Pinoy Ads Qatar (PAQ) Grand Eyeball Party

By: Fredolin P. Aguinaldo – Doha, State of Qatar

Nowadays sharing experiences with friends near or far can be done by a mere click of a button. For people abroad, the gap between them and their loved ones back home are now linked by modern technology. In Qatar, virtual friends had a chance to see each other and come together in a Grand EB party as what Pinoy Ads Qatar (PAQ) did for their online members.

Held at the picturesque beach of Wakrah City in July 05, 2013, Pinoy Ads Qatar (PAQ) - the first and No.1 Filipino on-line virtual market place in Qatar – hosted their 1^st grand eyeball party with their active online members and friends to celebrate with them the growth and success of their group.

Spearhead by the webpage creator Ms. Minda S. Obeidat along with her fellow administrators, revelry started at around 6:00 AM and lasted until the wee hours of the next morning. Coupled with good food brought by the members, good times were shared by each and everyone while getting to know more about each other. When karaoke time came, the stage suddenly became a showdown amongst fellow members who completely ignored the sun’s heat and the scorching sand alongside the beach.

The event was generously sponsored by some of its members, who gave away prizes as well. The merrymaking was also covered by ABS-CBN Global Ltd. correspondent through admin Delfin Montenegro and Jen Pacleb respectively who happens to be active members of the group.  

The party was meant as a thanksgiving occasion for the dynamic on-line entrepreneurs of Qatar and a way of solidifying the relationship between members and supporters who share their time, views and effort towards the continued development of the group with their combined passion in entrepreneurship and love for social networking.

Evelyn L. Aguinaldo, an active Real Estate property seller paid tribute to the community members and said: “When Ms. Minda S. Obeidat started the group through FB, she had no idea that it would become this big and that it would be a venue for budding entrepreneurs like us to sell and offer services”. She was also quick to note that she enjoys the group because everyone shares their opinions regarding different issues, from personal problems like love life to views about current events in politics.

Pinoy Ads Qatar (PAQ) was created on September 05, 2011 by Ms. Minda S. Obeidat It is a place of trading in Facebook. You can sell, buy or swap your products and offer services with any interested members. To date, 13,406 active members are listed and hundreds of new members are added on a daily basis. In recent admin discussions, by-laws have been amended and to keep track of the activities of its members, additional administrators has been pre-drafted who are hoping to be of service to other members very soon.

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PSD Unveils Qr 180M school project during their 20th Foundation Day Ceremony

By: Fredolin P. Aguinaldo - Doha, State of Qatar

The unveiling of the New School Project of the Philippine School Doha was held yesterday at 8:00 A.M. inside the current school gymnasium at the Saad Bin Surara, Al Messilah area in Doha, Qatar. In order to boost-start the activity - attendees assembled at gate 6 of the school where enthusiastic student and teacher usherettes guided participants to their designated place. Everyone was impressed by the agility and beauty of majorettes who swayed like swans with the accompaniment of the lively PSD school roving band.

To give a little twist on the occasion - a lion dance was performed by the PSD student body with the help of their monitor teachers who painstakingly guided performers navigate the tight corridors of the school. Both amateur and professional photographers were delighted with the sight that they couldn't stop clicking their cameras to take mementos. The ceremonial releasing of balloons by the PSD Board of Directors, PSD Parents Teacher Association team, founding parents and other community organizations was also a highlight event along with the well executed field demonstrations. After all the outdoor festivities everyone was directed inside the brightly lit and fully air-conditioned school gym. 

The invocation/Doxology was performed by Yara Leanne Fabricante and Dominique Vicencio whilst the singing of the “Prayer” was done by students that will most likely hit the You Tube screen soon and become the next singing sensation next to Charice & Jessica (who both lost their respective singing contest but became household names internationally). I would like to ask all voice coaches within the PSD school campus and even those from outside to please help these students hone their talent so that maybe-just maybe one of this days PSD can produce one professional singer.

Of my 20 years attending PSD's Foundation Day ceremonies – I have seen so many good memories of the school that is already etched in my heart forever, however I have not seen any speaker nor school official who breaks down during a very crucial speech but Dr. Alexander S. Acosta – the best speaker in town that I have known do just that. I had the chance to browse the audience's reaction but everyone was also in a state of shock - everyone was eagerly waiting for the good principal’s next set of word to be uttered. At that particular time: the school gym was at its full capacity- in-fact, excess attendees had to content themselves with exploring the different kiosks at the school ground which included those that offered various snacks and PSD memento by the student body. The Pag-Ibig Fund, a government program was also present. Back inside, the presence of the not-so-young former parents and new-current parents of the school, old friends and acquaintances was remarkable – the overwhelming support of everyone for the school was probably the reason that triggered such a raw emotion from the principal. 

The Chairman’s message by Mr. Gerardo P. Macasa Jr. highlighted their plan to put-up a world class educational institution in Doha. They are planning to have the first accredited Philippine Science School in the Middle East (Qatar) and around the world outside of the Philippines. The proposed school would not only compete to be the one of the best in academic excellence but in sports as well.

Celebrating PSD@20

The real highlight of the event was the unveiling of the proposed school's miniature scale model. As part of Al-Mana’s design consortium, a miniature sculpture of the building was an integral part of their services to the school. Everyone was invited to the auditorium stage in order to witness the sneak peek of the future school. I learned that the school project will be constructed to the estimate of Qr 180M - an uphill task had just begun.

After the unveiling of the New Philippine School Doha building miniature, a female Canadian national delivered a speech and shared a story. One day a curious foreigner followed a group of students during their class breaks - these students happened to be from Philippine School Doha at the then Al Saad campus. The man never hesitated and started to look for the school principal until finally he met Dr. Alexander S. Acosta and become friends with him. She then shared with us the quote: "an educator is always an educator", she was telling the story of her husband, Harry and his fondness for PSD. One can guess what the man's profession was after hearing her story.

While working at the College of North Atlantic-Qatar, Harry devoted his time and expertise by sharing his knowledge of vast services in the educational field. He also held conversations with ordinary parents as well as the students at the school campus of PSD. He was loved by his fellow educators and parents of the school until KIESWETTER, HARRY beloved husband of Sue, father of Tyler and Kirby, passed away unexpectedly in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the age of 62 years. His legacy will never be forgotten in the hearts of people from all walks of life as well as his PSD family whom he shared his life and story. His loving wife SUE KIESWETTER traveled back to Doha Qatar during the 20th foundation celebration of the school to hand-over a donation of Qr 73, 624.30 for a much needed start-up as a booster fund-raising campaign to the realization of the future PSD campus. I was so touched with her story that I never really got a chance to click my ever trusted camera  - until the whole event was over.

During the same event, a Filipino group leader and former PSD Board of Director - Engr. Fidel Escurel also handed-over another donation worth Qr 50, 000.00 on behalf of his group - the PInOC 2012 who caters mostly in overseeing and running of events during Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Qatar.

Now, it is up to you my dear friends to come-forward and join the bandwagon and share your blessing to the realization of the new Philippine School Doha - a school that we can proudly call  "our own". 

For more PSD Write-ups please continue reading here: http://elabizproperties.blogspot.com/2011/08/our-own-school-abroad-philippine-school.html

Doha, Qatar Travel Log: A family Adventure November 25, 2011.

By: Fredolin Pagdilao Aguinaldo, Doha Qatar.
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My Daughter Anna Mae at the top-most.

After changing my office-working attire at 2:30 PM Doha time, I started loading clothes to our ever-hard working washing machine in preparation to our travel back-home in the Philippines. Aside from these, I need to empty our freezer and refrigerator unit as well in order to get rid of those unwanted food stuff that are stored there since my wife Evelyn left home to the Philippines some 2-months ago.
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Meanwhile, my youngest daughter who stays with me in Qatar called a while ago requiring additional budget for her despedida and Christmas blow-out to her 29-classmates and teachers at Ponderosa, Doha.
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It all started last night when I jokingly told her that She can invite some of her close friend to a "mini-mirienda" session at home since I always bake waffle apart from those of take-away food-stuff their heart desires and didn't realized that her plan will be broadcast-ed  through FB as in Tumblr by her classmates. Couldn't do anything now, they are heading to Ponderosa just after school.

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Hohoho, me and my big mouth, but since Christmas is fast approaching it is one perfect time to be with her classmates to wind-up from their busy school schedule as well as practice session for their up-coming JS prom as well. At Ponderosa, I have a chance to talk to her teacher and assures that He will closely coordinate to his co-teacher about Anna Mae's periodical exam when she come-back in Qatar after our vacation.
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Life abroad is not that easy as you think, one has to do house chores all by himself in order to have organize living condition. Raising kids by yourself is the most challenging job-ever. But so far, my eldest daughter Rea Lynne who was born and raised in Qatar is now a Registered Medical Technologist who work as Phlebotomist at the Saint Luke's Medical Center Global City, Taguig. My son Fredolin II is taking-up entrepreneurship in Manila and Anna Mae is attending her final years at The Philippine School, Doha.
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Our vacation this year was timely where I can able to use the whole 37-working days annual leave in the Philippines apart from that of my sick-leave spent at Saint Luke's last summer.
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Our balikbayan box are now ready and our travel document checked and just waiting for my college to drive us to the Doha international airport later.

New Philippine School Doha Campus, Qatar: The Groundbreaking Ceremony

By: Fredolin Pagdilao Aguinaldo – Doha, Qatar
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After years of preparation the Philippine School Doha permanent building project held its ground breaking ceremony today.
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"We are extremely exited. This has been a long time coming," said the Principal of the School Dr. Alexander S. Acosta, who along with the school board of trustees carefully draw-up a master plan of a modern-expatriate school that can level those of Western International and well-established expatriates school in term of academic excellence and able to cater the ever-growing populace of Filipino community children's education in Qatar.
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The groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning at 7:00 a.m. at the premise of the proposed permanent Philippine School Doha at Mesaimeer area, just beside the Birla School and in the vicinity of the Roman Catholic Church of our Lady of the Rosary, Qatar.

PSD Campus Ceremonial Dig

The ground breaking ceremony is in contrast with the informal opening of the then Philippine Embassy School on its humble beginning in 1992 with only 33 students to boast-start the school operations. Now, more than 2530 students are currently enrolled for the school year 2011-2012.
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"Initially, only 10,000 sq. mtrs was allotted but H.E. Crescente R. Relacion, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar in his capacity, continued his effort to negotiate with the Qatar government until clinching the deal and has been rewarded about 14, 375 sq. mtrs of prime-land to his effort", the New school building is designed to accommodate about 7,000 students complete with all amenities fitted for a modern institution.

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The growth of the Filipino community in resent years, and the strengthening the ties between Qatar in the Philippines leave Relacion looking forward the need to expand the capacity of the Philippine School Doha to accommodate worker's children education into a more relax environment.
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On the other hand, the School Building Committee held various event to collect seed-money and continuously negotiating with various local partners for possible collaborations.
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Mr. Gerardo Makasa Jr., BOT Chairman said so far everything is going as schedule. "We are on time and also busy sourcing-out additional budget and looking forward to the full-cooperation of the whole Filipino community in Qatar in the realization of this project in 2004.
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"Guest of Honor during the event is H.E. Crescente R. Relacion, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, the Philippine School Doha board of Trustees headed by its chairman Mr. Gerardo P. Macasa Jr., as well as parents, teachers and students of the school and local dignitaries are also present.

 

The author, Fredolin P. Aguinaldo is a Loyal Founding Parent of the school. 

Gulf Times

Our own school abroad, the Philippine School Doha

By Evelyn L. Aguinaldo Investor / Cyber Real Estate Seller

Way- back in 1992, a Filipino community leader & philanthropist, Philippine Presidential Awardees, Mr. Roberto Abit came-up the idea of putting up a Filipino community school in Doha for the ever-growing Filipino children. With the then active participations of   Miss Cynthia Acuna, some parents from Hamad Medical Corporation, other individual, who came out to help including Mrs. Evelyn Fernandez, Mrs. Corazon Medalla, now the current Philippine School HR Officer, to name a few are then actively participating during fund -raising activities.

Photo credit to Ms Cora Medalla

On October 2, 1992, the Philippine School Doha was formally opened at a small villa in Bin Mahmood located near the center with 33 students with whom two original teachers namely Mrs. Evelyn L. Aguinaldo - yours truly, Mrs. Nenita Cabral, teacher assistant Mrs. Charlita Price, Sergio Rivera as utility officer and the administrative officer in-charge was then Miss Cynthia Acuna.

(L-R) Mrs. Aida Mendez * Mrs Evelyn Aguinaldo * Mr. Sergio Rivera * Mrs. Nenita Cabral * Mrs Rowena Santos

The school offered only Pre-school during the start-up operations and I was tasked to handle nursery and kindergarten but opt to do business in Real Estate Acquisition & Rental later. Mrs. Nenita Cabral continues to serve and now act the capacity of intermediate coordinator of the Philippine School Doha, was tasked to handle all other enrollees. Few months later, Miss Rowena Cansino, now Mrs. Santos & the current registrar of the Philippine School Doha, and Mrs. Aida Mendez, now the NPK coordinator of the Philippine School Doha, joined the school as teachers.

The founding parents of the Philippine School Doha were: Mr.& Mrs. Roberto Lacuna, Mr. & Mrs. Mila Morales, Mrs. Liway Navarro, Mr. & Mrs. Ferdowsian, Mr. & Mrs. Edgardo Bondoc, an active officer of the school board until now, Mr & Mrs. Fredolin Aguinaldo and few other community leaders who came up to lend their support  to the realization of a community school of their own.

Photo credit to Ms. Cora Medalla

Being a founding parent and pioneer teacher of the Philippine School Doha, I am extremely happy to see that most of my former students are now professionals in their own rights including my daughter Rea Lynne Lopez Aguinaldo R.M.T who graduated at the Philippine School Doha and now a Registered Medical Technologist who work as phlebotomist at the St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, Taguig. The latest addition on the Philippine School roster graduates is Dra. Shiela Marie Macatuggal Reyes who passed her Physician Licensure Exam recently.

Please click pic to bigger image

To date, more than 2500 students are enrolled at the Philippine School Doha and are in the process of building a permanent school structure of their own into a parcel of land acquired from Qatar government in Abu Hamoor area.

   Let’s keep the torch burning and please do help in your own way in the realization of a permanent community school compound of Philippine School Doha.