Philippine Ambassador-designate to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver at the Sinulog in Dubai in Souk Al Marfa, Dubai on February 12, 2023. EXPAT MEDIA

New Philippine Ambassador to UAE makes first public appearance in Dubai

Philippine Ambassador-designate to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver made his first public appearance in Dubai on Sunday (February 12). Ver was a special guest at the Sinulog in Dubai event at Souk Al Marfa on Deira Islands. He was accompanied by Philippine embassy and consulate officials, including Philippine Consul General Renato Dueñas Jr. Watch the live coverage Ver said he arrived in the UAE three weeks ago to assume his new post, and thought he would miss the Sinulog celebration in Dubai. He revealed that in January he spoke with Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama in Cebu, Philippines where the Sinulog is traditionally held every year, to attend the Sinulog there. Ver said he could not attend the Sinulog in Cebu but thought he could catch the celebration in Dubai. “I said by February I will be in the UAE and I'm sure there's a celebration there that is also just as lively,” Ver said in Filipino. “I can see the spirit... I am glad that I am here and I hope to see more of these events,” Ver said. This is the first time that Sinulog, considered the Philippines' biggest cultural and religious festival, was held at Souk Al Marfa. Sinulog is held in Cebu every third Sunday of January in honor of Santo Niño (the child Jesus). Festivities include a grand street parade featuring dozens of dance groups in elaborate costumes.

Who is the new Philippine Ambassador to UAE?

Prior to his post, Ver served as Assistant Secretary of the Office of Middle East and African Affairs. He was the Philippine Ambassador in Bahrain from 2015 to 2021. He also served as consul and then deputy consul general at the Philippine Consulate General in California from 2009 to 2012, and a consul general at the Philippine Embassy in Turkey from 2005 to 2009. His first foreign assignment was as vice consul, before he was promoted to consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Guam from 1996 to 2002. At the Department of Foreign Affairs, he served as Executive Director of the Office of Personnel and Administrative Services from September 2012 to May 2015. He was also Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Administration (2004-2005), Director for Visas (2002-2003), and Assistant Director for Consular Affairs (1995-1996). Ver has a degree in Political Science and a graduate diploma in Public, both at the University of the Philippines. He has a Master of Arts in Public Policy at the National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies in Tokyo, Japan. He is a career officer of the Philippine Foreign Service corps having passed the Foreign Service Examination in 1993 and the Career Minister Examination in 2008. ICA/Expat Media
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