Emirati develops huge following among Dubai Pinoys for OPM covers

DUBAI — A 27-year-old Emirati has become very popular in the Pinoy community here for his covers of Filipino ballads, most recently performing at a mall to celebrate Philippine culture.

“It all started when I came across a song while on a flight back [to Dubai],” said Alira, who holds a degree in accounting and finance from the American University of Sharjah, told GMA News Online.

“It’s ‘Patuloy ang Pangarap,’ by Angeline Quinto. I fell in love with it,” he added.

Alira, who works as internal auditor at a government agency, said Regine Velasquez is his favorite singer.  He said he has been singing for the past eight years, going back to his college days.

The Emirati star was a special guest at “Wear Your Culture Pilipinas,” held at the Al Ghurair Centre in Deira, where he wowed the crowd as he smoothly sang Regine Velasquez’s Babalik Kang Muli” amid resounding cheers. He was also head judge at the event’s singing competition. 

“Culture is something to celebrate in a big way, particularly here in the UAE where we are truly a melting pot of cultures. I am happy to be part of that event which celebrated one of the beloved expat communities in the UAE, and also one of my biggest supporters, the Filipinos,” the Emirati singer said.

Past performances include “Paskong Handog sa Pinoy” held last December at Dubai Festival Arena where Alira’s cover of Velasquez’s rendition of “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling ka” went viral on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook with more than a million combined views.

Also at the Dubai Festival Arena event were Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, KZ Tandingan, Yeng Constantino, TJ Monterde, Erik Santos and K Brosas. Organizers said a similar Christmas gig this year is “in talks.”

The Emirati countertenor sings not only in his native Arabic, but in English, Hindi, Chinese and Japanese as well.

“I just want to create music that connects and inspires people, regardless of who they are or where they come from. That is what the UAE stands for,” Alira said.

Alira also performed at the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in June this year, held at Dubai Word Trade Centre (DWTC), an event graced by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance.

Alira is on TikTok where he has 52,000 followers.

Having grown to love Filipinos and their songs, Alira said he is also fond of the Pinoys’ pan de sal, lumpia and adodo, to name a few. “I love Filipino foods,” he said. — BM, GMA News