First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos is in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to provide support to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). She is traveling with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who is in Dubai for international meetings and other activities.
“Dubai is home to almost a million OFWs and each one deserves the care and support of the government to make life easier for them,” she said.
Mrs. Marcos joined the third leg of the OFW Serbisyo Caravan which brought essential services to Filipinos abroad. These included passport and consular services, as well as healthcare, financial, housing and welfare support.
The First Lady also spent time with OFWs who were sick and receiving treatment.
“Most moving of all was spending time with our OFWs who are bravely fighting cancer, far from the comfort of home and loved ones. Their strength and courage remind us why this work matters,” she said.
“We hope that in our own small way, we were able to bring comfort and reassurance that our unsung heroes are seen, valued, and never forgotten,” she added.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) brought a free concert to Dubai as part of its promotion of the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival.
“MMDA chairman Romando Artes, MTRCB chair Lala Sotto, and the cast of several MMFF film entries joined Mrs. Marcos, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, and other officials at the Dubai gathering.
“Had a blast at MMDA’s Libreng Konsyerto para sa mga Filipino sa UAE!” the First Lady said.
“It was so much fun seeing our ‘kababayan’ sing their hearts out, belting out songs at the top of their lungs, dancing like nobody was watching, and screaming in pure ‘kilig’ fashion when their favorite Filipino artists hit the stage. The energy was unreal,” she added.
The First Lady described the concert as “loud, proud, and full of joy,” with the night belonging to the OFWs.
“Salamat sa saya, mga kababayan,” she said. (“Thank you for the joy, my countrymen.”)