OFW shares journey from university editor to one of UAE’s seasoned media professional - Albert Dela Cruz Alba

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Albert Dela Cruz Alba

OFW shares journey from university editor to one of UAE’s seasoned media professional

Just like anyone, the main and initial motivation of Albert Dela Cruz Alba why he opted to work abroad was to hopefully earn more. Coming to Dubai in 2004 was his very first stint of working abroad. However, it was not really his first time to work within a multi-cultural environment, as he has already been part of the prestigious club of foreign journalists in the Philippines for many years--the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

Alba’s career as a journalist took off from his background as the editor-in-chief of Ang Tagapagmasid, the official school organ of the University of the Philippines-Manila during his college days. After graduating from college, he embarked on his professional career as a staff reporter for the Manila Bureau of a Japanese TV news organization--MBS News-back in 1985. Since then, he had worked with several Manila Bureaus of various foreign news organizations such as The Sekai Nippo News and The Yomiuri Shimbun.

For Alba, the most memorable among his experiences as a media man in the Philippines include covering several important events in the country’s modern history, such as the US Bases negotiations; the Senate debates and ratification of the Bases Treaty; several presidential, national, and local elections; the EDSA uprisings; the Estrada impeachment hearings at the Senate; the I LOVE YOU trojan computer virus that had a devastating impact across the globe; among others. He recalled arriving in Dubai to supposedly become the editor-in-chief of Pinoy News. However, things did not work out well with the publishers and he had to search for other employment opportunities in the media. He then moved on to become assistant editor for several trade titles such as Air Cargo Update, DAFZA Business Focus, Logistix Review, The International Indian, and The Shipping Gazette, and then as senior correspondent for The Business Weekly.

In 2008, the seasoned media and communications professional shifted careers and moved into the PR & Communications industry with a multinational PR agency wherein he was mainly tasked with English editorial content development, along with other duties such as media relations, client servicing, and account management for several key clients in the aviation, aerospace, industrial, manufacturing, trade, government authorities, oil and gas, F&B, tourism, hospitality, technology, education, and real estate sectors. By 2013, in the same company, Alba was then appointed as the Regional English Editor for all their branches throughout the GCC.

“Writing has always been my passion. But to be able to write a story, there must also be something to write about. Thus, being part of several historic events and milestones, meeting new people and personalities that have shaped our history, both in the Philippines and the UAE are experiences that are not only enjoyable but truly memorable. Secondly, it is very fulfilling to know that what you are writing about can help shape and influence future business activities,” he said.

Fast forward, in 2016, he was recruited to take on the role of Digital Marketing & Communications Manager for a leading UAE-based destination management company. Three years after, he found himself back with the same PR agency he had worked for in 2008, this time as the Senior Account Manager handling key clients in the aviation, aerospace and manufacturing sectors. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, his post was made redundant.

This displacement pushed Alba to explore opportunities as a freelancer, now providing PR & Communications, journalism, and editorial content development services under a Dubai Media City license and visa. “However, the market has been very tough and has been difficult to secure clients,” he said.

The media practitioner who has been living and working in the UAE for 17 years now has also been actively immersing himself in community groups. He is among the founding members of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association-UAE Chapter, as well as the San Beda College Alumni Association-UAE Chapter. Alba is also among those who represented these organizations within FILCOM. As part of these groups, he became active in several charitable work and activities geared towards helping Filipinos in need, both in the UAE and back home in the Philippines.

“The Covid-19 pandemic taught everybody painful lessons on how something unexpected can take almost everything that we have worked hard for and cause severe and unprecedented devastation to our careers, finances, and more significantly to ours and our loved one’s health and well-being. Hopefully, we all learn from these lessons and the value of work, our income, our health, and even the time we spend time with each other. In anything and everything we do, we must be wholeheartedly committed and dedicated, and always perform to the best of our ability no matter if we may not be happy with our jobs. Instead, let us never stop learning and developing new skills and capabilities that can later prove useful in expanding our career opportunities. And most important of all, let us never lose faith and trust in God,” he further added.