Dalma Mall celebrates spirit of Filipinos on Philippine I-Day

ABU DHABI- It was a day to remember, not only to the Filipino community but for the hordes of shoppers and residents in Mussafah and Abu Dhabi.

Dalma Mall – a world-class community lifestyle and entertainment destination in Mussafah Abu Dhabi, was the centre of attraction as it played host to the official celebrations of the 116^th Philippine Independence Day organized by the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

A wide array of fun-filled cultural events and a variety of festivities to mark the Independence Day ensured gaiety and patriotic fervour pervaded Dalma Mall.

Music, games, colourful costumes, traditional food and ethnicities and the famed Filipino hospitality completed the ensemble for the day.

The celebrations kicked off with a parade attended by 48 Filipino organizations affiliated to the Philippines Embassy and Bayanihan Council, the umbrella organization of all Filipino community groups in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain region and was followed by a ribbon cutting officiated by the Philippine Ambassador to UAE H.E. Grace Relucio Princesa, Antonio Morales, Chairman of the Bayanihan Council, and Bhupinder Singh, acting General Manager of Dalma Mall To keep up the tempo, students from the Twenty First Century Private Academy playing drums and lyre throughout the duration of the parade.

Traditional Filipino games such as Pabatin and Pukpuk Palayok were also organized to keep up the fun spirit for young and the old alike. Besides, traditions such as Santacruzan and Balagtasan featured Filipino talents in cultural dance and songs and display of traditional Philippine regional costumes.

“The Philippine Independence Day celebrations at Dalma Mall were truly memorable. A mix of tradition and modern, it was an enjoyable experience all along, nostalgic for older ones and educative for the young ones. We are honoured to be part of these events, and privileged to be chosen as the official venue for the Philippine Independence Day celebrations by the Philippine Embassy,” said Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Member of the Executive Committee at Dalma Mall.

The events culminated with a stage performance by Harris Dio Smith – a Pakistani-Australian singer who rendered original Pinoy rock and roll music and had Filipinos swaying and dancing to some of the popular songs. During the day, a registration drive for Overseas Absentee Voting for 2016 Philippines Presidential Elections was also held.

Dalma Mall currently has over 400-plus tenants, offering the best of international brands and lifestyle choices for its discerning customers.