Author Archives: Jojo Dass

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates –  “Napuntahan ko na ang lahat ng ayuda,” said 26-year-old Ma. Alianna Marasigan (real name withheld on request), who lives in Satwa, an older part of the city that has become a working class enclave, with mostly OFW residents. Marasigan arrived in Dubai last year to look for work, but hasContinue reading “Bibisahan ka ba? OFWs bite the bullet”

This is the highest since the pandemic hit the country in late January this year; a café was closed while 7 other commercial establishments were fined including a supermarket that held a sale event and allegedly failed to enforce social distancing. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates –  The UAE today, Saturday, Sept. 12, registered its highestContinue reading “UAE reports over 1,000 new Covid-19 infections in a day”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) has already begun coordinating with local emergency and crisis committees across the UAE to tighten controls as a total of 1,861 new Covid-19 infections have been detected in a span of just two consecutive days on Sept. 10 and 11, EmiratesContinue reading “KEEP CALM. WEAR MASK. Daily UAE Covid infections hit 1,861 in just 2 days”

The only child of a Filipino couple working in Ireland’s medical field as COVID-19 front liners, 15-year-old Joshua Emmanuel Regala appears headed to be one of the country’s pop stars. So far, he has bragging rights to a good harvest of awards from various singing competitions in Ireland, the U.S. and, most recently last month,Continue reading “Covid front liner OFW couple’s son is Ireland’s budding pop star”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: During these days of the pandemic when uncertainties are riddling most people with anxieties, a community outreach group led by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recently held a free online ukulele workshop to train people to be calm by keeping the mind busy with music. The ukulele session was facilitated by Sherry KarenContinue reading “Keep calm; play the ukulele”

DUBAI: She has never failed to send money home to her dad, who makes meager living as a carpenter, and her three siblings, as she was the eldest of four children. Twenty-five-year-old Merriner Bartoces, quit college and went to Abu Dhabi in March 2018 with the resolve to someday be able to build a homeContinue reading “ABU DHABI BLAST UPDATE: 25-yr-old fatality quit college to work abroad, send money to family”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Philippine Consulate General has recently been receiving fewer repatriation requests from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) economically displaced due to the pandemic as more job opportunities finally start opening up in the city following eased restrictions.  In an interview, Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said the number of OFWs wantingContinue reading “Fewer Dubai OFWs want to return home as jobs open in the city”

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates –  The Philippine Embassy has confirmed that two Filipinos have died while some others were injured, in Monday morning’s restaurant blast here, saying in a statement that Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana “has reached out to the families of the deceased to express condolences and give assurance that they will be providedContinue reading “PH Embassy confirms 2 Filipinos died, others injured in Monday’s Abu Dhabi restaurant blast”

Two persons died while several others were injured following an “explosion caused by a gas connection in a restaurant on Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Road,” this morning, the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office announced on Twitter. “Unfortunately, two victims lost their lives – one near the site of the incident, and a second passer-by whoContinue reading “2 dead in Abu Dhabi restaurant gas leak blast”

DUBAI: A lot of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been returning home amid the pandemic due to job loss with barely enough savings to start over. But the millennial ones are getting comfy with real property they have invested in while working abroad. Property experts say today’s batch of mostly-millennial OFWs are more inclined toContinue reading “COVID: Millennial OFWs return home; enjoy property investments”