Filipinos in the UAE and across the world have turned to The Filipino Times as one of the most reliable news sources for overseas Filipinos with the continuous rise in engagement and online activity on Facebook and its social media channels.
Aggregate data from the Google Analytics of the official website of The Filipino Times have revealed that it has amassed a total of 22,000,000+ views during the year, with statistics coming from over 236 countries around the world.
The Filipino Times has compiled all of its most-read stories during the year 2019 below:
Teenager commits suicide after failing college entrance exam
A teenager in Bohol province committed suicide after she was scammed and failed to pass a college entrance examination.
Camiel Ann Humol, 19, of Barangay Santo Tomas in Trinidad town, Bohol died of a heart attack on Saturday, June 1, days after she was hospitalized for cutting her wrists on apparent suicide.
Reach: 61,136
Engagements: 215,465
Reactions and Comments: 1.2K
Shares: 24K
OFW fined for sleeping in Dubai Metro
A Filipino was recently caught and fined by authorities for taking a quick nap at the Dubai Metro.
Jair Ugto said that an inspector saw him on the CCTV and woke him up as he rode the Dubai Metro’s Gold Class cabin and paid Dh300 as a fine.
Reach: 183,345
Engagements: 76,659
Reactions: 2.1k
Shares: 3.1k
Filipina killed by retired Australian cop in Subic found pregnant
Jamie Flanagan, a retired Australian policeman, was charged for killing his girlfriend Desiree Manozo in their home in Subic.
Autopsy report showed the Manozo was pregnant before she was killed. The report also showed that she died due to strangling and not because of hanging.
Reach: 60,382
Engagements: 43,610
Reactions: 1k
Shares: 2.9k
Iloilo-Guimaras tragedy
At least 27 people died while six are still missing after three motor bancas sank in Iloilo Guimaras Strait because of monsoon winds.
The incident happened within three hours as two motor bancas, MB Chi Chi and MB Keziah capsized around 12:15 pm on August 3.
Reach: 54,532
Engagements: 17,380
Reactions: 1.1k
Shares: 787
Goodbye to red ribbons
The Department of Foreign Affairs said they will no longer issue Authentication Certificates for documents issued by the Philippine government that will be submitted to or have originated from 117 countries starting Tuesday, May 14.
Reach: 457,124
Engagements: 97,046
Reactions: 2.8k
Shares: 2k
Octopus nearly rips off Chinese vlogger’s face
A vlogger’s attempt to eat a live octopus in a live stream went wrong when the sea creature latched itself to her face to avoid getting swallowed whole.
In a viral video posted by ‘Seaside Girl Little Seven’, the woman was shown having a hard time removing the live octopus on her face.
Reach: 405,707
Engagements: 96,480
Reactions: 2.8k
Shares: 915
DFA to OFWs in Saudi: Stay alert
The Department of Foreign Affairs has asked the more than two million Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia to exercise further caution and be alert following the drone bombings on Saudi Aramco’s two major facilities.
Reach: 205,469
Engagements: 38,964
Reactions: 2.2k
Shares: 2.2k
Sharjah Ruler’s son passes away
Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qassimi, son of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, passed away on July 1, 2019.
Reach: 399,578
Engagements: 108,291
Reactions: 3.8k
Shares: 772
Homeless OFW who built wooden shack in Winnipeg now home
The homeless Filipino who made headlines in Canada after building a temporary shack made of wooden pallets at a parking lot in Winnipeg is finally home.
Allan Par, 41, was able to fly to the Philippines in the second week of August through the help of an anonymous donor who sponsored his plane ticket.
Reach: 386,506
Engagements: 103,014
Reactions: 4.5k
Shares: 844
Remains of OFW who died of cardiac arrest in Dubai arrives home in PH
Assistance poured in for the immediate repatriation of Ma. Monica Manuel, an overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who died of cardiac arrest in Dubai last September 27. Manuel, 27, was diagnosed of stage 4 liver cancer last August.
Reach: 161,128
Engagements: 66,210
Reactions: 2.6k
Shares: 2.1k
Boxer Onyok Velasco asks Raffy Tulfo’s help
Filipino boxing champion Onyok Velasco has sought the help of ‘Wanted sa Radyo’ host Raffy Tulfo.
Onyok explained that his car’s repair is already done but they are still waiting for the insurance’s check to be released to the person who hit his car.
Reach: 285,588
Engagements: 77,764
Reactions: 1.5k
Shares: 194
Tropical cyclone Maha to affect UAE east coast areas
Tropical Cyclone Maha affected the UAE early November bringing with it rains and foggy mornings, as per reports from the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).
NCM, in its weather bulletin said Maha had intensified into a category 1 cyclone with wind speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour when it passed through the country.
Reach: 369,134
Engagements: 94,360
Reactions: 2.8k
Shares: 2.2k
Filipina found dead in freezer in Texas
A 24-year-old Filipina believed to be murdered by her own husband was found dead in a freezer on Monday while the latter was also found lifeless with a gunshot wound in their home in Liverhome Drive, Arlington, Texas.
Reach: 67,370
Engagements: 31,612
Reactions: 1.2k
Shares: 1.2k
UAE launches “Golden Card” permanent residency system for expats
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the ‘Golden Card’ scheme to grant permanent residency benefits to investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents, researchers, and outstanding students.
Reach: 291,886
Engagements: 83,830
Reactions: 3k
Shares: 1.1k
Son of Pinay OFW who died in Abu Dhabi refuses to leave her side
The remains of Mary Jean Balag-ey Alberto, who died in Abu Dhabi last October 2, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Aiport (NAIA), Wednesday morning, October 30.
The Facebook page, Justice for Jean Alberto, that shared photos of her arrival said her son Rojan refused to leave her wooden casket.
Reach: 538,846
Engagements: 101,236
Reactions: 8.2k
Shares: 2.2k
OFWs can now check their OWWA rebate through online portal
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has launched a new online portal where Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can check their eligibility on the department’s rebates program.
The OWWA Rebate Portal also allows OFWs to set an appointment to the nearest OWWA office to process their benefits.
Reach: 130,163
Engagements: 19,856
Reactions: 800+
Shares: 600+
MoHRE reiterates warning: Don’t work if you only have visit visa
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) cited existing laws that could and you into trouble with the law if found engaged in employment with no valid contract, and thus an Emirates national identification card.
Note that Article 11 of the Federal Law No. 6 for 1973 concerning immigration and residence clearly states that “the alien who obtains a visit visa may not work anywhere in the country with or without pay or for his own.”
Reach: 304,519
Engagements: 74,265
Reactions: 2k
Shares: 2.8k
17 OFWs bound for Dubai, Saudi intercepted at NAIA for fake OECs
A total of 17 overseas Filipino workers with fake OECs have been apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport during the Holy Week for presenting fake overseas employment certificates.
Ten of them were intercepted at the NAIA 1 while the rest were stopped at the NAIA 2. Most were bound for Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
Reach: 609,114
Engagements: 101,648
Reactions: 4.2k
Shares: 3.8k
Burj Khalifa lights up with Philippine flag colors for the first time
For the first time in UAE’s history, two of the country’s top tourist destinations, namely Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower; and Dubai Festival City Mall, displayed a light show on Philippine Independence Day.
For the first time as well, major parks in Abu Dhabi and Dubai rolled out special offers and treats for the Filipino community on this momentous occasion marking the 121st year that the Philippines became a sovereign nation.
Reach: 297,577
Engagements: 81,363
Reactions: 11.5k
Shares: 6.2k
Filipina prisoner in Dubai gets emotional at surprise reunion with parents after 14 years
In a nostalgic atmosphere mixed with feelings of longing and tears of joy, Brigadier Ali Mohammed Al Shamali, Director-General of punitive and correctional institutions, in the presence of Brig. Marwan Abdul Karim Julfar, Deputy Director of the DPCI and Col. Jamila Khalifa Al Zaabi, Director of Dubai Women’s Prison, received and greeted the Filipina inmate’s parents as part of the Dubai Police’s ‘Let’s Tolerate’ programme, according to a report from WAM.
Reach: 419,639
Engagements: 82,240
Reactions: 6.2k
Shares: 1.1k
