DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Thousands of Filipinos have been repatriated from the Middle East, but many, too, have chosen to stay despite losing their jobs amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah to Ajman, several overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been laid off from work or struggling with their no-work, no-pay employment arrangement.  

But fellow Filipinos stepped up, with the likes of Maria Paz Banaag-Marquez, a former domestic helper, among the Filipinos in UAE helping provide food or financial aid, also known as ayuda, to kababayans (compatriots) in need.

Banaag-Marquez, now a pastry shop owner, prepared groceries for 100 people in the first wave of a food drive recently organized by one of many Filipino communities. A second wave is being prepared for next week.

“Para makapag-share kahit konting-konti na tulong sa kapwa mga kabayan. Sobrang dami ang need mabigyan ng… tulong kahit sa maliit na amount, at least nakatulong tayo,” said Banaag-Marquez, the owner of Maria Paz Pastry and Café, which has branches all over UAE.

(I wanted to share, no matter how little, to our compatriots. Many really need help… so at least we’re able to give that, no matter how small the amount.)

“Bawat branch (of the pastry shop) may inihahanda sa abot ng aming makakaya. Hindi lang sabay-sabay,” she added.

(We’re preparing something in each branch as much as we can. It’s just not all happening at the same time.)

Florence Pauline Cuartero, another “ayuda giver,” said she sympathizes with the struggling OFWs. 

“Nakikita ko na maraming walang trabaho ngayon (I see many jobless people these days),” said Cuartero, herself a daughter of a domestic helper, now working as general manager of Al Rafa HRC, a job placement company.

Helped by her staff, Cuartero handed out 100 food packs last Sunday, April 5, in her office in Deira, Dubai. More than 100 Filipinos came. She said a second food drive will be held next Sunday.

“Mostly school assistants lost their jobs and those who have work visas can’t find a job,” said Shauna Lirio Chaer, who lives in Ajman, an emirate around two hours away north of Dubai.   

“Many [who lost their jobs] are from salons, hotels and restaurants,” added Chaer.

An Indian national has also helped the Filipinos’ bayanihan (community spirit) effort.

The CEO of Jules Tourism, Vijay Bhatia said the situation reminds him of how it was in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He recently gave out bags of rice to Filipinos at the Winter Night Market, which is next to the Al Ghurair Mall in Al Rigga, Dubai.

“[This] is a critical time when a lot of people have lost jobs. People are not having enough money to pay for the rent. So, at least these bags of rice will give them some relief. Rice is a basic food for Filipinos,” he said.

“Despite challenges as an owner of a tourism company, I have decided not to cut down on my staff, no salary reduction, no unpaid leave,” added Bhatia. 

Hustling their way

The Philippine government had launched a repatriation program, having flown home over 4,000 OFWs and their dependents, as well as stranded Filipino tourists since early last month.

But OFWs like Jane Soriano decided to weather it out in the UAE even after losing her job as a laser technician on March 30. 

“Wala pa pong ipon at may mga loan pa pong kailangang ma-settle (I don’t have any savings yet and I have loans that I need to settle),” Soriano said, explaining why she opted not to go back to the Philippines yet. 

A Baguio City native who arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2022, Soriano said she managed to convince her employer not to cancel her visa while she looks for a new job. That’s why she’s thankful for the ayuda that’s helping her get by.  

“Kasi yung ibibili ko sana ng food, pamasahe na lang sa mga [job] interviews (Instead of buying food, I’ll use my money to get to job interviews),” she said. 

One of the OFWs who lined up for free groceries, Dolly Fernandez, 37, shared she lost her job at a beauty salon but opted out of repatriation from Dubai, saying: “Magpi-15 years na ako. Alam ko na galawan (I have been working in Dubai for 15 years. I now know how it is to live here).”

Joel Chavez, 44, of Pasig City, was a fire marshal in Abu Dhabi who lost his job on March 3. But he said life will probably be more uncertain if he goes back home.

“Kapag umuwi, baka mawalan agad ng income at walang kasiguraduhan na may trabaho sa Pilipinas,” he said. “May binabayarang utang sa Pilipinas at kahit mahirap o may problema, minsan mas nakikita ko pang may opportunity pa rin dito sa UAE.” 

(If I go home, I might lose my income and there’s no guarantee I’ll get a job in the Philippines. I have loans to pay, and so even if it’s more difficult or even if there are problems, I sometimes see that there are more opportunities here in the UAE.)

Juvy Alcantara, a cleaning attendant on a no-work, no-pay setup since April 1, agrees. 

“Parang mas magugutom pa yata kami ng pamilya ko kapag bumalik ako ng Pilipinas,” said Alcantara, who hails from Novaliches. 

(Looks like my family will be hungrier if I returned to the Philippines.)

Also choosing to hustle her way, teacher assistant Christna Raniag said she’s looking for a job after she was put on a no-work-no-pay arrangement as UAE schools shift online for the students’ safety. 

“Naghahanap ng part-time work tulad ng babysitting at [teaching via] distant learning sa mga requesting parents,” she said. “Hindi muna [ako uuwi]. Mas mahirap sa atin. Ako na lang po kasi ang naghahanapbuhay.” 

(I look for part-time work like babysitting and teaching via distant learning from requesting parents. I won’t go home yet. Life in the Philippines is harder. I’m also the breadwinner.)

Online network

For the OFWs lucky enough to still have a stable income amid the Middle East crisis, the decision to help their kababayans came quick as they know “how it feels to have nothing.”

“Ang daming nawalan ng work ngayon and kung walang tutulong po sa kanila, paano na? Naranasan ko rin pong mawalan,” said Abu Dhabi-based Strawberry Ann Biscocho-Villegas. 

(There are too many who lost their jobs and if nobody will help them, how will they survive? I have also experienced how it is to have nothing.) 

An OFW who runs UAE Hiring (UAEH), a social media link connecting the jobless to employment, Biscocho-Villegas said it’s this online network that has been helping her with “ayuda runs.” 

“Most of the groceries po galing din yan sa mga natulungan namin sa UAEH na magka-work. Yung help during this crisis na binibigay nila, binibigay namin sa iba,” she said.

(Most of the groceries were from those we have helped get jobs. The help they give, we give to others.)

Some also help directly like vlogger Donna Cepe, who gives groceries to those who personally message her on social media.  

“Inuulit ko lang yung kawanggawa ko nung time ng pandemic. Alam ko din kasi ang feeling ng nahihirapan,” said the Dubai-based Cepe.

“Marami rin nag-message sa (Facebook) page ko dahil naapektuhan ng current situation ng US, Israel-Iran conflict. Namili ako ng groceries para dun sa mga nag-message at hiningan ko na lang ng proof na wala na nga silang work.” 

(I’m just doing what I did back in the pandemic. I know how it feels to be struggling. Many also send messages to my Facebook page because they were affected by the current situation, the US, Israel-Iran conflict. I bought groceries for them and just asked for proof that they were really jobless.)

Cepe’s online efforts prompted friends and acquaintances to chip in. 

“Maraming nakakita sa page ko na mga friends at taga-community at… sunod-sunod nagpledge din ng mga groceries para sa mga kabayan natin na nawalan ng work at income,” Cepe shared. 

(Many of my friends saw my page and so pledges of support came one after the other for fellow Filipinos who lost their jobs.)

“[As Filipinos], kultura na natin yung pagtulong sa kapwa natin lalo sa mga kabayan natin,” said fellow vlogger Carl Caneda, who has likewise organized food drives in Deira, finishing his third batch with the help of friends on April 8.  

“Konti man at maliit man ito, iba pa rin yung alam natin na may makakain sila. Kahit konti kaysa wala.”

(As Filipinos, it’s our culture to help. It may not be much, but it helps to know they have something to eat rather than nothing.)

More food drives

With the crisis looking far from over, many Filipinos intend to continue helping.  

Sheryl Palacios-Manalo, a medical staff in an Abu Dhabi hospital, said she and her friends pooled their resources together and recently launched a food drive attended by close to 70 OFWs. She said they plan to do another one this weekend.

In Sharjah, Gerryl Gaid, owner of Ace Gen Training Center, a technical institute, said a food drive she organized has been scheduled for this Saturday, April 11, in the facility. 

They hope to continue this every weekend, planning to also distribute grocery packages that include basic necessities like rice, canned goods, and other essential items. 

Amabelle Estellera, who hails from Cotabato City, said the ayuda and overwhelming support she received from fellow Filipinos had really been a big help.

“Kapit lang,” she said. “Matatapos din ang giyera (Just hold on.This war will end).” – Rappler.com