Filipinos in Kuwait gather in a celebration of Philippine culture and bayanihan at “Fiestang OFW sa Kuwait 2019”, held at Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Gym in Hawally Area on 27 September 2019. (Kuwait PE photo)
1 October 2019 – More than one thousand Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) gathered at the Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Gym on 27 September 2019 to celebrate the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage, as the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) spearheaded the first-ever “Fiestang OFW sa Kuwait 2019”.
The Embassy and its attached agencies—which include the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Social Security System (SSS), and Pag-IBIG Fund—also reached out to those attending “Fiestang OFW” by presenting their programs and services for Filipinos in Kuwait.
In a statement, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot expressed his optimism that “Fiestang OFW” will showcase not only the best of Philippine culture through dance, but also the unity and solidarity of the more than 220,000 Filipinos in Kuwait.
“Filipino community events have the power to rally migrant Filipinos behind a common cause; in the case of ‘Fiestang OFW’, it is to display the diverse cultural traditions of our people, and to send a message that the Filipino community in Kuwait is united and strong. I thank our colleagues at POLO, led by Labor Attaché Nasser Mustafa and Acting Assistant Labor Attaché Llewelyn Perez, for organizing this event for all OFWs in Kuwait,” Chargé d’Affaires Lomondot said.
“Fiestang OFW” began with talks from the Embassy and its attached agencies on their services for OFWs in Kuwait. Vice Consul and Consular Section Head Charleson C. Hermosura presented the various consular services of the Embassy, such as passport application and civil registration (e.g., Report of Birth, Marriage). Meanwhile, Vice Consul and Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Unit Head Adrian Audrey L. Baccay explained the Embassy’s ATN services, including its flagship Embassy Assisted Repatriation Program (EARP).
However, the most awaited part of “Fiestang OFW” was the cultural dance competition among Filipino community groups in Kuwait. Five teams that comprise various Filipino organizations performed traditional dances from Luzon (Igorot dance from Ifugao), Visayas (Dinagyang Festival dance of Iloilo, and Masskara Festival dance of Negros), and Mindanao (Pangalay dance of Sulu, and Singkil dance of Lanao).
Team Makarit took home the competition’s grand prize for its traditional and modern interpretation of the Maranaos’ Singkil dance. The team is composed of members from the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) - Kuwait Chapter, Philippine Society of Marketing Specialist in Kuwait (PHILSOC-MSK), Pinoy Ambulance Nurses in Kuwait (PANIK), Pinoy Digital Photographers in Kuwait (PINDOT), Guardians Mariliag Group, GGSI SOK Kuwait Legion, and Teachers Specialist Organization in Kuwait (TSOK).
In the spirit of oneness among all Filipinos in Kuwait, “Fiestang OFW” culminated with a unity dance among Embassy officers, cultural dance performers and Filipinos in attendance, to the tune of “Pinoy Ako” by OPM rock band Orange and Lemons.
Following the success of “Fiestang OFW”, Acting Assistant Labor Attaché Perez in a separate statement promised to organize more events that will bring government services closer to OFWs in Kuwait, and will create camaraderie among the diverse groups within the Filipino community. END
Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot delivers his remarks at the opening of “Fiestang OFW sa Kuwait 2019” at Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Gym on 27 September 2019. (Kuwait PE photo)
Pag-IBIG Representative in Kuwait Mahmoud Khalil entertains an inquiry from an Overseas Filipino Worker, on the sidelines of “Fiestang OFW sa Kuwait 2019” at Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Gym on 27 September 2019. (Kuwait PE photo)
Team Makarit’s winning performance of the Singkil dance during “Fiestang OFW sa Kuwait 2019” Cultural Dance Competition, held at Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Gym on 27 September 2019. (Kuwait PE photo)
