ABU DHABI // Four UAE residents were named among this year's 100 most influential Filipinas in the world.
The women earned a spot on the prestigious list compiled by the Filipina Women’s Network in the United States, a non-profit professional association for women of Philippine ancestry.
Rachel Salinel Los Banos, 50, a broadcast journalist who has lived in Dubai for 15 years, spoke of her joy at being named alongside three of her compatriots in the UAE.
“I am both humbled and deeply honoured to have been named one of the 100 most influential Filipinas in the world,” she said.
“As a journalist my mission is to serve the community by reporting compelling stories, and in the process enable viewers and listeners to learn from these stories and improve their lives.”
The mother of one is a senior correspondent in the UAE for The Filipino Channel and an ARN news presenter in Dubai. She is also involved with social enterprise, having cofounded the Filipino Excellence in the Middle East Connect Directory for Filipino professionals, which launched last February.
“I want to give my compatriots hope by empowering them to be excellent Filipinos in the Middle East,” she said.
Mrs Los Banos was selected in the “behind the scenes leaders” category.
It recognises women who “have gone beyond the call of duty to devote time, energy and resources to advocate for those who need a voice, or support the organisation she represents or works for”.
The 2016 Global Filipina Women’s Network 100 Award honours Filipinas in the fields of education, business and entrepreneurship, community and civic service for “changing the face of leadership in the global workplace”, and recognises women for their achievement and contribution to society.
Nominees included top television network executives Cory Vidanes and Malou Santos, high-profile lawyer Lorna Kapunan, philanthropist Amparito Lhullier, and chocolate boutique owner Raquel Choa, known as Cebu’s “Chocolate Queen”.
“I am so delighted and inspired to have nominated three influential Filipinas from the UAE,” said Mary Jane Alvero-Al Mahdi, chief executive of Geoscience Testing Laboratory and a past recipient.
“I believe in their capacity to influence because of the role they play in the community. They have excelled in their respective fields and are role models not only for Filipinas, but for other nationalities too.”
Before moving to Dubai, Mrs Los Banos spent 14 years as a broadcast journalist for a Japanese television network, covering news stories across SouthEast Asia and Micronesia.
She co-hosted a television business magazine programme from 1991 to 1992, and at one point was paired in two episodes with former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Last year she was named one of Illustrado magazine's 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf, and picked up the Journalist of the Year award given by The Filipino Times.
Mrs Los Banos attended an awards ceremony in Cebu on Tuesday night.
Other recipients were: Arlene Abe Pulido, learning and development manager at Al Tamimi & Company in Dubai; Irene Corpuz, head of planning and IT at the Western Region Municipality, and Karen Graciles Remo, managing director and cofounder of New Perspective Media in Dubai.
rruiz@thenational.ae
