‘Like thunder’: Filipinos in UAE stay home amid Iran’s retaliatory strikes

DUBAI — The streets are almost empty. It’s a Sunday, when normally people are in malls and parks. Some would be doing their groceries for the week ahead.

Not today. 

The second day of the US and Israel’s unilateral military strikes against Iran has so far seen some 450 ballistic missiles and drones raining on parts of the United Arab Emirates as part of Iran's retaliation, according to the UAE Ministry of Defense.

Most Filipinos in the emirates are staying home, glued to their laptops for the latest news and to give word to their loved ones back in the Philippines.

Some are still trembling from seeing a drone interception, or hearing the thunderous clap of a missile.

Prioritize safety

Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver, Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III, and Ericson P. Reyes, president of the Filipino Social Club (FILSOC), an aggrupation of Filipino organizations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, among others, held a Zoom meeting in the afternoon today to discuss the situation.
The FILSOC, following this meeting, issued an advisory calling everyone to  “prioritize safety, remain calm, and act with prudence.”

The FILSOC has “activated its crisis management team and have identified and assigned contact persons in various locations across Dubai and the Northern Emirates to coordinate closely with the authorities and provide assistance if instructions are issued,” the advisory further read.

“We urge everyone to monitor the official pages and save the contact numbers of Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, Migrant Workers Office (MWO).  Let us remain vigilant and continue to pray for the safety of everyone in the emirates. This, too, shall pass. Our community stands in full solidarity with the UAE,” FILSOC said.

'Parang kulog'

For some Filipinos here, this is their first experience of war.

“Nakaka-nerbiyos. Parang kulog,” said Sheryl Palacios-Manalo, a healthcare worker in Abu Dhabi.

(It’s nerve-wracking. It sounds like thunder.) 

However, she said, she will still be reporting for work tomorrow.

“May duty po kami. Need mag-work. Meron kaming directive to show up and be present para sa mga pasyente. Kaya nga po, doble-ingat lang talaga habang nasa labas papunta at pauwi galing trabaho,” said. 

(We have duty tomorrow. We need to go to work. We have a directive to show up and be present for the patients. So we will be doubly careful while we are outside, one or way to and from work.)

Manalo lives 15 minutes away by car from her job.

In Abu Dhabi, which is near a US Air Force Base, a target of Iran’s retaliation, very few people were going out. “Need na maging alerto talaga, as much as possible, huwag nang lumabas kasi delikado ang mga debris,” Manalo said.

(We need to be alert as much as possible, and not go out in case of debris.)

Dubai

In Dubai, most people, too, were staying home as per government directive.

Jolly Milette Santos Zulueta had what could have been a close call.

“While preparing the set-up for our client’s iftar party in Dubai Hills, we heard a loud explosion. At first, we thought it were fireworks. A few minutes later, another blast followed with strong vibrations, then a third one. That’s when we realized it was a bomb,” she said on her Facebook account.

“There were three of us, and for a moment, we just looked at each other in shock. I tried to stay calm and told my team to finish quickly so we could move to safety. Our client rushed outside, worried and asking where the explosion happened. We pointed toward the front area of her villa. My driver was in shock and already super-afraid, I told him to calm down ‘We are in the safest country,’” Zulueta added.

Joserine Samson-Brogan, a dentist, said in her Facebook account they could “hear explosions one after the other” at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

“It’s alarming and very loud,” she said. 

She added that they have already packed some belongings in backpacks in case they have to evacuate.

“Abu Dhabi is so far from us. It's because we are close to the Jebel Ali port, and a US base 40 minutes away. But didn't realize some guys can't hear anything from there [in Deira] as it's really loud here and alarming. 

“No wonder some of our friends living in Deira are still going to work! I was wondering how people can still go out and go physically to work with the danger of having shrapnel and debris falling on them, and with those loud bangs,” Brogan added.

Ventured out

Ma. Shiela Labilles, who works as a nanny for a foreign couple who have been stranded in Thailand due to the closure of UAE’s air space, said she ventured out to get her salary card but the agency was closed.

“Medyo naninibago po ako kasi ang konti ng mga tao at hjndi ganun karami sasakyan. Pero at the same time, nandun po yung nerbyos lalo on the way may mga naririnig ka rin po na mga pagsabog, kitang kita ko yung mga missiles na iyon na may spark pa, mas nakaka-kaba siya makita in person, di lang sa tunog ka matakot,” she said.

(I felt a bit surprised because there were few people out and there were not too many cars. At the same time, I was also nervous, especially when I hear explosions on the way, I saw the missiles and the sparks. It frightens me more to see them in person, and not just as sounds.)

She said she felt thankful she made it home safe.

“Nakakapag-alala din para sa iba na makikita mo na kahit ganito sitwasyon, eh nagtra-trabaho pa din. Wala silang choice,” Labilles said.

(It makes me worry for those I see going to work despite this situation. They don’t have a choice.)

Postponed

Frankie Boton, an electrical engineer who also is founder of a mountain biking group, said they were supposed to have a big fundraiser event yesterday for the family of a member who passed away, but decided against it.

“Kagabi pa po kami nagmamatyag sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon at iminungkahi ko na po sa aming biking community through our group chat na ihanda na lang ang mga importanteng mga dokumento gaya ng passport, mga certificates at mga valuable personal belongings para in case of emergency ay bibitbitin na lang,” he said, recalling his precautions during the Gulf War in 1990-91, when he was working in Saudi Arabia.

(We have been monitoring the situation and I proposed to our group to prepare important documents like passport and certificates as well as personal belongings in case of emergency.)

He said he and his family has enough food supply. His company has advised all employees they can work from home from this Monday to Wednesday.

Rammie Garcia, a designer,  meanwhile was concerned about those who don’t have cash to buy supplies.

“Halos lahat nagma-manman, nagre-ready, nagki-keep ng water. Paano yung mga kababayang walang perang hawak, walang pambili?” he said.

(Almost everybody is monitoring, getting ready, keeping water. What about those who don’t have cash on hand?)

At the day’s end, everyone here is counting the explosions, wishing it was the last. — BM, GMA Integrated News