Doha, 28 Jan. 2024

2-day 5th Philippine Wealth & Wellness Conference Qatar organised by Philippine Property & Investment Show Qatar concluded recently with high notes at the Abesq Doha Hotel & Residence. The event was hosted by Association of Filipino Real Estate Executives in Qatar (AFREEQ).

Philippine Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Enrique Tayag was the Keynote speaker who dazzled around 600 members of the Filipino community members

Dr Enrique Tayag is known for his campaign to have healthy life attitude through his dances also created fun and life through his famous performance.

Present on the occasion were Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Lillibeth V. Pono; Ms. Marcia Sadicon, Philippine Chapter Chairperson of the Ladies of all Nations International (LOANI); outgoing Chairman and founder Afreeq, Dr Joseph Timothy Rivera; Afreeq Incoming Chairperson, Ms. Bhem Asperilla; Qatari businessman Hassan AlHakeem; Philippines community leaders; heads and representatives of community forums; and guests.

The event  was also graced by via video conferencing by Philippine Senate Committee Chairman, Senator Christopher Lawrence;  Filipino Bank CEO, Atty. Reo Andarino; and Philippine House Committee on Housing & Urban Development Member, Congressman Samuel Versoza.

AFREEQ Chairman Dr. Joseph Timothy Rivera also read the inspirational message of Philippine Senator Manuel Lapid.

In his keynote speech, Deputy Health Minister of Philippines, Dr. Tayag as echoed by Ambassador Pono focusing on the importance of health  towards wellness & wealth generation.

Ms. Sadicon gave a lecture on post-pandemic financial literacy for Filipino Expats.

Numerous speakers from leading Health & Financial institutions delivered various lectures during the day.

Mudasar Nzar, Director, Aura Technologies spoke about the importance of business automation,  Abby Oano Dolley, Head of Learning & Quality  of the Abesq Hotel delivered a lecture on mental wellness, while Dr. Bigesh Nair, Head Cardiologist at American Hospital underscored the importance of preventive healthcare.

Earlier, Ambassador Pono inducted newly elected 2024 officers of AFREEQ led by it’s new Chairperson Ms. Bhem Asperilla.

Ms Bhem Asperilla acknowledging long years of dedicated services by AFREEQ founder and outgoing Chairman, Dr Joseph Rivera presented citation.

Dr. Mohamed Hazim, Managing Director, Mediland presented the latest technology on mobile life-saving equipment;  John Penaflor, Sr. BDM Manager.

Megaworld International presented the innovations on Integrated Townships; Edgar Boyano, AFP, CCE & Ms., Ms. Marilou Tabisora, CPA, CMA, CICA, RFP, President & Vice President respectively  of the Overseas Filipino Investors & Entrepreneurs Movement (OFIE-M) enlightened the delegates on international stocks & bonds.

Aris Jay S. Riparip ACSI, RFP founding Vice President of the Philippine Sales & Marketing Professionals (PSMP), Qatar Chapter gave a comprehensive outlook on the vital need of insurance.

Kelley Malicse, Director of Me Time Wellness inspired the audience on the importance of women’s fitness.

Marcus Medina, Assistant VP Brittany International as represented in Qatar by Erada Real Estate revealed the latest trends in sustainable wellness communities.

Michael Javier, CEO of C-Wallet explained the fundamentals of affordable fintech while Dr. Res Laderas of Elegance Smile Dental Clinic spoke about the importance of proper oral hygiene.

Various talks were also shared by the event’s exhibition & bazaar participants led by Metlife (Agent Kabayan), Al Fardan Exchange AL Yaqout Fashion, Aria Beauty, Care N Cure Pharmacy, Alpha Omega Travel, East Optics, Philippine Airlines, Pinoy Impact Creators and Creative Media & Events.

Food exhibitors included gastronomic indulgences  from the event sponsor Uno Cafe as well as culinary experts from Adaar Restaurant, Filipino Hot Pack, Los Churros Ole, Mabuhay Restaurant & Maharlika Park Restaurant.

All conference participants were serenaded by the Sacred Heart Choir and the Hiyaw Cultural Ensemble of the Philippine School Doha.

Prominent musician maestro Dexter Tumang accompanied the performances of vocalists – Unica De Vera, Jasmine Salvo & Maniza Elle.

A dance number of Caday Siblings from the Philippine International School, Qatar energized the crowd.

The afternoon session was powered by a Zumba dance craze by members of the Filipino Fitness & Health Qatar that levelled up with a shared dance performance by Dr. Tayag himself . Honor Guards for the Qatar & Philippine Colors were provided by the Philippine School Doha CAT cadet  Officers.

Other pocket events during the 2-day conference included free medical & dental consultations by the American Hospital Clinics, free eye check-ups by East Optics, overseas absentee voters registration by the Philippine Embassy, Migrant Workers Office (MWO) helpdesks on OWWA concerns as well as SSS (social security) & Pag-Ibig Fund (State housing) and an international job fair & migration seminars by Worldwide Connections.

Philippine airlines raffled a free round-trip air ticket to a lucky attendee and Megaworld International gave away free staycation vouchers to deserving conference guests while Care N Cure distributed more than 500 hampers containing beauty products by the famous aesthetic surgeon of the Philippines Dr. Vickey Belo.

Highlights of the second day included the awarding of the winners of the Megavoice competition by Megaworld International with Yochabelle Reynes as grand champion, 1st Runner Up: Cherry Anne Siat &  2nd Runner Up: Kelvin Sarmiento and capped by the election of officers of the Oryx Knights Eagles Club of Qatar under the Fraternal Order of Philippine Eagles wherein the event’s organizing co-Chairman Dr. Joseph Timothy Rivera was unanimously elected as the club’s Charter President.

Also held during the 2-day intensive trade event was the 2^nd Philippine Gala Night hosted & organized by Kulinarya Qatar headed by it’s chairperson Ms. Dahlia Agbanlog, director Annabelle Castro Modin & outgoing program director Dr. Joseph Timothy Rivera .

More than 270 dignitaries from the Filipino business & social community leaders in Qatar attended the fashionable evening.

Adding to the list of dignitaries that night were officials from the Philippine Embassy led by Consul General Cassandra Sawadjaan, Vice Consul Monica Calangian, Cultural Attache Camille Manlapas & MWO Assistance to Nationals Head Ms. Cherry Rhose Cureg.

Also in attendance were UNO Managing Director Dr. Abdulla Al Shaiba & Megaworld International Sponsor Hassan Al Hakeem. Said evening of pomp & circumstance also gave AFREEQ an opportunity to present Community Champion awards to their long-time event partners Ms. Agbanlog of Kulinarya, Dr. Gotangogan of Uno Café & Mr. Ashraff Siddqui of the Asian Telegraph.

Cultural presentations also dominated the night with cultural performances by MVEP, Xtreme Level Danz Crew, QA Divas Yochy-Aida-Irene, BIMAK, Beats & Bytes & Marthylda Flores.

These 2-days event wouldn’t have possible without the spectacular hosting by it’s emcees Timothy Jeremiah Rivera, Nicole Faith Asperilla, RJ Francis, Martina Estrada, Thalia Castro & its production team headed by Jonald Roxas &  Leoter Vispo

The organizers also gave a Community Advocate award to the ABESQ Hotel for it’s magnificent venue hosting & fantastic cuisine and was received by the hotel’s event sales manger Ms. Christina Allameddine.