Career opportunities aplenty, a safe place to raise a family and friendly people — these are some of the reasons Filipinos have given for choosing the UAE as their second home.
Nearly a million Filipinos live in the UAE, with many moving here to enjoy better work opportunities to support their families back home and advance their careers.
On Sunday, Filipinos marked their country’s 124th Independence Day. The President, Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, offered thir congratulations.
The National spoke to Filipino residents about how they would be celebrating in their much-loved second home.
‘I met my husband in the UAE’
Ven Villacarlos is a nurse who moved to Dubai in 2010 to find better work opportunities.
Not only has she secured a job at a hospital since then, but she also met her husband here and gave birth to their two children.
“Today marks our country’s Independence Day and many Filipinos reside abroad for work," she said. "As one of them, I will be celebrating in my own way with friends and family by praying for the Philippines’ success and progress.
“I came here because I wanted bigger opportunities for my profession and I wasn’t disappointed.
“This country is special to me because it’s where I met special people [such as] my husband and closest friends. I feel safe and secure here.”
‘We can build better careers here’
Edgar Nofelda is a manager of a Filipino restaurant in Dubai, who moved to the UAE in 2013.
He relocated better career opportunities and said Filipinos can earn twice as much in the UAE compared with the Philippines.
“With what I’m earning now as a manager of this restaurant, I would be earning half of that back home,” he said.
“There are more jobs here, there’s better quality of life and you can advance your career much further.”
Mr Nofelda also met his other half in the UAE. He married one of his colleagues a few years ago and they plan on raising a family here.
He will be celebrating Independence Day at his restaurant, called Hot Palayok, which has been decorated in red, blue and white — the colours of the Filipino flag.
“We are going to celebrate it in full swing,” he said.
“Our staff are wearing traditional outfits, we have an acoustic singer performing, we have a display that shows our national heroes — and there are many decorations all throughout the restaurant.”
‘UAE is safe with friendly people’
Ethan Lobis moved to Abu Dhabi in 2011 to find work. He said he had lots of friends here who managed to build better lives for themselves and said he wanted the same.
“We choose to work here in the UAE because the government opened its doors to Filipinos to showcase our skills, talents and culture,” said Mr Lobis, who works as an animal trainer and sitter.
“It’s a safe country and that’s why so many Filipinos are here.
“Today, we are very thankful to celebrate our Independence Day here in the UAE and are free to express our culture and good tradition.”
‘Filipinos are grateful to the UAE’
Vince Ang, general manager of The Filipino Times, a news organisation that caters to the Filipino population in the UAE, said Filipinos always sport hospitable smiles even in the face of challenges.
He said the Independence Day celebration gives them an opportunity to showcase their country’s talent and multicultural festivities.
“Filipinos have contributed immensely to the UAE's massive transformation through the years since they first set foot in this country over four decades ago, working across various sectors such as engineering, architecture, health care, hospitality, and many more,” Mr Ang said.
“Filipinos will always be grateful for the opportunity that this country has given them.
“Today, we're proud to be standing alongside the UAE's diverse populace for our 124th Independence Day at the heart of the Middle East, that we now consider as our second home.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
The five pillars of Islam
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Dark Souls: Remastered
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Publisher: Namco Bandai
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ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
