DUBAI: Filipinos, numbering approximately one million, consist a sizeable bulk of the UAE’s expatriate community, having been instrumental in shaping the country as it is to date – from barren lands to bustling cities.
Filipinos aren’t just confined to the field of construction and engineering, as there are many who have been making their own mark in the fields of healthcare, technology, real estate, marketing, food and beverage, hospitality, tourism, advertising, oil and gas industry, and more.
As Filipinos help to bring the UAE towards the future, here’s how they have incorporated themselves as the builders comprising an integral part of the country’s foundation.
Bigger numbers
The number of Filipinos living in the UAE continues to grow as the diaspora continues to this day.
One factor for the gradual increase of their number is that Filipinos, who have stayed in the country for quite a while, have managed to bring their families, friends, and even neighbors so that they too could have a chance to grow and develop their skills and in turn, support their own families that they have left back home.
Apart from that, another factor is that there’s a considerable number of Filipinos who have managed to find their soulmates in the UAE, with a total of around 40 couples getting married every week at the Philippine Embassy and the Consulate General.
Better job opportunities
As more and more Filipinos find their way to the UAE, the country continues to flourish with lots of job opportunities in various fields. However, this doesn’t mean that Filipinos are lagging behind in terms of professional credentials.
Over the years, Filipinos have risen in the ranks from nannies and construction workers to professional workers and entrepreneurs who are now managing their businesses, some of whom have saved enough money to retire early and manage their businesses back in the Philippines.
Those who have chosen to stay are now enjoying the benefits of their loyalty to their company that they have worked at for many years, counting decades of unyielding support.
Filipinos are now also part of the top line management in huge companies all across the UAE. Filipinos have spearheaded divisions in IT, banking, administration, business, and more that local employers have entrusted to them. These employers have realized that Filipinos are not just trustworthy, they’re also sure that whatever job is given to them, it will be done at the most efficient and fastest possible way.
The UAE, being an equal opportunity country that thrives in the diversity of its workers, comes as one of the best places for Filipinos to find their own paths and careers that will surely make their families back home proud of what they have achieved.
Faster adaptability
As Filipinos adapt to their new environment, their employers notice too, how fast they adjust and learn to keep up with the busy pace of their work. Company owners have said that Filipinos make the “best frontline staff” not just because of their capabilities and prowess with the English language, but also with their dependable nature on customer relations.
In addition, Filipinos themselves are taking their own steps to make sure that they are abreast of the latest information on their respective fields. Various Filipino community organizations have spearheaded masterclasses and seminars focusing on continuing professional development.
There have also been several institutions that recognize the need of Filipinos to climb their career ladder faster, and thus they have launched institutes that focus on training niché skills that really boost the CV of Filipinos who undergo such courses.
The advent of new technology just empowers Filipinos more as coupled with the high internet speeds of the UAE, Filipinos can now also learn on-the-go through web learning series, educational apps, and social media. Being the most socially connected in the whole world, Filipinos manage to not only discern facts from fakes, they also learn and share the information that they have absorbed and teach them to their fellow Filipinos and to other expats too.
Stronger purchasing power
With greater numbers and lucrative job offers, Filipinos do have the money to spend. Even after paying off their monthly bills and sending money back home, Filipinos allot cash to spend for themselves as they splurge to reward themselves.
Over the years, they have also been more informed and smarter on their purchases, as more have begun venturing into obtaining investments such as condos, properties, bonds, real estate, as well as other forms of investment that they envision would help them grow their money passively in the long run.
Businesses have recognized the trend and has since launched campaigns that target the huge market of Filipinos in the UAE, especially during paydays with the emergence of sales and discounts. OFWs grab the chance to spend the money that they have earned in order to fill their balikbayan boxes with treats that they would send to their loved ones back home.
Among the things that Filipinos love purchasing especially when on sale are gadgets, bags, shoes, perfumes, clothing, and more – which is why huge shopping festivals such as the annual Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), Concept Big Brands, and the summer sales are such a big hit for Filipinos. OFWs really line up and gather to get the best value for their money with each purchase that they make at these shopping festivals.
Viral Positivity
Amidst the reality of being away from their homes, Filipinos are known for flashing smiles. Part of the mindset of Filipinos is to stay and remain positive, regardless of whatever situation they find themselves in, making them effective problem solvers and cheerleaders within the company.
Of course, Filipinos also suffer from setbacks. But what’s good about most Filipinos who undergo such is that they don’t really let these episodes affect them so much. In fact, most Filipinos acknowledge these trials as ways for them to get better. They learn from the toughest challenges as they remember the times that they might have gone through something worse. They confide to fellow Filipinos about their problems and they find solutions together and learn from each other.
This is why one of the most common Filipino words that you’ll hear is “Kaya mo yan! / Kaya yan! and Kaya natin to!” which are actually words of encouragement that means “You can do it! / This is doable! / We can do this!”
Filipinos are among the happiest cheerleaders a company can have and the way they manage to course through many problems in a single day has often left managers and company owners wondering how Filipinos were able to find solutions in the quickest possible time.
The secret to the Filipino resilience
No matter what challenges or roadblocks they encounter, Filipinos would get through them each and every time. Their secret? Most Filipinos would tell you one thing: their family. The main reason why they flew away from home in the first place.
Each time they encounter troubles, they remind themselves of the faces of their loves ones they left back home and think about how their current situation actually helps to support their younger sibling who’s still in school, or their parents who need their regular medication, or a very close friend who just lost a loved one.
Filipinos overseas have coursed through tough times and they remain standing as they think about their roadmap – which is to work enough, and save enough to finally be able to get back home, permanently.
