World-class Filipino products and services were put on display at ABS-CBN Middle East's "Tiangge, Bazaar at iba pa," the first Filipino expo in the Middle East.

ABS-CBN Chief Correspondent Korina Sanchez and celebrity doctor Vicki Belo led the opening of the expo. More than 60 Filipino businesses and companies participated.

The Pinoy expo was the largest gathering of Filipino companies in a trade exhibit, which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

ABS-CBN Middle East Managing Director Edgardo Garcia said the project is part of the broadcast network's mission to continue make Filipinos abroad feel closer to their homeland wherever they may be.

"We know that we have much to be proud of as Filipinos. ABS-CBN has made its mission to bring the Philippines to Filipinos wherever they may be... to promote the best of our country to the rest of the world," Garcia said.

Philippine consul general Benito Valeriano said the project is a "perfect fit" in the UAE because the country hosts one of the largest Filipino communities abroad.

"For the organizers who have conceptualized this expo, I think you hit the jackpot," Valeriano said.
Around 2,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) visited the expo, which featured products ranging from electronics, clothing, accessories and jewelry, to real estate, schools, and other services which are in demand by Filipinos.

Sanchez also praised the OFWs for their contribution to the Philippine economy.
"Kaya kayo po ang tunay na number one... at tandaan nyo po mga Kapamilya sa Middle East at sa inyo, walang iwanan," Sanchez said. ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

The Philippines government has approved free legal assistance to a Filipina nurse accused of participating in allegedly botched liposuction surgery.

The nurse, identified as NC, 33, and six other employees of a private hospital in Dubai have pleaded not guilty in the Dubai Misdemeanours Court to accidentally causing the death of an Emirati woman following the procedure.

The group went on trial on May 21 and, until now, the nurse has had little legal guidance.
Two other Filipina nurses, ML, 38, and GM, 36, were witnesses in the case, said the Benito Valeriano, the Philippines consul general in Dubai.

“Manila supported our recommendations to provide free legal assistance funds for her,” Mr Valeriano said.

The foreign affairs department in Manila had also approved funding for legal support for the two witnesses. This was unusual, said Mr Valeriano, as the legal assistance fund was earmarked only for cases involving capital punishment.

“We managed to convince Manila to consider her situation,” he said. “She is not covered by the medical malpractice insurance. The doctor, in our opinion, should not have allowed her to perform the procedure.”

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 11.

“The Filipina nurse is alleged to have performed the medical procedure upon the instructions of the doctor,” said Mr Valeriano.

“The patient died and it appeared that she had a role in the procedure and is being charged along with the others.”
The consulate is seeking financial quotations from a number of UAE law firms to represent the woman. These will then be forwarded to Manila for a decision on which firm to use.

The legal assistance fund was created under the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, which provided a framework for stronger protection of expatriate Filipino workers.

Expenses that can be covered by the fund include the fees of foreign lawyers, bail bonds to secure the temporary release of workers under detention, court fees and charges and other litigation expenses.

By: The National’s Ramona Ruiz
Last Updated: June 03. 2008 10:11PM UAE / June 3. 2008 6:11PM GMT

By Jay B. Hilotin, Chief Reporter May 29, 2008, 09:48