UAE residents from the Philippines are fearful for the well-being of relatives and friends in the path of the one of the year’s strongest typhoons that threatened the northern region of their country on Tuesday evening.
Super Typhoon Ragasa battered parts of Luzon Island and whipped up winds of more than 260kph, according to the Philippines’ meteorological department.
Ragasa has left a trail of destruction, killing three people and displacing thousands as it passes the south of Taiwan, Hong Kong and moves towards southern mainland China.
A super typhoon is equal to a Category 5 hurricane. The Philippines has issued storm surge warnings as it approached and the China meteorological agency has described Ragasa as the “king of storms”.
UAE residents have been urging their families in areas inundated with flooding, high winds and heavy rainfall to move to safety.
“My main worry is my late sister’s three children, who live on Luzon,” Albert Sabado, an Abu Dhabi resident who runs a printing business in the UAE.
“I have spoken to them and told them to stay safe, to move to a high place. They said the winds were too strong and there was very heavy rain. Now, we can just wait and pray for their safety.”
Heed evacuation warnings
Tens of thousands of people have been moved to safety and local authorities have warned of landslides and torrential rain in northern Luzon. More than 10,000 people were evacuated across the north and centre of the island and the administration urged residents to heed evacuation warnings.
Mr Sabado knows only too well the devastation caused by storms. He was at home in Quezon City, north of Manila, in July last year when torrential rain created floods that paralysed large parts of the country.
“I know how hard it is to rebuild. The floods takes minutes to come in to your home but you will spend years managing the damage,” he said.
When the flood waters entered his home last year, Mr Sabado and his children hauled a sofa and television to the upper floors but appliances and furniture on the lower level were ruined by waist-deep floodwater.
“I have told my wife and family not to try to save appliances and furniture this time but just to leave the house,” Mr Sabado said.
“Those are only material things. But I need them to survive – their lives are more important. I’ve told them they need to run away because once the water comes in, it moves quickly.
“Last year, people tried to come to rescue us but the current in our street was too fast. We were lucky the water levels went down after a day, but this time I don’t want my family taking any chances.”
UAE community volunteer Mariel Papa, too, is worried about family in Cavite, north of Manila.
“The heavy rains caused a leak in the roof of our house that was getting bigger every minute, but my cousin has managed to seal it for now,” she said.
“There is so much flooding and rain that there is no way to properly to repair this. My family is fine for now, and I can only pray that they and others will remain safe.”
Schools and government offices shut
The government ordered schools and educational institutions in Manila and the northern Luzon area to close, while flights were suspended and ferries kept in port.
Alfonso A Ver, Philippines ambassador to the UAE, told The National his country was deeply grateful for the assistance and solidarity that UAE always provided.
The Emirates Red Crescent on Monday said it delivered essential food supplies, health kits, shelter material, clean drinking water, hygiene products and was ready to expand operations.
“The ERC has intensified its humanitarian response to support those affected by the devastating floods that recently swept through several provinces and regions in the Philippines,” the authority said in a statement on state news agency Wam.
The typhoon made landfall a day after thousands across the Philippines marched to condemn what they regard as widespread corruption and trillions of pesos spent on non-existent flood control projects.
The typhoon is expected to sweep south of Hong Kong and Macao and China’s meteorological centre has said it is likely to make landfall in Guangdong province on Wednesday.
Super Typhoon Ragasa hits Asia – in pictures
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
