Filipinos form a vibrant community of around 1 million in the UAE, bound by a common purpose: to make ends meet and provide for their families back home. In their relentless pursuit of a better life for their families back home, they have discovered an intriguing strategy that captures both their determination and resourcefulness – flat sharing or bed-spacing.
A recent straw poll conducted by TFT revealed that 8 out of 10 Filipinos (80 percent) consider room sharing as the most practical option for cost-saving, allowing their salaries to cover all their essential needs, desires, and obligations. Among this group, approximately 9 out of 10 (87.5 percent) expressed a sense of being trapped in a tight budget due to the necessity of remitting more than half of their earnings to support their families back home.
On the other hand, the remaining 12.5 percent find solace in activities such as shopping, dining, travel, and leisure to alleviate the inconveniences of limited living space. However, despite these coping mechanisms, many Filipinos who share flats acknowledge that issues concerning their health, security, comfort, and safety leave them yearning for better options.
Here are the top 10 downsides to sharing a flat or a room (and they’ll crack you up, for real!):
- The food bandit
One of the flat life’s greatest mysteries lies in the common kitchen, where the unspoken code of “what’s mine is mine” is ruthlessly violated. From the classic case of “Who devoured my precious rice?” to the heart-wrenching dilemma of “Who had the audacity to sip my precious oil?” – these scenarios manifest in various forms.
Enter John Ramos, a 27-year-old warrior in the battle against lunchtime larceny. He shares a harrowing experience (in Tagalog): “Picture this: I’m racing against the morning sun, frantically hopping into the shower and slipping into my work attire. And just as I’m about to tuck my prized lunchbox into my bag, there it is, empty as a ghost town. It’s enough to make your stomach churn with indignation.”
John had lovingly inscribed his name on his culinary masterpiece, a symbol of his hard-earned money and stringent budgeting. But alas, fate had other plans. Someone, a heartless soul, seized the opportunity to embark on an illicit feast, completely disregarding the sweat and tears that went into John’s sustenance. It’s a sad reality that the food he diligently purchased with his meager resources found its way into the clutches of another, who didn’t possess a shred of remorse.
- Outpaced in the bathroom dash
Yadz Pedral, 32, recounts a tale of how his former flat almost became the downfall of his career. “When I first arrived in Dubai back in 2009,” he recalls, “I opted for a bed-space in a four-bedroom flat in Satwa. Unfortunately, the flat only boasted one shower room.
“As you can imagine, chaos reigned each morning as we all engaged in a frantic race to prepare ourselves. No matter what I did, I would always fall behind because someone would inevitably beat me to the coveted shower.
“Consequently, my boss placed me under a scrutinizing microscope, naturally displeased with my habitual tardiness.”
When questioned about his decision to endure such cramped living conditions, Yadz, hailing from Sultan Kudarat, said: “Knowing that my children back home lead comfortable lives fills me with a sense of fulfillment as a father.” He was referring to the remittances made possible by saving on accommodation expenses in the UAE.
- Shaky nights
In the UAE, bedspaces typically consist of two-tiered metal beds, where a flimsy curtain separates you from the outside world. Generally, the bottom bunk is pricier than the top one. However, achieving a restful night’s sleep remains an arduous task when your arch-nemesis is a creaky bed.
According to the TFT poll, the phrase “Makalog ang gabi ko” has emerged as a widespread expression among Filipino expats. Joanne Menez, 31, shares her experience with these nerve-rattling squeaky beds, drawing a parallel to a hit song by the Black Eyed Peas.
“I’ve been here since 2012,” she laments, “and within that short timeframe, I’ve changed my address six times, all because every single one of my previous shared flats had one thing in common that I absolutely detest — those blasted double-deck beds that creaked incessantly, much like the beat of ‘Boom Boom Pow’.”
- Shining nights
In the realm of shared accommodations, there exists a notorious bone of contention among roommates—the bedroom light. Rico, a seasoned sharer of living spaces, recounts a tale that shines a light on this matter. “I casually asked my roommate if we could turn off the lights inside our room,” he shares, “but little did I know that this innocent request would ignite a fiery and unexpected debate.”
“The temperature in the room soared as our words clashed, threatening to burst into a full-blown showdown. Thankfully, our vigilant roommates acted as peacekeepers, saving us from the brink of a luminescent brawl.”
- The mystery of a moist soap
In the unpredictable world of shared living, kitchen appliances and household items often sprout legs and wander off, according to the collective wisdom of Pinoy expats.
A prime example of this enigma is the perplexing question, “Why is my soap inexplicably wet?” Amor Magtuba, a seasoned flat renter, imparts her hard-earned wisdom after five years of communal living.
“No matter how seemingly insignificant an issue appears,” she advises, “even if it’s as trivial as someone using my handwash soap without permission, I confront it head-on before it morphs into a bigger issue.”
- A frosty battlefield
In which beloved Filipino teleserye have you heard the iconic line, “Know your space”? This phrase is commonly spotted on sticky notes adorning the shared fridge in communal flats, and its significance extends beyond mere words.
Pinoys employ this warning to caution against the audacious act of monopolizing the entire refrigerator, stocking it to the brim with a week’s worth of provisions on payday, with blatant disregard for the plight of their fellow flatmates.
The battle for fridge space becomes a daily saga, reminiscent of a gripping teleserye, where ice-cold tensions rise.
- Chained water containers
May Padron, 29, shares a mind-boggling flat-story that highlights the significance of cool water in a space sharing setup.
“Once,” she recounts, “I stayed overnight at my friend’s shared flat, and to my astonishment, I discovered massive water buckets in their bathroom secured with chains and padlocks. It’s unbelievable! They went to such great lengths to safeguard their precious water supply.”
- Midnight videoke madness
Peng Hatulan, a resident of the UAE for six years, unveils her daily struggle with raucous roommates: “What truly grates on my nerves is their late-night karaoke sessions that keep me wide awake before an important day at work.”
Nevertheless, Peng acknowledges that enduring such living conditions allows her to save enough money to cover her mother’s monthly medication.
- Who will take the garbage out?
Cleaning responsibilities, or lack thereof, often become the epicenter of conflicts within shared flats. Can you relate? Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a roommate who wields a mop with enthusiasm and keeps your shared space gleaming, you’re in for a wild ride.
Rhina shares her ongoing saga with untidy flatmates: “Some roommates propose the idea of a chore wheel, but no one ever follows through with it,” she laments.
- Crossing the threshold
In shared flats, one large room is typically divided by wooden partitions or curtains to delineate individual spaces. Consequently, it’s alarmingly easy for flatmates to unintentionally intrude upon someone else’s territory, leading to unexpected surprises.
Gina, 29, experienced the shock of a lifetime when an uninvited guest nonchalantly strolled into her partitioned area in the dead of night. The encounter resembled a certain Adele song: “Hello from the other side.”
Level up! Why not?
Gwen Viernes, the relations manager for TFT, reflects on her journey from a modest bed-spacer to the sole tenant of three 2-bedroom apartments in Dubai. She recalls, “I remember sharing a small room with 12 people in Sharjah, just like many expats do.”
Reflecting on her past, Gwen emphasizes, “Everyone has to start somewhere. The challenges and hardships of flat-sharing can serve as a testing ground for you. Can you endure the life of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW)? Ultimately, these experiences will test your faith and resilience as a Filipino.” Gwen’s diligent saving over the past two years has allowed her to afford comfortable apartments in Al Rigga.
However, success does not come easily. “The key ingredients are hard work and self-control. Stay focused on your goals and purpose, and never give up,” she advises. “Renting a flat on your own,” she adds, “provides a sense of security and comfort. It also brings fulfillment as you furnish your space with quality appliances and furniture. Now, it’s easier for me to invite my parents and siblings for a visit.”
Meralyn Tabanag, a 30-year-old store manager at Zoom in Rigga, once abandoned the hope of renting her own flat when she first arrived in Dubai. “I thought I would have to continue co-living with strangers indefinitely,” she admits. “Staying in a shared bed-space was the most practical choice with my Dh1,400 salary at that time.”
Despite her limited means, the determined Filipina persevered in her low-paying job and also ran a side business selling fashionable bags and accessories to fellow Filipinos residing in the UAE. “If you truly desire a better life, you must double or triple your eagerness to earn money,” she asserts.
Indeed, Meralyn’s efforts paid off when she received her first promotion as an acting supervisor just a few months later. Within a year, she had saved enough to rent a private room. Today, she enjoys a happier and more secure living space.
