Dubai OFWs buy grocery, play basketball for ‘Rolly’ victims

DUBAI: Filipinos so love basketball that they recently made it even more exciting by playing for a cause: relief for victims of Super Typhoon Rolly, which recently devastated the Bicol region.

And as efforts to help fellow Filipinos devastated by the strongest tropical cyclone observed across the world this year gradually gather steam in this expat city that never sleeps, another group of about 10 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bought groceries, including toiletries – and clothes, too – to fill at least two balikbayan boxes for them as well.

OldSchool Basketboleros founded by Dubai resident, Arnel Fernandez, 47, himself a Bicolano, held benefit games for the affected families over the weekend  through its “Tulong Mo, Laro Mo” program.

Six teams with each having up to 12 players participated.   

“Naghahanap ako ng trusted na tao na syang bahalang mamigay sa mga kalugar ko sa Bicol na totoong isang-kahig-isang-tuka,” Fernandez, who went to Bicol Central College during his high school days, said.

“Hindi naman kalakihan ang nalikom naming, pero makakatulong ang ‘Oldschool Tulong Mo Laro Mo’ kahit konting pantawid-gutom,” he added.

It was not the first time the Oldschool Basketboleros has held a benefit tournament. A few months back, games were held for a referee who was diagnosed with cancer as well as for an OFW who have figured in a motorcycle accident. The basketball club had also held games for victims of the Taal Volcano eruption in January.

Meantime, a group of more than 10 other OFWs did some grocery shopping but not for themselves, rather to share in at least two balikbayan boxes to be sent to a local government unit in Tiwi, Albay free of charge by a cargo forwarder who is doing it as a matter of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

“Ipa-pack pa lang po and we will have it shipped on Nov. 14,” said Sid Rivera, also a Dubai resident. He said they were still waiting for other donors to send in their groceries. “Yung iba kasi hinihintay lang yung sahod,” he added.

Clarice Reyes, another OFW who helped coordinate the effort, said they have also been engaged in Good Samaritan initiatives in the past.

“Kahit nung pandemic po naglikom kami para sa mga walang work. Madami naman po kaming connections, so mas maganda din po kasi gamitin sa mabuti yung samahan at hindi lang sa party party,” Reyes said.

“Happiness ko lang din po talaga to help and make others happy. Iba pa din fulfillment ‘pag mahal ka ng tao hindi dahil sa sikat ka but in how you share your blessings sa mga nangangailangan.

“I always encourage my friends to share their blessings once in a while, tuwing may darating make sure na may part dun to share kasi, ika nga po, you are blessed to be a blessings to others. Naranasan ko na din po hirap sa buhay at makikilala mo talaga mga taong nagmamahal sayo thru hardship,” Reyes said.

Overseas Filipino workers in the UAE, estimated to be around 750,000, have in the past been among the first to respond to emergencies happening back home, pooling together resources and sending them in balikbayan boxes.

According to reports, super typhoon Rolly, the strongest tropical cyclone this year observed worldwide, which made landfall in the province of Catanduanes on Oct. 31, and affected the Bicol region and Southern Luzon, left 20 people dead and 165 injured. At least three people were reported missing and nearly 300,000 families affected.