Former Filipino consul-general in Dubai Benito Valeriano dies

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Benito Valeriano

Dubai - Valeriano served as the Filipino consul-general in Dubai for more than four years from January 2008 until September 2012.

Angel Tesorero

Published: Wed 14 Sep 2016, 5:33 PM

Last updated: Thu 15 Sep 2016, 8:51 AM

> Born on January 16, 1954, died September 12, 2016
> Consul-general in Dubai: January 23, 2008, to September ?29, 2012
> Served as Ambassador ?to India and Nepal from ?2012-2014
> Last served as assistant secretary at the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila

Former Philippine consul-general to Dubai and the Northern Emirates Benito Valeriano passed away in Manila on Monday after suffering a heart attack. He was 62.
Valeriano served as the Filipino consul-general in Dubai for more than four years from January 2008 until September 2012 before his appointment as Philippine ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to India and concurrent non-resident ambassador to Nepal for two years, from 2012-2014.
Born on January 16, 1954, Valeriano was posted in eight various diplomatic posts and he last served as Assistant Secretary of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila before his untimely death.
The Philippine Consulate General Dubai paid a tribute on its official Facebook page (@dubaipcg) on Monday with a photo of Valeriano with a caption: "We celebrate the life of former Philippine consul-general HE Benito Valeriano who served in Dubai 23 Jan 2008 to 29 September 2012. Gentleman. Diplomat. Public Servant."
A memorial mass to be officiated by Filipino priest Fr. Chito B. Bartolo will be held at the consulate on Wednesday at 7pm, according to consul-general Paul Raymund Cortes.
The current Philippine envoy said: "The Philippine Foreign Service and the Filipino people lost one true gentleman. Ambassador Valeriano was a senior diplomat who knew what it took to serve the public and represent the country and his people in the best way possible."
"He mentored many not only in the Filipino communities he was posted in but also young aspiring diplomats like myself with fervour and candour that was refreshingly transparent, one that was most certainly beneficial to the overseas Filipino and to the Philippine nation. He lived a truly purposeful life and will be remembered in our hearts," added Cortes.
Words of bereavement and tributes not just from the Filipino expat community poured in.
British expat Lisa Kingsley told Khaleej Times: "I worked with him (Valeriano) regularly a few years ago on domestic workers issues. He was a good man who always tried to do his upmost for his citizens. I know he went above and beyond his duty."
Filipino community leader Milo Torres said: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend former ConGen Benito Valeriano. He used to call me 'pare' (mate in Filipino) every time we talked."
"His son, Jeremy, and my son, Collin Dayle, were best of friends in school. Many times my son stayed at their place and my son stayed with them at Atlantis before they left Dubai for India."
"Valeriano was a straight leader and very supportive of any Filipino community organisation. It was an honour to have known such a great person and we will truly miss him and we will include him in our daily prayers. Our sincere condolences to his family," Torres added.
Another Filipino community leader, Wafa Qasimieh, who is also the Senior Cultural Adviser at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department,
said: "It was a sad Eid news I received upon learning of his death on Monday. It was hard and difficult for me to accept the passing of our very dear friend."
"He always supported me in all my projects for the benefit of the Filipino community. We are deeply inspired by his dedication and we will always remember him in our hearts," Qasimieh told Khaleej Times.
angel@khaleejtimes.com