Bayanihan shines in UAE as Pinoys help OFWs displaced by Middle East conflict

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Several Filipinos still fortunate to have jobs or businesses here amid the Middle East crisis have started extending a helping hand to kababayans now struggling to make ends meet in the United Arab Emirates.

They have started to pass the hat or pick up the tab for their countrymen—many of whom were placed on forced leave or lost their jobs outright.

Buying groceries like rice, eggs, and bread, these Good Samaritans make announcements on social media about where their drop-offs would be for the distressed OFWs, usually in parks or parking lots. 

One of them is Florence Cuartero, owner of a job placement agency in Al Rigga, Dubai which hires job seekers from the Philippines.

Cuartero launched her first food drive for fellow Filipinos on Easter Sunday, April 5. She plans to do another one next Sunday, April 12.

During her first donation activity, over 100 jobless OFWs lined up for free groceries, consisting of a five-kilogram pack of rice and drinks.

"Kusang loob sa pagtulong, kasi nakikita ko na maraming walang trabaho ngayon," said Cuartero. 

(I take it upon myself to help, because I can see that many Filipinos have become jobless these days.)

Cuartero even expressed willingness to have the displaced OFWs get employment through her company, which usually offers jobs for domestic helpers, among others.

Beyond borders

Elsewhere in the UAE, Filipinos in Abu Dhabi and Ajman have also been organizing food aid programs for jobless OFWs.

Among them is Sheryl Palacios-Manalo, a medical worker at an Abu Dhabi clinic, who along with friends, recently organized a food aid drop-off at a small café. Over 60 OFWs came to receive packages.

"We have to step up, gumawa ng mga bagay kung saan pwedeng makatulong. Sa awa ng Diyos, okay po mga trabaho namin. Hindi puwede na titingin lang kami sa ibang mga kaibigan at kakilala na walang hinihintay na sahod sa ngayon. In our own little way, makatulong man lang kami," Manalo said.

(We have to step up and do things where we can help. By God's mercy, our jobs are okay. But we can't just look at our displaced friends who are no longer expecting any salaries. In our own little way, we can be of help to others.)

Manalo said they are planning to do another food drive this weekend.

Payback

Another is Abu Dhabi-based Strawberry Ann Biscocho-Villegas, who runs a job employment site. Her platform has helped 1,000 Filipinos become employed.

This time, she and her colleagues have taken it upon themselves to distribute food and basic necessities. They started on Black Saturday, April 4, with a second leg planned on Sunday, April 12.

She said she is doing the selfless acts because she has also experienced how it is to be penniless.

"We were able to share 50 packs. 'Yung ina-abot namin kasi is dapat complete na. May bigas, mga de lata, biscuits, sugar, kape, shampoo, sabon and conditioner, among others. We make a point na complete talaga at masasabing makakapag-survive ng ilang araw," said Villegas.

(We were able to share 50 packs. What we give out should be complete. The packs have rice, canned goods, biscuits, sugar, coffee, shampoo, soap, and conditioner, among others. We make it a point that what we give is complete and that they are able to survive for days.)

Verification

To avail of the ayuda (aid) in these cases, the OFWs have to show written proof, emails, or instant messages, showing that they indeed lost their jobs or remain on forced leave after the companies they worked closed down or reduced the number of employees. 

Such verification measures are in place to avoid incidents wherein the employed receive aid instead of the ones who most urgently need it.

Photo by: Jojo Dass

Lost jobs

Some Filipinos who have received the assistance expressed gratitude for their kababayans' kindness and generosity.

April Seteokan, a Davaoeña who used to work as a sales lady of mobile phones, said she lost her job on March 23 after the company reduced the number of its employees. This was less than a month since the conflict between US-Israeli forces and Iran broke out on February 28.

"Pa-part-time, part-time. Minsan nagbabantay ng bata. May interviews pa nga akong pupuntahan pero inuna ko muna ito," said Seteokan, who went to a food dole-out in Al Rigga. 

(I do part-time work. Sometimes, I look after children. I have job interviews to attend to, but I went here first.)

Senteokan's employment visa has not been canceled by her company, giving her time to look for other jobs. 

"Hindi ako uuwi. Mahirap. Breadwinner ako. 'Pag umuwi ako, wala akong pera, paano na lang kami?" she said as she has refused to avail of the Philippine government's repatriation program for Filipinos displaced by the regional conflict.

(I am not going home. It's tough. I am a breadwinner. If I go home, I don't have money, what will happen to us?)

First timers

Juan Alexander Sarnabal, chef at a desert safari company, has also availed of a food pack. He lost his job on March 16 because there were no tourists. 

He hails from Bulacan and has been in Dubai for seven years. He said it was the first time he queued for food aid.

The same is true with Rose Miyasi, who worked at an events company which has lost customer traffic because business has become slow. 

Living in Salah Al Din, Dubai, she walked several kilometers to the ayuda drop-off in Al Rigga, also in the city.

Jen Ceraus, who is originally from Cagayan, said she has been jobless for a month but her employment visa has yet to be canceled by her former employer. 

"Part-time lang, kahit ano," she said. 

(I do whatever part-time work there is available for me.)

Bayanihan abroad

Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista, lawyer and head of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai and the neighboring Northern Emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, expressed gratitude for the acts of charity by Filipinos for their kababayans in the UAE.

"We welcome and appreciate the true Bayanihan spirit among us and truly recognize this government, complemented by private sector efforts, in extending all possible assistance to those in need," he said— VDV, GMA News