Meet your new office bearers

Maria Concepcion ‘Connie’ Paguidopon
President

Connie’s parents are dancers, and it came naturally for Connie to become one too!

A modern jazz choreographer back in the Philippines, Connie became a ballroom dancer when she came to Dubai, mainly out of curiosity.

A friend of hers invited her to the Dance Clinic and she was intrigued as dancing has always been a passion for Connie, and learning ballroom dancing became a challenge for her.

Connie joined FDC-D in 2000 and graduated as the Top Female student and Champion of the Basic Dance Clinic.

An events coordinator by day and a Dance Instructor on weekends, Connie has always endeavoured to ensure that the team that she handles has minimal or no drop-out rate at all. There are situations, however, when it cannot be helped, due to work load or relocation of the students to other places.

A champion dancer (Connie, together with Ricky, were declared winners in the 1st Filipino Salsa Cup in 2005) and an Officer, Connie is not a novice in her role as the newly elected President of the Club, as she has held several positions in the past.

With many projects in the pipeline, the task ahead may be daunting. But as the best man for the job is a woman, tackling the job is as easy as one-two-three!!

Lee Olvido
Vice-President, Director of Membership and Resident Choreographer

A member since 2002, Lee works as a display artist and a graphic designer in Dubai.

Holding a degree in Physical Education, Lee is a professional dance instructor back home in the Philippines. He comes from a large family of dancers, and is the third amongst eight siblings (he has three sisters and four brothers!). It was their parents who initiated them into the art dancing, and it was their father who taught Lee ballroom dancing at a very young age.

Lee heard about FDC-D through friends even before he came to Dubai. When he did arrive in Dubai, he wanted to join immediately as an instructor. “However, although I have the necessary qualifications, I was advised to first register as a student. Undaunted, I did just that as I know that I have a lot to contribute to the Club,” said Lee.

He was declared the champion male dancer of the batch, and immediately thereafter became a member and a volunteer dance instructor.

As the current Resident Choreographer, Lee conducts his classes in his charming and endearing way. He is not “strict” per se, not at the moment that is, as he takes into consideration that most of the students that enrol in the Dance Clinic do not have or have minimal dance experience, particularly in ballroom dancing, and are therefore naturally shy.

However, plans are in the offing for a Dance Workshop wherein the students are Dance Instructors, and they will be properly and thoroughly groomed on the finer details of ballroom dancing, with strict emphasis on posture, movements of the hand, feet and body, etc.

And that, is one project that many will be surely interested in …

Eva Atienza Albay
Secretary

A busy mother and career woman, Eva has been a member of Filipino Dance Club-Dubai (FDCD) since 2003 and glad she found FDCD in her life. Despite the “suplada” look, her bubbly attitude made her popular among the members of the club.

As an officer in the Board of Directors, Eva’s hard work and dedication since she took her seat as Director of External Affairs cum Treasurer last year and now as Secretary, has earned her respect in the circles of the BOD.

Eva’s most memorable moment in FDC was when she won the Salsa Cup 2 championship. “It was the first time that I joined a competition and I already had a title” she said. “There‘s nothing impossible if you are sincere with yourself and in everything that you do” she added.

“Stay with FDCD and you will stay young, fit and beautiful”

Take it from Eva.

Emilio ‘Emil’ Barcenilla
Director, Dance Clinic

“A man is not finished when he is defeated, he is finished when he quits”. Being a Director of the Filipino Dance Club-Dubai is not easy, you face different people from all facets of life; the way I deal with it beyond any form of contention is to radiate love and gratitude, and that will attract, create back (!) the energy; more love and gratitude. You have to be a good example, role model and efficient teacher. You have to have strength, the tenacity, the will power to achieve.

Emil is multi talented – a top member in the year 2000; winner Star Quest 2003; winner TFC Pop Star Search 2004; and a popular, extemporaneous host for a number of renowned events. For Emil dancing is a form of art, it is an expression of one’s self, so everyone should have ‘it’, “I would like to bring this talent out from the members by knowing and sharing its beauty myself”.

Emil’s fulfillment? Graduation Day, the culmination of a heartfelt manifestation of the wisdom, knowledge he has shared. Emil’s inspiration? “God, as He has chosen me to be - where, what and who I am now”.

Liberato ‘Berth’ Avillanoza
Treasurer

Bert’s interests in ballroom dancing began in 1996. However, it was only in 1999 that he finally racked up the courage and the opportunity to join FDCD.
His perseverance and willingness to learn earned him the respect of his peers. He was consistently chosen as Group Leader in both Basic and Advanced Clinics, culminating in being voted Best Dance Instructor Year 2007- 2nd Batch.
An unexpected achievement for a guy with two left feet.
However, Bert feels that if you combine hard work and commitment with passion and pleasure in what you do, nothing is impossible.
Bert considers FDCD his family away from home. “I gained confidence, met new friends and most especially, had the opportunity to share what I have learned to other people and help them while their wistfulness away.”

Hernane ‘Nane’ Sisperez
Director, Publication

This very familiar face does not need a flashy introduction. ‘Nane’ is an active member of the Club whose unbelievable energy and devotion are worth noting.

Nane, the longest serving officer of FDCD, and now Director of Publication, handles dissemination of information and formal communications to members of the Club. A Production Engineer by profession, Nane’s dependability and reliability is unparalleled. He takes Fridays out from his home all the way in Dhaid, unmindful of having to cross borders, rain or shine. A chip off the old block, Junji, Nane’s son, plays the music every Friday

Unfortunately, he takes his duties so seriously, that the Club’s gain is a lady dancer’s loss, as Nane is such an accomplished dancer.

Instead of the dance floor (where he should be more often), he can be seen always by the gate – either meticulously checking the ticket lists, or prodding members to renew their expired memberships. And most of the time, he takes on the role of DJ during Dance Clinic sessions/parties.

Despite the seriousness and nonchalance that he projects to people, Nane, on the contrary is a jovial person who knows how to chill out, and this he does by singing his heart out (he actually has a mini videoke bar in his car) or tinkering with his computer.

Ricart ‘Ricky’ Rodrigo
Director, External Projects

Just like any other member, Ricky Boy admits he had his moments of doubt and drag when he first joined FDCD in the first batch of Year 2001.

The FDCD family and ballroom dancing however, helped reveal a new Ricky. “I’m proud to say that ballroom dancing, particularly Salsa, have changed me from a rather shy person to a more confident and active dancer and instructor.”

Four years after, his hard work and dedication were amply rewarded — he and dance partner Connie bagged the First Filipino Salsa Cup championships held at the Renaissance Hotel in August 2005. Now at 40yish, this dashing father of 3 beautiful kids counts FDCD as his ‘fountain of youth’ that provides him with vitality, inspiration and the much needed leisure in his busy work schedule.

As Director of External Affairs, Ricky is currently doing rounds in the other Emirates in pursuit of FDCD community outreach program. The upcoming Inter-GCC ballroom competition is one of Ricky’s major projects for this year.

Wilma ‘Cookie’ Villanueva
Director, Sponsorship

“As Director of Ways and Means, I mean business!”

A frustrated lawyer, who loves to argue and refute others, Wilma, a Masters Degree holder in Business Administration, is a lady of many talents. Passionately creative, her interests range from script/play writing, singing, target shooting, bowling and most recently dancing.

Wilma, who enjoys reading espionage/war books and following them through the movie versions, joined the Dance Club to acquire “culture.” “Uyyyyyy, ballroom dancer na ako, no longer a wallflower!”. Though never been a dancer, Wilma enjoys ballroom dancing as much as the champions when on the dance floor.

Highly involved in her role as Director of Ways and Means and concurrent Editor of Baile, Wilma looks forward to progressing from being an Assistant DI to a full-fledged Dance Instructress.

Wilma is very zealous with any project she gets involved in, and consequently, has become one tough “Cookie” to reckon with. Behind the hard exterior though is a teenager’s loving mother, who cries unashamedly every time she watches Lion King, Mulan and Hercules with her daughter.

Cookie has been named Outstanding Employee of the Year in 2005; first to be featured as Outstanding Filipino Achiever in Dubai by ABS Middle East in 2005, and has received several trophies in sports.

Ferdinand ‘Ferdie’ Ibay
Director, Internal Projects

For a man with few words, it is interesting to know that Ferdinand Ybay brings with him a solid history of community service and leadership. Since his childhood days, the current Director of Internal Affairs has been involved in various socio-political oriented activities ranging from sports competitions to cultural and political events.

Ever since Ferdie discovered the fun of dancing when he was nine, it has been his avenue of reaching out to others.

But it was in college days that he started his career in ballroom dancing, and the many awards and trophies followed soon after. This eventually led him to become one of the most awarded choreographer in Filipino Dance Club Dubai.

Ferdie has been part of FDCD since 2003. He has consistently ranked among the Top 5 during examinations and had choreographed 3 champions and one Runner Up in the Basic Category. In a quirky twist of fate, Ferdie recalls that his own dance trainer during his college days became his student in the Basic Dance Clinic class.

Now in his second term, Ferdie is the man in charge of all matters that pertain to members and students internal programs and dance competitions.