Lenz Alamada
‘I am 25 and come from the Mindanao region of Philippines. I came to Abu Dhabi around 2006 to find a job; before that I was studying in the Philippines, taking a BSN in nursing, but I didn’t finish. I had family in this area and chose Abu Dhabi because my sister is here. It’s also a lot easier to find a job in the UAE, and of course there is no tax.
The city is great, but I don’t really get to do much relaxing. There is a large Filipino community here, but I don’t see much of them. I’m just working, working and sleeping.
In the Philippines it is hard to work because of the low salaries. For example, you’re paid your 10,000 pesos a month (approx Dhs770) and that’s just eaten up with expenses for food and electricity. But here I get free accommodation with my job (I’m a hotel receptionist) so I can start to save money.
In the Philippines I didn’t really celebrate Independence Day, largely because I am Muslim. The Philippines is maybe 90 per cent Christian. If you go to the capital, Manila, and you say I am a Muslim and I come from Mindanao, the response is ‘oh’. It is often hard to find work because of this. The difference between the Philippines and here is that it doesn’t matter whether you are Christian or Muslim – I have not found that discrimination. I am happy to be here, even if I miss my family in the Philippines, but I am here to work for them.’
Virginia Abadilla
‘It was in 1989 when I first came to Abu Dhabi. I am originally from Manila but I had a friend working here. Her husband ran a famous disco at the time. When I was in the Philippines I was working as a secretary to the General Manager of Lloyds Manila, but my friend was recruiting waitresses. It was not my intention to come here, but I was curious. I was envious of her – she had a lot of gold (laughs). In earlier times in Abu Dhabi, the locals used to give gold as a gift, which is why she had so much. I met my husband here in 1991. He is from Thailand.
I was working at the time but my husband said that he wanted me to concentrate on the family only. We had brought the children over from the Philippines and Thailand by then, but it’s difficult – you need a nanny and a maid. So my husband decided to start up our own business, the Asian Garden restaurant, so that we could also take care of the family. This was a mistake (laughs). In the office I used to work 8 hours, but in the restaurant I’d work 15, maybe 20 hours a day.
Certainly, there are foods associated with Independence Day, such as Adobo (beef in a peanut sauce) and beefsteak tapalog. It’s similar to Chinese food, but that is international cuisine, not like ours, which is only good for the Filipino (laughs).
Certainly, I am happy here. Abu Dhabi is very quiet; there is zero crime and it’s got good opportunities, too. I try to visit Manila at least twice a year. I certainly miss my house, but that’s it, because all of my family is here now.’
Independence Day
The Philippines’ Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12 1898 when revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo (the first Republican President) effected a coup. However, this wasn’t recognised in Spain, or indeed the U.S., since Spain had handed over the islands to the Americans in the same year. It wasn’t until July 4 1946 that the United States recognised the Philippines’ sovereignty.
This became their official Independence Day until, in 1964, a combination of historians and nationalist politicians urged President Diosdado Macapagal to return it to the original date of June 12, which had been previously known as Flag Day.
