Asiyah “Vangie” Monjardin. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

Filipina architect and entrepreneur Asiyah “Vangie” Monjardin has been elected as the new Chairwoman of the Philippine Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates (PBC-DNE), marking a new chapter for the organization as it enters its 24th year. Monjardin, who leads Multiline Design and Contracting and The Desert Wok Restaurant, was voted into the top post during PBC-DNE’s March 15 election, held as part of its annual general meeting attended by nearly 100 members, including business leaders and professionals. Outgoing chairman Edwin Duria delivered a valedictory report highlighting the council’s achievements, followed by an election overseen by Dr. Sharon Mendoza, head of the Election Committee. As the new PBC-DNE chairwoman, Monjardin aims to expand the council’s impact, focusing on entrepreneurial growth, mentorship programs, and stronger business networking opportunities for Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Joining her in leading the council are Vice-Chairman Michael da Costa of Digital Creations Events Management & PR Agency and Secretary General Wilfredo Llarena Jr. of RBMW Global Technical Services Contracting. The newly elected Board of Directors are Melon Perez, Dr. Mary Jane Alvero-Almahdi, Mariben Eustaquio, Roberto Capulong, Daisy Calabia, and Sheila Alcaraz. The event was attended by Philippine Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, who challenged the new board to increase membership and elevate the profile of Filipino entrepreneurs in the UAE. DTI Trade Commissioner Michael Roaring and Dubai Chambers' Fatma Al Madani were also present.

Who is Asiyah Monjardin?

An accomplished architect and businesswoman, Monjardin is no stranger to leadership. She has spent nearly three decades in Dubai, transforming the retail and interior design industry through her firm, Multiline Design and Contracting. The company has played a key role in designing supermarkets and commercial spaces in the UAE, GCC, and beyond—including projects in New York, the UK, Nigeria, India, and Thailand. “I didn’t even want to be an architect,” Monjardin previously told Expat Media. “But it was one of the best decisions I made in my life.” Her journey in Dubai started in 1995, when she joined her father, a pioneer Filipino architect in the UAE. She built her career working on high-profile projects, including luxurious palaces and villas for royal families, before branching out on her own.

From corporate to entrepreneurship

After two decades in the corporate world, Monjardin founded Multiline Design and Contracting, which grew from a small startup in Satwa to an international design firm with offices in Al Quoz and operations overseas. She later expanded into the food industry with The Desert Wok, an Indo-Chinese restaurant inspired by her travels in New York. Apart from her businesses, Monjardin is also an angel investor, mentor, and leader in Dubai’s Filipino business community. She previously served as Secretary General of PBC-DNE and as a board member of the League of Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs. Her contributions to business and the community earned her the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Philippine Overseas Labour Office. With her track record of success and commitment to supporting fellow entrepreneurs, Monjardin is poised to steer PBC-DNE into a future of innovation and inclusivity. ICA/PIA/Expat Media
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