Expatriate Filipinos in the Eastern Province working as fashion designers, painters, and other related professions have organized themselves into an association they called the “Organization of Brilliant and Respected Artists” (OBRA). The officers and members of OBRA were officially inducted into their positions by Philippine Embassy Welfare Office Edgar Lim last weekend. The induction was attended by community leaders in the region. OBRA, which is composed mostly of designers and artists in the local fashion industry, affiliated itself with the Filipino Overseas Workers Association (FOWA), a bigger association that has membership coming from all sectors of the Filipino community in the region. “OBRA aims to provide equitable access to learning through relevant, innovative, and industry-based and environment conscious programs and services, and extend to its members the knowledge and skills to meet their entrepreneurial development,” said Erwin Aradila, elected chairman of the association. The organization will also seek international linkages to support its growth and act as catalyst for progressive social transformation and the custodian of Filipino culture and heritage. “Through OBRA, we will endeavor to help build a community, preserve our nationalism, ever conscious of protecting the environment, and build strong globally-competitive professionals among Filipinos,” Aradila said in his address. The officers of OBRA, who are working in the forefront of the fashion industry in the EP are Erwin Aradila, chairman; Rogelio Pununcialman, vice chairman; Joel Gucela, secretary; Isagani de los Reyes, assistant secretary; Jayson Galicha, treasurer; Ryan Capara, assistant treasurer; Ramil Tolentino, auditor; Darwin Mancao, Marvin de Guzman, Jonald Bayor, Dom Madanlo, public relations officers; John Galicha, business manager; Quintin Castro, assistant business manager, and Randy Correa, sargeant-at-arms. Two of the respected pillars of the fashion industry in the EP, namely, Raul V.H. Delfin and Julius Zoleta, were chosen advisers of OBRA. The officers and members of OBRA were introduced to the Filipino community by Dr. Allan Notarion, president of FOWA, and assisted by Ven Macatuggal, vice president of FOWA. “The formal organizations of these workers in the fashion industry, whose objectives are not only to advance their professional expertise, but also to support the community, speaks well of the unity of overseas Filipino workers. Being visitors in this country, for us to achieve our missions, we should always respect and put to mind the rules of the Kingdom,” welfare officer Lim said in a message he delivered on behalf of the Philippine Ambassador Antonio Villamor and labor attaché David Des T. Dicang.
