Press Room

Rev. Art Dumdum

Mabuhay Balikbayan
August 2008

You live far away from home, the weather is cold, dreary and gray and your son has eloped with the neighborhood bully’s daughter—not a situation you would like to linger in for a long time, right? A growing number of Filipinos who have taken a chance in getting employment abroad in order to get a better life for their families have chosen to bear with the pains and heartaches that come along with it. In the UK, Filipino seafarers are blessed to have an ally and support mechanism— the Worship Jesus Ministries (WJM)—under the leadership of Rev. Art Dumdum. Everyday, Pastor Art ministers to the more than 400 Filipino seafarers at the Felixstowe Dock in England. The WJM center is open 24/7 and everyone is encouraged to just rest, eat (food is served to everyone!) and feel the warmth of love just spread around.

Of course, when Filipinos abroad converge, there is only one topic—home! Talk about home can go on and on— from food like talakitok and bangus (matabang ang lasa ng isda dito, ‘di tulad dun sa atin…) to desert like puto, kutsinta and sapin-sapin (naku, pinakamasarap ang kutsinta ni Nanay Selya ‘dun sa may kanto namin!). And so talk always centers around when they can go back home and once more savor the flavors and aroma that can only come from the Philippines.

Everytime the sharp ear of Pastor Art hears of plans of visiting the Philippines, he joins the conversation and encourages them to stay at The Mabuhay Manor when they get to go back home. “At Manor“, he says, “pagdating mo sa airport, andyan na ang sundo mo”, referring to the airport transfer service of TMM. Pastor Art really feels like he is home whenever he stays at TMM because of the very accomodating and hospitable staff who try their best to provide what he needs, “kahit perdible!” he says with pride. “What’s more, at the breakfast buffet in Manor’s Lola’s, you can have your fill of everything you wanted to eat for breakfast all the time you were away from home— sinangag paired with dilis, tuyo (with kamatis and sibuyas!), tinapa, tapa, itlog na pula at marami pang iba!”

Presently, Pastor Art is cooking-up some plans with Legend Hotels International Corp. (LHIC), the mother company of TMM, to encourage members of WJM in England to stay at The Mabuhay Manor. “Our plan now is to have a marketing tie-up with LHIC.” This would mean that LHIC will give the members discounts whenever they would stay at The Mabuhay Manor or in any other property of LHIC. “We would like to encourage our members to ‘taste’ Manor.” says Pastor with wholehearted conviction, firmly believing in the capability of TMM to promote Filipino culture.

For Pastor Art, The Mabuhay Manor is a place truly Filipino—overflowing with warm hearts, loving service and a uniquely Filipino character that should be seen and experienced by everyone.

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