The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By: Virginia Rodriguez
Being in Dubai at a time when Philippine diplomacy, labor welfare, and cultural pride intersect is a reminder that governance is not confined to borders. I witnessed this firsthand as First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos met with top officials of Dubai Chambers, signaling that the Philippines’ engagement with the world—particularly with the Middle East—is becoming more deliberate, structured, and inclusive of its people abroad.
I was present when she reiterated a simple but powerful truth—that every OFW in Dubai deserves care and support to make life easier. These words resonated deeply among Filipinos who power homes, hospitals, hotels, offices, and construction sites across the Emirates, often unseen yet indispensable.
The meeting with Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, and Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, its President and CEO, went beyond protocol. It underscored a shared ambition: to open doors for Philippine companies to scale up and integrate into global markets by leveraging Dubai’s strategic location, infrastructure, and business-friendly ecosystem. For a country whose growth increasingly depends on exports, services, and overseas partnerships, this matters.
Dubai Chambers’ continued outreach to the Philippines—through trade missions, business forums, and its memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry—reflects a two-way confidence. Dubai is not merely hosting Filipino labor; it is recognizing Philippine enterprise as a serious partner in regional and international trade.
Yet this visit was not just about boardrooms and balance sheets. First Lady Marcos is in Dubai primarily to stand with overseas Filipino workers, nearly a million strong in the UAE alone. Traveling with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is here for international engagements, she carved out space for what governance often forgets: presence, listening, and empathy.
Her participation in the third leg of the OFW Serbisyo Caravan translated rhetoric into action. Passport renewals, consular services, healthcare consultations, housing advice, financial assistance, and welfare support were brought directly to Filipinos abroad. This is what service looks like when government meets people where they are, rather than expecting them to navigate layers of bureaucracy from afar.
The most poignant moments, however, unfolded away from crowds and stages. The First Lady spent time with OFWs battling illness, including those undergoing cancer treatment far from their families. Her acknowledgment of their courage was not political theater—it was human recognition. In those quiet encounters, governance took on a deeply personal dimension.
Beyond labor welfare, Mrs. Marcos also carried a broader advocacy agenda to Dubai. Her meeting with the UAE Gender Balance Council highlighted shared goals on women’s empowerment and leadership, reinforcing that development is incomplete when half the population is left behind. These discussions echoed her Special Address at the World Governments Summit, where innovation and collaboration were framed as tools for solving universal challenges.
She also spoke of domestic initiatives—such as the “Lab For All” health projects, the rehabilitation of the Pasig River, and the planned esplanade in Intramuros—reminding global audiences that diplomacy abroad must remain anchored in nation-building at home. International credibility, after all, is sustained by visible progress on the ground.
Cultural diplomacy took center stage in a different way when the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority brought a free concert to Dubai as part of the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival promotion. I watched OFWs sing, dance, and scream with unfiltered joy as Filipino artists took the stage alongside MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, MTRCB Chair Lala Sotto, and government officials.
The First Lady aptly described the night as loud, proud, and full of joy—and it truly belonged to the OFWs. For a few hours, exhaustion gave way to celebration, and distance from home dissolved into shared identity. Moments like these affirm that culture is not a luxury; it is sustenance for a people living far from their roots.
As I cover these events here in Dubai, one thing becomes clear: this visit stitched together economics, welfare, culture, and compassion into a single narrative. It is a reminder that effective leadership—especially in a globalized world—is not just about forging partnerships, but about ensuring that no Filipino, wherever they may be, feels forgotten.