Pinoy 'super dad' in UAE juggles family and community in style

Everyone has 24 hours in a day, but Edwin Duria has 48 hours on his clock as he wears different hats: a father and a community servant. 

“I’ve been tagged as the man with 48 hours, seven different communities, and along with that I still manage to go out with my family,” Duria said on GMA Pinoy TV's Global Pinoy Unlimited.

Duria is currently the chairperson of the Philippine Business Council (PBC) in Dubai and Northern Emirates. But it was not an easy journey for him and his wife Thess settling down in the United Arab Emirates. 

“The idea is actually to bring my wife and my daughter back to the Philippines after giving birth. It so happened na after giving birth, my wife requested me to stay here in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and take our chances, change my career, and grow our family together,” he shared. 

Duria said that they had to go back to zero when they decided to settle in the foreign land. 

“I worked as a manager of a facility management company, cleaning company, and maintenance company before I moved to a business set-up company where I learned about this kind of business,” he said. 

His hard work eventually paid off and decided to give back through the PBC. 

“I choose to serve because that’s the only way for me to give back to the community, for all the blessings,” said Duria. 

“I am grateful that we are in this situation, this kind of lifestyle. We are enjoying traveling around the world together, we are enjoying the fruit of our hard work. At the same time, we have a lot of opportunities to give back to the community,” he added. 

But if there is someone that he is most grateful for, that would be their two daughters. 

“I cannot measure kung gaano ko sila kamahal (how much I love them). Yung mga bata (the kids), it’s really a blessing. My children are the ones who are giving me the courage to do more, to do better every day, and to make sure that we are a happy family whatever happens,” Duria said. 

For his wife Thess, their children are blessed to have him as their “super dad.”

“You’ve always been my hero, my greatest guide, and my best support system. Everything that you have done up to this day, shaped who I am as a person, especially all the advice that you have given me really helped throughout everything that I’ve been through,” said Maria Sarah. 

“Thank you for everything that you have done for our family and for caring for us, along with the time we spend together despite your busy schedule. We are very grateful for your love and support,” said Annika Elishah. 

Duria is also thankful to his wife for understanding him despite his busy schedule. 

“Sa wife ko (To my wife), thank you for being there always, for being supportive, for understanding everything, for respecting my decision to serve to different communities, to give back to different communities,” he said.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News