not be able to cope with homesickness if he were to work in another country.
A film for every Filipino to see
Despite the drama that unfolds in "Dubai"—the conflict that threatens to break the bond between brothers Raffy and Andrew—the film is a feel-good story overall because of the high points that Quintos, Lee and Salvador mentioned.
Star Cinema, the production outfit of "Dubai," is therefore making sure that as many Filipinos in different parts of the world get to see the movie to uplift their spirits. To let them know that the Filipino is a standout.
A world premiere is set for the movie on September 28 in Dubai, and the cities of Milan, San Francisco, Vancouver, Saipan, Guam and Vienna, together with over 100 theaters across the Philippines.
"This is a promise fulfilled to our countrymen in Dubai who had asked Malou Santos (Star Cinema’s managing director) to make a movie about them," shared Salvador. "We don’t own the story. The story belongs to the Filipinos of Dubai."
Hoy, biro lang mga bruhita. ;D
O, di ba bagay na bagay silang dalawa? 
