Page 12 - Hello Philippines December 2015 'B' ISSUE

10 www.hello-philippines.com IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS December 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

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AL AIN, United Arab Emirates –
Last December 4, a Friday, 35 Filipino “Music and art is my passion, the Pinoy performers in Dubai concert, Bonz Saforteza Dekada, Photo from The Nite Owl Production Ela, Photo from The Nite Owl Production
musicians from all over UAE gathered same thing when I say I love my family. ElectroCats, Photo from The Nite Owl Production
in one stage in Dubai for a night of It’s my life and it will be forever,” said Joan McEldowney Greyback Louie Da Costa, Photo from The Nite Owl Production
performance designed to usher in the Galvez, a graphic communications Olliekraft, Photo from The Nite Owl Production Riff Raff, Photo from The Nite Owl Production
Christmas spirit among its homesick manager at Al-Futtaim, beaming Kumanderku & The Ginggastee, Photo from Jason
kababayans. at the success of the one-night only Bisco Perez
concert.
Dubbed “A Christmas Musical Project Prototype
Presentation,” the concert was held “I have my own home studio and
at The Fridge, located at Al Quoz music production here in Dubai which
Industrial Area 4, and featured is self-supporting,” he said. “Every
Filipino bands and solo performers, night, I set at least three hours to work
most of them have been featured on at my home studio doing graphic arts
GMA News Online. and music-related projects.”

Among the performers were Also in the event was Tag 91.1
Zack Allen; Bonz Saforteza; Alijan FM brand manager Nikki Famador,
Tatel, who introduced his new band vocalist of the band Dekada. She
Kumanderku and the Ginggastee; Ela; performed together with lead
Project: [PROTOTYPE]; 3hirdParty; guitarist Chris Barroga and drummer
and Sons of Asaph, who performed Benny Lalic.
with its new drummer John Paul
Abuda. Louie Da Costa of Tag 91.1 FM
graced the show, too, as well as guests
The gig was produced by Ronald Joan McEldowney, an Irish singer/
Galvez, an OFW, along with Rudy composer; Riff Raff Band, an Irish
Parilla, James Pacheco, Benedict Batalla group; and front acts Electrokats and
and Louie Miclat of Sessions DXB. Olliekraft.

“Sessions DXB is a platform to “A Christmas Musical Presentation”
showcase the talents of our fellow was held in coordination with
OFWs, both amateur & professional,” Nite Owl Production, Black Light
Galvez said. “We are encouraging Project, Follow Up, and Music Smart
everyone to shift the experience of Studio. Tag 91.1 FM, which has been
playing music at home to a live stage supporting Filipino performers in the
performance.” UAE, also promoted the event on air.

Galvez and Parilla also performed “We recommend those artists
in the mini-concert—as vocalist/ or bands that have three original
rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist, compositions to our partner Tag 91.1
respectively—as the Greyback Band. FM for acoustic live performance on
They were joined by vocalist/lead air,” Galvez said. “And later Tag 91.1
guitarist Ralph Mancao, composer/ FM will recommend those artist/
keyboardist Francis Del Mundo, bands for other events/concert as
bassist Arnold Ponseca, and drummer front acts or main performers.” n
Jeff Garcia.
Lucky Mae F. Quilao / KBK, GMA News / Published /

December 9, 2015 / 2:45 pm

Ronald Galvez Sons of Asaph, Photo from The Nite Owl Production Zack Allen, Photo from The Nite Owl Production 3hirdParty, Photo from The Nite Owl Production

OFWs urge DFA to review travel ban on Guinea
A pro-migrant group is urging the want to come home during the holidays. in Guinea have left them a message on “We would like to come home this A temporary suspension on the

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to In a statement Tuesday, Susan Ople, Facebook expressing worry over the travel Christmas but we are afraid that spending processing and deployment of newly-

review its travel and deployment ban on head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a ban and quarantine restrictions being time with our families would also mean hired OFWs to Guinea, Liberia, and

Guinea due to the Ebola virus following non-government organization that assists imposed by the Philippine government. losing our jobs here in Guinea,” the Sierra Leone was imposed by the

appeals by several OFWs there who distressed OFWs, said some Filipinos “Our compatriots in Guinea are statement quoted Sanciangco as saying. Philippine Overseas Employment

appealing to government for a review of Ople, who is running for senator in the Agency in July 4, 2014.

the continuing travel ban and quarantine 2016 elections, said a possible lifting of POEA issued a total deployment

restrictions,” said Ople, noting that the the travel ban would maximize the OFWs’ ban for all Filipinos bound for these

World Health Organization has said that limited holiday time in the Philippines. countries on December 8 last year and

the situation in Guinea has tremendously “They (OFWs) really want to spend instructed the estimated 880 workers in

improved from a year ago. Christmas with their families, and we Guinea and other countries to return to

One of these distressed OFWs, a chef owe it to them to at least explore such the Philippines.

named Arnold Sanciangco, wrote to the possibilities,” she said. Sierra Leone officially declared the

Center that the 21-day quarantine for travelers The United States Centers for Disease Ebola epidemic over last November

from Guinea will take up most of their 30-day Control and Prevention has officially lifted 8 after 42 days went by without new

holiday vacations in the Philippines and may its recommendation to avoid nonessential cases. n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / Published

even cost them their jobs. travel to Guinea last November 25. / December 8, 2015 / 3:50 pm