The bayanihan spirit blossoms in the UAE as good Samaritans in the overseas Filipino community continue to stretch their help to their fellow kababayans who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
UAE-based Angellie Marie Autentico, who is popularly known among her social media followers as Madam Wakwak, made her SUV a caravan of relief goods that goes around the UAE to help her fellow OFWs.
Last Thursday, she has spent her first YouTube earnings worth AED4,514 (approx. P59,000) on bags of rice and packs of noodles for some Filipino families residing in Ajman.
She documented her distribution of relief goods, loaded in her car trunk, at a parking lot of a hotel in the emirate.
Among those who received were a restaurant staff and a factory worker who were retrenched by the pandemic.
She said in the video, “Inuuna natin ang mga OFW para magkaroon sila ng strength. Kasi kung wala na silang strength, hindi narin sila makapagpadala dyan sa mga pamilya nila sa Pilipinas.”
Praises poured in for the Filipina in the comment section of her video posted on her Facebook page.
In a chat interview, Autentico, who hails from Bohol, shared that she plans to give out free 5kg bags of rice to 300 more OFWs.
She also intends to drive towards Sharjah in the coming days to bring aid to her fellow kababayans in need.
Meantime, she urged those who were requesting help to reserve the food assistance to Filipinos who have lost their jobs.
When asked about her message to OFWs reeling from the financial havoc of the global pandemic, Autentico said, “Whatever situation they’re in, they just have to keep pushing and floating, because coz we already know what’s the end this—this too shall pass.”
“Just have faith and don’t stop in finding ways to survive and to keep afloat. The bottom line is God is in control. For the meantime, while God is working on our situation and our purpose, we shouldn’t stop doing our part,” the Filipino added.
