President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday (Gulf Standard Time) apologized for canceling his meeting with the Filipino community in Dubai due to urgent matters requiring his attention at home.

In a video message, Marcos said he was looking forward to meeting with the Filipino community in Dubai, but he had to prioritize the safety of fellow Filipinos who are being held hostage by Houthi rebels in the Middle East.

"I know there are urgent matters that need attention. One of those is our fellow countrymen, our fellow Filipinos who are being held hostage, seventeen of them are being held hostage, and we are doing everything possible to bring them home," Marcos said.

He added: "Therefore, we are assembling a delegation to go to them and negotiate with those who are holding them captive so they can come back home. Perhaps you can understand that we prioritized this because we need to ensure the safety of our fellow countrymen."

Expressing his sadness over the casualties in the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza, Marcos said the government is continuing its efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Filipinos in the region.

"We've just successfully repatriated all our Filipinos who were stranded in Gaza — during the conflict between Israel and Gaza, some were taken hostage. We did have casualties, which is very saddening," he said.

He added: "However, those who were held hostage and those who couldn't leave have been freed. We continue our efforts to ensure our countrymen have better conditions and, hopefully, return home as soon as possible."

Marcos said he would make it up to the Filipino community in the Gulf region in the future, adding that the government will organize a better program to make amends to them.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Filipino community in Dubai for their contributions to the Philippines.

"I couldn't make it this time, but we will have another chance, and we'll make sure that our coming together — the unity of the Filipino community — will be successful and joyful, just like always when we're with fellow Filipinos," he said.

"For now, I just want to thank you for your significant contribution to our nation. Your diligence, excellence, and dedication to Filipino service are remarkable examples for all of us here in the Philippines and are recognized worldwide," he added.

He wishes the Filipino community in Dubai and the entire UAE an early Merry Christmas.

"An early Merry Christmas to all of you! Long live every Filipino in Dubai and the entire UAE! Thank you very, very much! We miss you, and rest assured, we'll see each other again," he said.