Hundreds of hours of volunteer work and collaboration among Filipino engineers, sponsors and professional organisations culminated in the successful staging of the 13th General Assembly of the Filipino Planning Engineers Association (FPEA) at Andaz Doha on July 17, with organisers describing the event as one of the association’s defining milestones.
Held under the theme, “Invite, Ignite, Unite: Elevating Filipino Planning Engineers to New Heights”, the assembly celebrated leadership, volunteerism, professional excellence and collaboration while reaffirming FPEA’s commitment to strengthening the Filipino engineering community in Qatar.“Our 13th FPEA General Assembly will forever be remembered as one of the defining milestones in the history of the Filipino Planning Engineers Association,” said Engineer Maria Cecilia Marcos Rosales-Baiao, FPEA first vice-president for FY 2025-2026 and chairperson of the event.
“It was far more than a successful gathering. It was a celebration of leadership, volunteerism, friendship, professional excellence and our unwavering commitment to our shared vision.”Baiao attributed the success of the event to the collective efforts of FPEA officers, committee members, volunteers, sponsors and partners.“This achievement belongs not to any one individual, but to every officer, committee member, volunteer, sponsor, partner and member who willingly gave their time, talents and unwavering support,” she said.
“Our General Assembly stands as a powerful reminder that great organisations are not built by titles, but by people who choose to serve with humility, integrity and dedication.”During the event, Jefrey Gabriel, an IC, LIMRA, and CII-certified insurance adviser, delivered an informative session highlighting the importance of life insurance and financial planning.
He emphasised that proper protection is vital to building a secure future and encouraged participants to start planning early to safeguard their families and achieve long-term financial stability.Meanwhile, Baiao also paid tribute to the association’s board of directors, committee chairs and volunteers, highlighting their dedication and teamwork in organising the assembly.
She also singled out second vice-president Engineer Danica for leading the programme and coordinating with media partners, resulting in the participation of Qabayan Radio 94.3’s RJ Cody as master of ceremonies alongside Engineer Johanna Mae Escoba.Baiao also acknowledged the contributions of members who handled sponsorships, finance, technical operations, publications, logistics and event coordination, saying their behind-the-scenes work was instrumental to the programme’s success.
She thanked the event’s technical speakers — Dr Arlan Beltran, Dr Elvin D Fajutagana and Engineer Lofty — for sharing their expertise and inspiring members to pursue professional excellence.The association thanked its sponsors and partners, including KIMS Health, Eye Focus Media, SIKA Qatar, MetLife, Berkeley, BMTC and Maharlika Restaurant, for supporting the event and helping advance FPEA’s mission.FPEA also recognised the continued collaboration of fellow professional organisations, including the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) - Qatar Chapter and the Filipino Association of Materials Engineers - Qatar (FAME Qatar), saying such partnerships continue to strengthen the Filipino engineering community in the country.The organisers also commended Andaz Doha for its hospitality and support throughout the preparations and staging of the assembly.
Reflecting on the event, Baiao said the general assembly demonstrated the power of volunteerism and shared purpose.“When people unite with a common purpose, respect one another and place service above self, extraordinary achievements become possible,” she said.
“Leadership is not measured by position, but by the lives we inspire, the people we empower and the legacy we leave behind.”She encouraged members to continue embracing the organisation’s “Invite, Ignite, Unite” vision by mentoring future leaders, strengthening the association and upholding the values of professionalism, integrity, humility and excellence.