Reporting-direct from the traffic-chocked corner of United Arab Emirates is the latest dilemma of our country’s aspiring "modern hero". We've been reading and hearing the breaking news lately. I'm just, - in the pro-Expat theme of my blogsite, adding some....
So who said cape-less HEROism in the Mid-east is fun? Oi, its no-easy leaving/saving your family and the collapsing economy behind. Thus, the heroic, but self-deprived motto: "greater opportunity comes with greater DANGER and responsibility". But a residence visa is a MUST to earn that government-given Title (w/c I found satirical more than a consolation). In this light, gloomied jobseekers holding visit-visa, should by hook or by crook, obtain the saving grace of Residency within 30-60 days of visit in the newest "promised" land; or else, he/she will be sent back to point of origin w/ empty hand, shattered dream & broken heart. Expensive lessons in the mind and lots of country-photos for friendster anyway, would complement the experience. :(
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Upon multitudes after multitudes of exciting, turned anxious wannabe’s flocking the colossal UAE Airport daily, finding a stable sponsor I tell you, is parallel to finding a lost needle in the haystack. Shocking, isn't it? :) but true. Now tell me, are you still joining the bandwagon?
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The national pandemonium w/c has brought unprecedented panic to the stranded "heroes" and their equally frantic relatives all started when last July, this ever-changing UAE Immigration mandated another-clever ruling on VISA-structure & extension -accordingly meant to eschew the abuse & mis-use of visa by tourists or visitors. Pls Read here and here for further info.
.The national pandemonium w/c has brought unprecedented panic to the stranded "heroes" and their equally frantic relatives all started when last July, this ever-changing UAE Immigration mandated another-clever ruling on VISA-structure & extension -accordingly meant to eschew the abuse & mis-use of visa by tourists or visitors. Pls Read here and here for further info.
While the sudden changes spewed anger among the Expatriate community and disorientation in Travel Agencies, the downsizing Order spell doom for Pinoys now marooned in the open, yet prison-environment of KISH and Qeshm Island in Iran, and in Buraimi at the Sultanate of Oman.
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Cheaper & Closer from the U.A.E., these exit points has became immensely popular. Just be watchful at the ff: 1. motel bedbugs 2. food & wa
ter 3. thieves & peeping Toms 4. pervert Irani's preying in dark corners & public beaches and 5. friendly Omanis marching with ancient dagger in the waist and rifle in the back. I should know. I was once thrown, slept, ate, swim & stroll too in these transient "haven", and yep, had shaken my shiverring hands with its local men. If my semi-aging memory serves me right, my nightmare, i mean, adventure was in 2001, 2003 and 2005. This is due to my bad habit of changing my Managers & Company every freaking 2 yrs. :)
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To back-up my today's supposed serious rant, let me share you a few of my “tourism” pix taken during our rough but meaningful times in the Persian Island together with my then fellow Tourist..err.."stranded" in smiley faces. Oh, I also remember, I became their BFF (bestfriend forever) right after my hours of arrival in the veiled Terminal :) I was surrounded w/ joking people filled with pain & sorrow inside. There is where I appreciate the true essence of giving, sharing, listening and counselling. I learnt to count my blessings too. Blessings these people are yet to see - i.e., ready visa & good job, ample budget to keep my feet and mouth around. And most importantly, a sound sleep I never had - back in "the busy City of Glamour, Dream & Gold". Above all, I had gathered interesting tales that triggers the writer in me.
ter 3. thieves & peeping Toms 4. pervert Irani's preying in dark corners & public beaches and 5. friendly Omanis marching with ancient dagger in the waist and rifle in the back. I should know. I was once thrown, slept, ate, swim & stroll too in these transient "haven", and yep, had shaken my shiverring hands with its local men. If my semi-aging memory serves me right, my nightmare, i mean, adventure was in 2001, 2003 and 2005. This is due to my bad habit of changing my Managers & Company every freaking 2 yrs. :).
To back-up my today's supposed serious rant, let me share you a few of my “tourism” pix taken during our rough but meaningful times in the Persian Island together with my then fellow Tourist..err.."stranded" in smiley faces. Oh, I also remember, I became their BFF (bestfriend forever) right after my hours of arrival in the veiled Terminal :) I was surrounded w/ joking people filled with pain & sorrow inside. There is where I appreciate the true essence of giving, sharing, listening and counselling. I learnt to count my blessings too. Blessings these people are yet to see - i.e., ready visa & good job, ample budget to keep my feet and mouth around. And most importantly, a sound sleep I never had - back in "the busy City of Glamour, Dream & Gold". Above all, I had gathered interesting tales that triggers the writer in me.
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But then the “forever” thing fleets everytime one's golden visa arrived. Like the UAE laws, nothing really is permanent these days. Not even the Bagong Bayani's long-wait in queue, in hunger & in thirst, in desperation & in careless abandon. And I hope not even the negligence of Philippine Consulate and its well-paid Officers.
There is SILVERLINING in every dark cloud and there is LIGHT at the end of every tunnel. May the stranded "Heroe's" FIND these sayings SOON!
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Other Alarming Facts:
- Those who've been there for months, even years, survived by begging from compatriots and providing part time services to new arrivals.
- Some of them have been abandoned by prospective employers.
- Some have been driven to commit suicide out of misery.
- Stranded women migrants are forced into prostitution in order to survive.
(An Excerpt from the Letter of Ramon Bultron, Director for Asia-Pacific Migrant Workers to Manila Times dd Oct 4, 08)
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20 comments:
Hello boy!
Oh my, you experienced that too? I really didn't know about this until my Aunt told me when I visited them in Dubai. She was asked to exit twice na, mahilig kasi sya mgpalit ng employers eh. She had a valid reason naman, her ex-employers were extra "caring and touchy", you know what I mean.. I was shocked when she told me about these horrible stories about the situation of the pinoys there. Meron nga daw ng suicide doon kasi nabuntis. They even solicited money just to buy food to those na walang maibili. As in mahirap daw talaga. sigh..
Sana naman the Embassy can at least help them.
We're just glad that my brother didn't have to go thru that exit thingy. He was able to extend his tourist visa with no hassle, kasi he got his visa from the UAE consulate in Bahrain, so walang questions. We're glad na he got his working visa a week after he extended his stay.
Btw boy, I won sa Filipino blog of the week and I'm nominated for this week. Pls vote hehehe..mwahugs! thanks for the votes and the support!!
I dont know what to say Josh... It's bad. Same thing happened here last year, a lot of filipinos were sent home coz the govt changed their laws and I know some friends who had to go home.. shame...
@ twinkle: congrats again!..yah, ganon na na katulad sa kwento..but my stories are far more OK compare sa iba..dami talgang kawawang stranded noon..(pero lalo na ngayon)
@KrisJ:true boy. im actually tired thinking why & how it happened :(
ey Bro..visiting here again...sorry po!! parang busy ang linya parati!!
already heard a lot of story about this since I also have a lot of friends in arab countries..I also have a classmate who was even a victim of brutal suicide kuno..when a lot of people believe that he was killed pero pinalabas lang na suicide...ang talino pa naman..summa cum laude namin sa college..second lang ako..hehehe!! joke joke joke!!!
i hope that they will be given attention and help by our government too..kakaawa talaga!! let's help praying na lang bro!! peace!!
You know what Josh, my brother in law is there and he's having hard time in finding jobs for almost 6 5months na ata and that exit happened to him but hindi sa pinas nagexit eh. Gladly now parang settled na. Ayaw lang talaga pauwiin ng wife kasi you know bagong kasal lang at pinaghirapan ng wife makasunod lang. Thankful lang siya kasi malaki position ng wife sa isang bank at matiyaga as in sa kanya.
hirap din pala ano josh
@EUROANGEL: sayang naman talga ung friend mo, ang dami namang b-o-b-o dyan sya pa, hehe..anyways, this is jst another sad story..hamo, happy naman sa susunod.:)
@joy: oh, i never knew u got a relative here, it is difficult at first, but once u got stabe like his wife, you wil want to stay here longer:)
@abou..so, di ka na paparito nyan, bro? :)
actually dalawa relatives ko andyan kakarating lang nang isa, at least yun aircraft engineer kaya walang hassle. Ang ganda nga daw dyan ng views..gusto ko nga visit dyan eh..visit lang yoko tumira kasi ang init ahehehe.
kakalungkot ang mga ganitong kwento. sana naman ay maayos na ang mga papeles nila.
buti na lang nakakapasyal ka pa dyan.
@joyoz: wow, bigtime naman pala ung isa, is he from the etihad or emirates airline?..one of the most paid huh...you'll enjoy dubai sceneries outdoor during winter..nov to feb..well its mall time during summer.
@dong:sana idol..sana..:(
@ josh - ha ha wala naman akong plano magpunta dyan e ha ha pero who knows he he
Aw! that's sad..
Anyway tawa ako dun sa .cum..Whaaattttt??? hahahah!
Oo nga josh.halo-halo yun eh! ika nga from the top to bottom.. :)
boy sino yang pogi sa pic dyan sa post mo? parang model ah! model ng mga buhangin..wehehehe
hi josh! musta nag ka gwapohan natin dyan sa dubai... Thanks for the visit..:)
@abou: mabuti naman, hehe..pero pag di na ganito, punta ka na..its not at all bad out here naman :)
@honey & twink: ayos lang naman..medyo lumalamig na ng konti..at eto, mdyo nageenjoy magpost na mga cute na pix..hehe :)
That's what I'm not sure of Josh if what airlines Tito Jayton is working there. Buti nga nga nakakuha agad siya work kasi dati sa Singapore airlines siya tapos na lay-off ata kasi medyo there's a problem physically. Tambay ng three months. Still have three kids studying in college and high school kaya need pa nang pusposang kayod. Hindi ata sapat ang kita ng convenient store sa Pampanga.
so sad...i hope our government will find several ways to ease the burden of our kababayans living in a foreign land...
thanks for sharing this.
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@joyoz: oh, that pushes everyone here to stay, ung mga family needs back home..but as per ur tito, mas ok na ok pa rin, at least hes in a good hands, sulit ang holiday. ikmsta mo ko.
@hon & twink: ayos lang eto..nagpopogi-pogian pa rin..papalitan ko na yan ng mas cute eh..(lol)
@emotera: i hope and pray the same too..sana nga..soon!
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can you help me or at least refer me kung saan manghingi ng tulong, kasi my colleagues sister was prisoned in dubai daw, she was accused of something she did not do,. and now my colleague is so
worried sa condition ng sister nya
Nakita ko sa TFC ang nangyari dyan. Nakakalungkot nga ano. Bakit ayaw pang umuwi yong wala na talagang pag-asa makapasok ulit? Buti nalang tapos na ako nyan at di ko na kailangan ang visa(yabang no...heheh)
More power and don't forget to pray the rosary.
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