DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Filipinos here have spontaneously initiated various efforts to, in their own little way, send relief to victims of super typhoons Rolly and Ulysses, which recently hit the Philippines in just a matter of days.
The Bayanihan spirit once again takes centerstage as everyone from all walks of life gave their share to help. And so you have a perfumery setting aside a day’s sale for basic commodities; a Filipino-operated cargo forwarder giving free shipment; and a basketball game for a cause, not to mention individual efforts where cherished belongings were sold to raise money to be sent home.
Giving back
Shibi M. Thampi, managing director of the perfumery which has 10 outlets across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), seven of which were in Dubai, said he came up with the idea because “Filipinos are very dear to me.”
“It pains me to see many of them greatly affected by recent typhoons. That’s why we have decided that on Friday, Nov. 20, all income of our flagship shop in Al Rigga (in Deira, north Dubai) will be used to buy all essential needs of Kabayans back home.
Thampi, who is from India, expressed hope “that this initiative of ours can inspire other companies and individuals to do their fair share of giving back to the community.”
Like most Indian business people here, Thampi has been to the Philippines several times and thus has established a network of contacts.
Relief goods were being repacked as of press time of which around 650 bags will be distributed to residents in Marikina, Montalban, Sta. Ana in Manila; Camarines Sur and Albay.
Free shipping
Meantime, sisters Malou Q. Prado, who operates a travel agency and Michelle Q. Quinto, who runs a cargo and balikbayan box forwarding company, have tied up to offer free shipping to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wanting to send groceries and other essentials to typhoon victims back home.
“Marami na pong inquiries,” said Prado. “During this pandemic, lalong need ng mga kababayan na nandito na tumulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo sa Pilipinas,” she added.
(We are having lots of inquiries. During this pandemic, our compatriots here should all the more help those ravaged by the super typhoons in the Philippines.)
Free shipping is from Nov. 15 to 27, according to the companies’ joint announcement on Facebook, which has reached over 500 netizens and shared 32 times as of this writing. Shipment is expected to arrive in a month’s time, according to Prado.
Basketball aficionados have also been giving their share, playing in a friendly games tourney through the “OldSchool Basketboleros” founded by Dubai resident, Arnel Fernandez, 47, himself a Bicolano, for the affected families through the group’s “Tulong Mo, Laro Mo” (Your Help, Your Game) program.
“Hindi naman kalakihan ang nalikom namin, pero makakatulong ang ‘Oldschool Tulong Mo, Laro Mo’ sa kahit konting pantawid-gutom,” Fernandez said.
(We were not able to raise much, but ‘Oldschool Tulong Mo, Laro Mo’ can help in its own little way to have something for the hungry.)
Relief efforts
Meantime, Renato Galope, a Dubai resident, has coordinated relief efforts with interested OFWs and has so far collected balikbayan boxfuls, the first of which will be sent to Bicol; the next, to Isabela.
“Mostly ako lang (nangongolekta), minsan naman may tropa kung saan malapit (yung pagkukunan). Ako lang din nag-iimpake mag-isa,” Galope said.
(I mostly did all the collecting. At times, friends living in the vicinity of where the donations are help get them for me. I also do the packing by myself.)
He said the boxes will be sent to designated persons in the Philippines who also are acquaintances of Dubai OFWs.
“Kung ano lang po kayang malikom namin. Yung, cash assistance hopefully tag-P10,000 for Marikina at Albay,” Galope said, adding that support has continuously been pouring in. “May nag-abot din ng AED300 dirhams cash, ibibili ko ng grocery,” he said.
(Whatever we were able to raise. We are hoping to give P10,000 each for Marikina and Albay [typhoon victims].)
Galope said a cargo forwarding company shipped the balikbayan boxes for free.
Community leaders
Meantime, other Dubai residents like community leaders Emille Parcia and Josie Conlu, have pooled their resources to also send help to the Philippines.
“My heart is aching to see what is happening sa Pilipinas. If only I could do more sana talaga,” Conlu said.
Parcia, for her part, said she feels for the victims, especially the marginalized ones. “Napakahirap maging mahirap. What more yung sitwasyon na kung saan ay na-wash out ang lahat ng gamit, buong bahay putik. Sabi nga ng anak ko, ‘Ma..umuungol sila sa paghingi ng tulong,’” she said.
(It’s already tough being poor. What more if you are in a situation where all your belongings have been washed out and your home muddied? My daughter told me, ‘Ma, they are crying for help.)
Parcia, who had also been active sending food to displaced OFWs in Dubai during the pandemic’s lockdown days, said the relief goods were being sent to her children in Cavite who pack them for delivery.
As of press time, 269 packs of toiletries and 300 packs of clothes have been readied for distribution to various points in Cagayan Valley, Marikina and other parts of Rizal, she said.
At the crack of dawn on Wednesday, Nov. 18, her son, Glenn Rigor, supervised the transport of a truck-load of relief from their place in Mendez, Cavite to Balubad and Provident Village in Marikina, Parcia said.
The relief goods were mostly flown from Dubai, she said.
‘Sold my new make-up kits’
Another OFW, Mary Margarete Serrano, Abu Dhabi school nurse, has joined in the relief efforts, selling cosmetics online to send money home for her relatives in Pampanga to prepare hot meals for the evacuation centers there.
“Yung mga kaibigan ko sa Pampanga, sila nagluluto tapos yung ibang kaibigan ko sila nagdi-distribute,” said Serrano, who is from Sta. Rita, Minalin in Pampanga.
(My friends in Pampanga will cook and prepare the meals while my other friends will distribute them.)
“Maraming kababayan ang minsan hindi na-aabutan ng tulong, lalo na yung mga sa malalayong lugar. Ibinebenta ko po mga make-ups at skincare ko para makalikom ng pambili ng food packs and relief goods. Nasa kalagitnaan palang po kase ng buwan, wala pang sweldo at napadala ko na lahat ng pera ko sa pamilya ko. Kaya naisip ko na lang po ibenta mga skinacare at make-ups na hindi ko ginagamit para magkaruon ng budget,” she added.
(A lot of our fellow Filipinos have not been able to get help, especially those in remote areas. I have been selling my unused make-ups and skin care kits to raise money to buy food packs and relief goods. It’s the middle of the month. I have yet to get my salary and I have sent my money to my family which was why I decided to sell.)
‘Sold my bike’
Meantime still another OFW, a triathlete known for holding sport events for a cause and his support for the tribal communities of Palawan, has set out on a relief effort of his own, selling his bike and other items for the undertaking.
“At the moment, meron tayong AED10,000 (P131,280) which will go to victims of Typhoon Ulysses. The rest of the items that I could sell will also be put together and sent to partners in the Philippines. I might even dispatch friends back home to themselves go to areas ravaged by the typhoon,” Romeo III Puncia, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Abu Dhabi Police’s emergency and public safety department, said in a mix of vernacular and English.
A triathlete with bragging rights a haul of medals from international competitions, Puncia has been recipient of different awards from the Filipino community in the UAE for his cause.
Filipinos in the UAE have been known for their quick relief efforts whenever calamities strike home, notwithstanding hardships they face like the current pandemic.
Two super typhoons recently devastated Luzon almost simultaneously.
Super typhoon Rolly, reported as the strongest tropical cyclone this year, made landfall in the province of Catanduanes on Oct. 31, affecting the Bicol region and Southern Luzon. It left 20 people dead and 165 injured, according to reports, which also added that nearly 300,000 families affected.
Typhoon Ulysses barreled through days later on Nov. 1; caused 100,000 evacuations; killed six people; caused massive flooding and landslides, also according to reports.
The Daily Bread 