At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019. EXPAT MEDIA

Filipino expatriates from Dubai, Sharjah and other parts of the UAE gathered in Sharjah on Friday (May 3) for the first Filipino Labor Day Festival. The activity, hosted by the Sharjah Labour Standards and Development Authority (LSDA), is an important step to working with the Filipino community in the emirates, said Salem Yousef Al Qaseer, chairman of LSDA. “If they have any problem, they can contact our department,” Al Qaseer told the crowd at Sharjah Indian School in Al Ghubaiba. ALSO READ: Expat Media receives award from LSDA Philippine Labor Attache Felicitas Bay hailed the Sharjah government for organising the event, urging Filipinos to work with the government in promoting Filipino culture and skills. The day-long event started with a lively drum and bugle march by more than 120 students from Far Eastern Private School Al Shaba and Al Azra campuses. At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019. It also featured several cultural performances from Filipino groups United Cebuanos, Dabawenos and Sagada, in cooperation with the Philippine Independence Day committee. A mini job fair featuring Dusit Thani Dubai, Chowking, Khalid Bin Hadda Group and other companies also drew job hopefuls to the venue. At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019 “Filipinos love our food, and we are happy to give back that same support in this first Filipino Labor Day event in Sharjah,” said Maqbool Modi, Director of Operations of Chicking, which provided packed meals for performers at the venue and also sponsored vouchers for the raffle draw. Volunteer doctors and nurses, and a roving dental bus were also in the area to provide free medical and dental check-up to visitors. No fiesta is complete with Filipino flair, and expatriates came in groups to show off their talent in singing, dancing and band music competitions throughout the day. To add to the fun, companies such as Chicking, LBC, Chowking and National Paints provided vouchers for the crowd to win in raffle draws.

In pictures

At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019. At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019. At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019 At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019 At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019 At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019. At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019. At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019. At the first Sharjah Filipino Labor Day Festival on May 3, 2019.