DUBAI // Most news is bad news. But now a radio talk show is trying to redress the balance by sharing a few success stories with its Filipino listeners.
A Filipino couple who moved to Dubai in May 2001 are behind Filipino Excellence in the Middle East, which goes out every other Tuesday night on the Dubai Eye station.
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Art Los Banos and his wife Rachel - "Art and Elle" to their loyal listeners - have broadcast 14 episodes since October. Both have jobs during the week and are doing the show voluntarily.
"My partnership with my wife Elle is perfect," said Art. "She is the heart or soul of the show and I'm the head or mind. One may call it 'winning the hearts and minds of listeners'."
On Tuesday, two days after the celebrations marking the 113th anniversary of Philippine independence, their 15th episode will feature three Filipinos whom they consider "modern day heroes" - although they have yet to confirm exactly who those heroes will be.
Since their first broadcast on October 26, they have interviewed Filipinos on topics including personal finance, employment, shifting careers, alternative livelihood and community service.
Art, an exhibitions consultant in Dubai, said they started receiving rave reviews from the first show. "A listener sent a text message asking if it would be a regular programme," he said.
Roy Lamper, the executive producer of Filipino Rhythm at Dubai Eye 103.8, was quick to respond, telling him to announce on air that the show - which is mostly in Tagalog - would broadcast every other Tuesday, between 10pm and midnight.
"Our format is simple," said Elle, a freelance print, online and broadcast journalist in Dubai who previously worked as the senior correspondent of Nippon Television Network's Manila bureau for 14 years. "We have a free-flowing discussion and our guests are the stars of the show."
Initially, Art wanted a talk show on politics but ditched the concept in favour of something they felt would appeal to a wider audience: the profile of different professionals in the Middle East.
"Filipinos here continue to raise the bar of excellence in various fields," she said.
"The listeners learn from the mistakes shared by the guests and find inspiration from their success stories as well. It is very empowering."
They encourage listeners to join in, sending questions and comments by text or on Facebook.
"Most listeners asked what they should do when they lose their jobs," said John Sherwin Chua, a personal banking adviser in Dubai and one of the guests on the show.
"Those with outstanding debts should communicate with their banks. Not all credit shields cover job loss."
He gave tips on how Filipinos should manage their finances while working overseas.
"We have a tendency to live beyond our means," said Mr Chua, a member of the UAE Pinoy Bankers Organisation, which counsels Filipinos with personal loans and credit card problems. "It's quite sad that many have poor spending habits."
In January the show was host to Philippine ambassador to the UAE, Grace Princesa, who spoke about the things that make Filipinos proud: their sense of God, their country's rich natural and human resources, democracy, gender sensitivity and balance. Filipinos did not need to conquer anyone, she said.
"Let's not forget to do our best in anything we do while we're in the UAE," Ms Princesa told listeners.
There are more than 600,000 Filipinos in the UAE, 60 per cent of whom are skilled and professional workers.
A quarter are in the service sector and 15 per cent are household workers.
