DUBAI—A recent Facebook video of Filipino-Emirati vlogger Fahed Alblooshi a.k.a “Emaratino Traveler” reminded Filipinos in the UAE about an important lesson: gossiping or rumor-mongering is illegal in the country.
Fahed’s sister, who was with him in the video vlog, shared her utter disappointment for making her and their elder sister the subject of “chismis” in a salon.
They managed to control their frustrations while the staff members were making fun of them in Tagalog. Little did the staff know that they are Filipino-Emirati and are fluent in Tagalog.
“Dumating kami ng kapatid ko and they asked the lady what time they will close… and then sabi nya okay you can come,” the vlogger’s sister said.
Although they were accommodated, she and her sister started hearing the salon workers chattering negatively about them.
“Yung kapatid ko gusto nya magpawax ng kamay,” she said.
However, she heard one salon worker saying while fixing her hair: “Grabe ang buhok mabalahibo naman yan.”
The siblings complained about the incident to the manager, and the Filipino-Emirati sisters shocked the staff when they started to speak in Tagalog.
“My sister, first time, binuhos ang galit. Fluent siya sa Tagalog. Binuhos galit sa staff.
“Akala nyo hindi ako marunong mag-Tagalog? Half-Pinay po ako at masakit lahat ng sinabi nyo tungkol sa akin.
“‘May balahibo ako. Kayo ba walang balahibo? Paano kung nalaman ng government ginagawa niyo,’” she recalled.
She admitted being hurt by the comments made by the salon workers. “Bawal mag-chismis? Baka makulong kayo… Masakit sa amin yun kasi half Filipino kami,” she said.
Gossiping or rumor-mongering, especially on social media, can result in a three-year jail sentence and a fine of up to AED1 million.
Below are some comments from netizens:
“Malaking pagkakamali nila dahil harap-harapan pang pinagtsismisan ka at di nila alam half Pinay pala. Dapat kasi gawin nalang ang trabaho, trabaho hanap eh, so gampanan ang trabaho at wag maglait ang client mo.”
“Dapat sana mag trabaho tayo. ‘Wag nang kung anu-ano pang sabihin. Kasi kung tutuosin wala naman tayong pakialam sa kanila. Dapat nating isipin na kaya tayo andito para mag-trabaho kasi kailangan natin ng sahod. Kaya sana work lang tayo mga kabayan. ‘Wag naman ganun.”
“’Wag nyo pong gawing pastime ang chismis sa UAE. Isang malaking pagkakamali ‘yan dahil may batas na kulong at deport ang katapat nyan. The UAE is a very tolerant nation and all embracing to all nationalities, that’s why they do not want hatred against any race, especially to Emiratis.”
Watch the vlog below:
