It can be said – without exaggeration – that the Filipino expat community has contributed immensely in the popularity of bowling in the UAE.
Several bowling clubs across the country hold regular tournaments on weekends to foster not just camaraderie but also to improve the skills of its members so that can reach international playing standards.
One of the most successful bowling clubs is the Dubai Filipino Bowling Club (DFBC). Its illustrious accomplishments include capturing nine overall championship titles at the GCC All-Filipino Bowling Tour since its inception 16 years ago.
DFBC is on a winning streak, having bagged the coveted title for the past six years. The club recently won the inaugural World Overseas Filipino Bowling Tour in Dubai where more than 100 bowlers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei participated.
The next tour will be in 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia and DFBC will test their mettle against clubs from Europe, Canada, USA and Australia.
“Our club is probably one of the main contributors in the popularity of bowling here in the UAE,” eight-time DFBC president Dante Herras said.
“Our regular tournaments create not just awareness but also keen interest on the sport among the walk-in customers at the Dubai International Bowling Centre, where we hold our games.
“We do not just build unity among bowlers, we also help improve their skills. We have players of international calibre and we have captured numerous local and international awards,” he added.
The history of DFBC can be traced back to a group of expat Filipino bowlers in mid ‘80s who used to play at the 10-lane Dubai Bowling Centre on Airport Road.
As the years went on, the number of players grew, prompting them to create a club to meet the demands of a burgeoning membership and to improve their bowling skills.
DFBC was formed in 1992 with 150 members and Rolly Detaro as its founding president. Detaro was succeeded by Benjamin Descargar, who introduced the constitution and by-laws of the club in 1993.
Membership soon grew to more than 200 members and since 1997, DFBC has been actively participating in various local tournaments sanctioned by the Emirates Bowling Federation.
The year 1998 was another milestone in the club’s history as it hosted the first GCC All-Filipino Bowling Tour, which became a springboard for a series of annual tours among Filipino bowling clubs in the Gulf region.
In May this year, the DFBC hosted and won the overall championship title at the first World Overseas Bowling Tour.
The club is now preparing to host the 18th edition of the GCC All-Filipino Bowling Tour next year and they will defend their crown against clubs from across the Gulf region.
DFBC, however, is not confined to playing the sport alone. It is also active in various charitable organisations in the Philippines and has participated in various fund-raising activities with the help the auspices of the Philippine Consulate in Dubai.
What: Dubai Filipino Bowling Club
Founded: 1992
Members: 28 teams
Contact: Dante Herras, current president
Regular tournament: Fridays at the Dubai International Bowling Center in Al Mamzar
Contact: [email protected] / www.uae-dfbc.com
