UAE-Based Filipino Creatives Take Center Stage at Sulyap 2.0
Filipino creativity took center stage at the Theatre of Digital Art in Dubai on 31 August 2025, as Sulyap 2.0: Padayon sa Kapuluan ng Pangarap (Onward Through the Archipelago of Dreams) brought the sights, sounds, and stories of the Philippines to life.
Organized by TRIBE, a subcommittee of the Philippine Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates, and co-created by 63Kolektib in partnership with the Emirates Literature Foundation (ELF) and Theatre of Digital Art (TODA), the event’s second edition delivered a powerful, immersive celebration of Filipino talent through theatre, dance, music, and visual arts.
A Cultural Voyage on Stage
This year’s production transported audiences across an imagined archipelago, each island representing a facet of the Filipino spirit. Performances presented a seamless blend of traditional and contemporary art forms, crafting a vivid showcase of the Philippines’ culture, resilience, and dreams.
Among the standout acts was a captivating theatre performance by 63Kolektib, dynamic cultural dances from United Filipino Culture & Arts, stirring vocal performances by the Dubai Vocal Ensemble, and visually striking elements through Baybayin script-inspired visuals by artist Gino Banola. The result was a sensory-rich narrative honoring both Filipino heritage and its creative future.
Community and Collaboration
The success of Sulyap 2.0 was rooted in the strength of collaboration—with partners, artists, volunteers, and communities coming together to create a space for Filipino expression on the UAE stage.
“For TRIBE, Sulyap 2.0 is more than a performance, it is a celebration and sharing of Filipino culture with the UAE’s diverse community. By creating platforms like this, we hope to inspire more collaborations and opportunities that highlight the creativity and talent of Filipinos in the global stage,” — TRIBE President, Bethoven Filomeno.
The transcultural effort reminds us how art can bridge not just creative disciplines, but also identity, community, and belonging. The show echoed a deep connection between the Philippines and the UAE, two cultures with a shared narrative of diversity and hope.
“Congratulations to TRIBE and 63Kolektib. You are now the new torchbearers of Philippine culture all over the UAE and to a global audience. Thank you for this glimpse. But more than a glimpse, you invited us to dive deeper, to look at our roots once again and attach ourselves to our country, especially for those in the second and third generations here. I hope you continue to carry the torch, burn brighter, and shine the light for all Filipinos in the UAE.” — Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Alfonso Ferdinand A. Ver
As Sulyap 2.0 wrapped, its impact lingered—proof that art, when rooted in community and purpose, becomes a powerful vehicle for cultural diplomacy and global understanding. Through it, UAE-based Filipino creatives reaffirmed their role not just as artists, but as cultural connectors, inspiring future generations to dream boldly and create fearlessly.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
