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From shared accommodation to a place of their own: OFWs share stories about moving up

DUBAI: It all comes down to living without the unnecessary stress of having to deal with toxic companions.

And so, from staying in shared accommodations, a lot of overseas Filipino workers have levelled up to move to a room of their own.

“Ganun din naman ang price, malapit lang sa office and kapag dumating ang family dito, may matitirhan,” said Jo-c Conlu, executive secretary to a managing director of a Dubai company. She has moved from one shared accommodation to another for about seven times since she arrived in the UAE in 2009. She started going solo in 2014.

“Naku! Kumuha na ako ng flat,” said Jessica Dimaano, quality control officer who has transferred from one shared accommodation to another 10 times in six years. She now stays in a one-bedroom unit and sharing it with fellow OFWs.

Amor Echague, medical claims supervisor at an insurance company, like most everyone else, said he started out at a crowded, bed bug-infested shared accommodation “kasi yun ang mura at syempre nag-uumpisa pa lang tayo sa buhay abroad.

“Eventually,” he said, “hahanap ka ng mas kumportable na mura at swak sa budget kasi at the end of the day ,ang hahanapin mong bahay or room ay yung makakapag-pahinga ka ng maayos, may peace of mind at di ka nakikisama sa maraming tao.”

Allan Castro, who now runs his own business said he moved six times in the past 11 years of his stay in the UAE. “Syempre nung una, sa mas mura. Pero nung matagal na ako, ang hanap ko convenience. Gusto ko yung tahimik at sarili ko na yung flat,” he said.

Staff Report

The Filipino Times is the chronicler of stories for, of and by Filipinos all over the world, reaching more than 236 countries in readership. Any interesting story to share? Email us at [email protected]

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