Years ago, I was offered a very enticing package by a well-known company.
☑️ Big role ☑️ Attractive salary ☑️ Amazing benefits for me and my family ☑️ Big bonuses every year
Definitely a HUGE increase from my income back then. 😲
To many, it’s a no-brainer. But I took my time to weigh the pros and cons of accepting the offer.
The company was big and popular in the region, a leader in many ways. But the working environment in the department I would join was toxic. Work-life balance was nonexistent at all.
If I accepted the offer, yes I might have made extra money, but at the expense of my mental health.
So after praying for guidance to help me make the right decision, I declined the offer, even if that income would’ve been very substantial for us.
I cannot trade my peace of mind for money.
No amount of money could make up for the stress and unhappiness I would face daily.
Working abroad brings a mix of opportunities and challenges, changing people’s mindsets in many ways. For many Filipinos, these experiences teach important lessons about growing as a person, being careful with money, and valuing community and faith.
Here are some key realizations from those who have lived far from home.
You change (in a good way). Living and working with different cultures gives you new and enriching perspectives.
You can’t do it alone. Build real friendships. Join the right community where everyone celebrates each other’s successes. Where the purpose is to grow together; where you won’t be judged for your failures but will help you get back up.
Money is magical. It can be gone in a snap if you’re not mindful of your spending, if you’re not conscious of where you put it – especially in Dubai. Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time (the Bible says so).
Trust few people. You cannot trust all the sob stories you hear. Be discerning. Hindi lang kabayan ang mapagkakatiwalaan. And, hindi din porke’t kabayan, mapagkakatiwalaan.
Never burn bridges. You never know who or what will help you in the future. It’s not worth cutting ties completely.
It’s not all sacrifice. Some thrive working abroad, some don’t. Working away from home can be hard, but working in the Philippines (or your home country) has its own challenges too.
Prayer is your best weapon. No positive thinking or self-help book can replace your relationship with the Lord. When everything seems to be falling apart, prayer provides comfort, enabling you to navigate much wiser through your circumstances.
Peace of mind is more important than piece of money. Any amount of money that takes away your peace of mind is not worth it.
These realizations underline the true essence of working abroad. Being away from our comfort zone oftentimes makes the journey as valuable as the destination.
The scammers had stolen nearly AED 90,000 (Php 1.4 million), leaving her with only 100 dirhams. These were her personal savings from working in Dubai for over a decade.
Irene, a domestic worker, shared her story on The Agenda program on Dubai Eye 103.8 News. Talk. Sport earlier this month, which received an overwhelming response from listeners.
She returned to the radio this week with some good news.
The host, Georgia Tolley, informed Irene that her story had touched many people, with numerous messages coming in during the broadcast.
One listener, who wished to remain anonymous, generously offered AED 10,000 to help Irene get back on her feet.
Irene burst into tears.
Georgia added, “Out there in the community, there are people who really want to support you and everything that you’ve gone through. And there are people that really value the contribution that you make.”
Through her tears, Irene said, “Thank you very much.”
She’s saving everything for her family, supporting even her extended family.
She added, “I’m [the] breadwinner of the family. I’m sending all my nieces and nephews to school. Actually, that money [was meant] for my niece’s exam this month, who is graduating from Nursing. So that’s why I was really saving that money for her.”
The host wrapped up the interview saying, “You’re just the most amazing person, and I’m thankful that through the program we can help you in any way.”
Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are heading a star-studded USA basketball team who will play 2 matches in Abu Dhabi this July as part of the preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Joining the trio are the following NBA superstars:
Anthony Davis
Devin Booker
Anthony Edwards
Joel Embiid
Kawhi Leonard
Jayson Tatum
Jrue Holiday
Tyrese Haliburton
Bam Adebayo
Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors leads the coaching staff, which also includes the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, the LA Clipper’s Tyronne Lue, and Gonzaga University’s Mark Few.
The USA also has an NBA legend for its team manager, Grant Hill. He was also an Olympic gold medalist back in 1996.
“We’re grateful we get to go back [to the UAE] and we have two incredible opponents that we’ll play while we’re there, Serbia and Australia, both great teams and great players on those teams,”
Grant Hill, USA’s team manager
The powerhouse squad will play Team Australia on July 15 and Team Serbia on July 17 at Etihad Arena in Yas Island. All games will be played at 8 PM Abu Dhabi time.
The Boomers will also come loaded with NBA stars of their own, led by OKC’s rising star Josh Giddey. Here’s the rest of the potential NBA players to make up the Aussie’s roster:
Joe Ingles
Patty Mills
Matisse Thybulle
Dante Exum
Matthew Dellavedova
Dyson Daniels
Jack White
Xavier Cooks
Team Serbia
Team Serbia is not at all a pushover, being led by NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jovic of the Miami Heat, and Bogdan Bogdanovic of the New York Knicks.
Tickets to the Games
Ticket prices start at AED 85. Here are the available price ranges (in AED):
Seven months to go, and The Eraserheads will regroup to perform in Dubai as part of the Huling El Bimbo World Tour 2024. This will be the third time the iconic Filipino band will hold a reunion show in the Emirates
Also read: I was there at both the first and second reunion concerts in Dubai 10 years ago. I was also in Manila for their first-ever reunion, called The Final Set.
US and Canada World Tour Stops
The Eraserheads will kick off their world tour in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 6 at the Hawaii Convention Center. Followed by two stops in California, July 12 at The Warfield in San Francisco and July 13 at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Then the band will fly north to Toronto on July 21 to perform at the Great Canadian Casino Resort.
The venue in Dubai will be announced soon.
More cities will also be announced in the coming days.
Another off-the-beaten path we visited during the Eid break is The Camel Farm in the desert. This is the place to have close encounters with these friendly camels for a fairly reasonable cost.
The kids and kids-at-heart also enjoyed interactions with the rabbits, chickens, deer and goats, cows, turkeys, turtles, lovebirds, pigeons, and quails. We even got to pick up some quail eggs in the nest.
We also had an experience of Bedouin hospitality at the tent while enjoying freshly cooked Luqaimat (Emirati donuts) and Arabic coffee and tea after the farm tour.
Opening Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 9am-12pm and 3pm-6pm
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9am-1pm and 3pm-6pm
Ticket Cost
General Admission: AED30
Admission with a Guide and Animal Feeding: AED50
Short Camel Ride (about 2 minutes): AED15
1-hour Desert Camel Ride: AED150
Camel Hugging Therapy: AED30
Kids below 3 years old enter for free. Guests over 60 years old get a 50% discount.
Tailored packages for groups are available upon request.
Booking is recommended. You may visit their website for the WhatsApp booking link (+971 50 485 7676).
You can pay via Careem Pay or bank transfer. Walk-ins can pay cash. They don’t have card payments available.
The kids enjoying their short camel ride
How much time is required to tour the farm?
1.5 hours is enough to do all the above activities (except for desert camel rides).
Where is the Camel Farm located?
The Camel Farm is located inside the Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve, a sanctuary that is home to thousands of Gazelles, Oryxes, Oubaras, Desert Foxes, and many more beautiful creatures
It is situated along the E77 Road (Expo Road / Lahbab) Northbound, between D63-Al Qudra Road and E66-Al Ain Rd.
According to the website, the turnoff from the highway is located at the Trucks Rest Area exit. Just follow the big UAE flag poles for 2km on a hard sand track until you reach The Camel Farm
We decided to spend one day of this long Eid weekend visiting a farm so the kids could discover how fruits and vegetables are organically produced. And sure indeed they had fun!
We took a one-hour drive from Dubai South to experience how farming happens at Emirates Bio Farm in Al Ain.
According to its website, “Emirates Bio Farm is the UAE’s largest organic farm, specialized in producing certified organic vegetables, fruits, and eggs through the use of sustainable farming practices to provide customers with the freshest organic products within 24 hours of being harvested.“
Riding on a farm train made from steel drum containers, we toured the fields where veggies such as broccoli, carrots, onions, zucchini, marrow, tomatoes, beans, etc. are grown.
There are many picturesque areas, such as the swings by the sunflower fields.
There are various facilities such as the farm shop, an outdoor gazebo, a greenhouse restaurant, and a big playground for kids.
Farm Animals
The kids loved feeding the goats and playing with the chickens, too. These are the only animals they house on the farm.
The Food
There is one restaurant inside called, Farmers Table. As guests would expect, they offer “organic, low-carbon footprint meals that offer a level of freshness not found anywhere else in the UAE.” We can’t argue with that – our eyes could see they grow their food just steps away from the kitchen.
The restaurant provides free and unlimited water and detox water.
Cheese Manakesh (made from goat cheese) is our favorite during our visit
The Shop
Before we left, we bought some freshly harvested greens. It’s not too pricey compared to the organic groceries in the city.
There are also organic fruit and vegetable juices and honey.
Tickets
The number of guests per day is limited.
I suggest booking ahead of your planned day of visit. Entrance is AED40 per person for full-day access, which could be redeemed on fresh produce but on weekdays only, except public holidays.
When you say kids’ party, you’d usually expect venues such as soft play areas, arcades, trampolines, and even outdoor public playgrounds and waterparks.
But when you talk about a typical Filipino birthday party, it’s usually 60% food, 20% mingling, and 20% fun, games, and entertainment.
Many times, it’s 90% food and 10% everything else. It’s festive.
It’s a culture thing. We love to celebrate with family and friends over a good feast.
These days, finding a perfect venue for this kind of party at a reasonable price is rare.
Cedie’s First Birthday Celebration
Our criteria for finding a venue is basic. The place must have the following:
Family-friendly atmosphere
Comfortable seating for adults and children
Lively party games & activities
A screen for us to play videos
Accessible location
Good food
Of course, a reasonable price
This time, we wanted the party to be more intimate. We wanted a venue where guests could hear the story we had shared about God’s goodness in Cedie’s life very well.
After looking around hotel banquets, indoor play areas, restaurants, and even public parks, we’ve found the 70-pax seating capacity of Max’s Restaurant in Karama just right for us.
Let me share a few highlights of the pre-, during, and post-party happenings.
Good Program Flow
The restaurant has a pre-planned program. The host started the party by inviting the guests to rise and dance, setting the energy bar high, and then we as a family walked in from the entrance door to the stage.
Cedie got quite overwhelmed with the sudden rise in energy, but it’s just him being a baby. Not too long after, he got settled (somehow).
Here’s the program they prepared (I added, the song number, Kahoot game, and the testimony part):
Opening prayer
Welcome remarks
Games for kids and adults (while dinner is being served)
Kahoot game (hosted by yours truly)
Dinner continues
Song number from Ate Aya
Another game for adults
Sharing of our Testimony about Cedie’s life
Mascot appearance and kids dance number
Handing loot bags to kids
Wishes and prayers for the celebrant
Photos with guests
Closing
Good Food Service Setup
Here’s the clincher, one of the main reasons why we chose Max’s Restaurant is that they are not a buffet. They serve the food on the table, so the guests don’t have to stand and wait in long lines to get food.
The packages are accurately allotted to the number of guests per table. With that in mind, we created a seating plan to arrange guests who could share the food on a table without animosity.
Also, we’re happy they serve the food while the games are ongoing, so the guests don’t have to have a late dinner.
The food packages are very affordable.
While having dinner, we had an intermission number and another game, and then we shared the testimony about God’s goodness in Cedie’s life.
Lively Host
A lively party host is crucial for maintaining the engagement of the guests. Big thanks to Mike, as his energy and interactive connection with kids and adults ensure a fun-filled atmosphere throughout the night.
Party Decoration
Because we can’t alter the restaurant’s interior that much, allowing us to bring a team for party decoration is a big plus.
We worked with DGSixx Events Management for the decorations. Look how their design has amplified the ambiance—from a typical restaurant into a kids’ party hall.
They came to the venue 3 hours ahead of time to decorate the stage into this.
We were thrilled with the outcome; the design was meticulously planned. They were delightful to work with, especially in accommodating our requests.
In fact, this is the second time we have partnered with them for a party. They also did the decorations for my other son’s birthday party. Just goes to show how much we trust and love their craft and service.
Visit their Facebook page to see more of the services they offer to any kind of party.
Let me know if you’re looking for a venue and a party decoration team. I can share the right contact person at Max’s Restaurant and DGSixx.
Since we live 50 kilometers away, we stayed at the Double Tree Dubai M Square Hotel to make it more convenient for us before, during, and after the party. Didn’t realize there was this cozy hotel in the middle of Bur Dubai.
It’s Not Just Us
We’re blessed that many friends helped us throughout the planning and organizing. On behalf of my wife, thanks to you guys!
Sonny and Mae for shipping the loot bags to Dubai
Oliver and Maria for shipping Cedie’s outfits
Ryan for arranging the collection and delivery of shipments from Manila
Mervin and Vic’s amazing photography and videography services. Thanks to Micah for the recommendation.
Mona for the favors about our hotel stay.
Jovel, Michael, Mike, and Cynthia from Max’s for all the assistance before, during, and after the party.
Julie of DGSixx for going the extra mile.
The older kids, Aya and Buybuy, are very much involved. They helped me design our Super Mario-inspired shirts using Canva. They watched how they were printed. They also packed the loot bags.
I think they’re the most excited for the bunso’s party.
The Philippines’ rising start Alex Eala will be part of the stellar lineup playing at the 2024 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. Games begin on February 3 and continue until February 11, 2024.
Alex is set to join 28 of the world’s top-seeded WTA players for the 2024 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets start at AED25 and are selling fast. Buy them via Platinum List or you can follow this link: https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/89086/mubadala-abu-dhabi-open-2024?ref=boydubai
Dhai Dubai, the first-ever Emirati-led light art festival, prepares a line-up of cultural activities set to immerse visitors at Expo City Dubai and Al Wasl Plaza starting tomorrow.
The 10-day festival will feature an immersive program of interactive experiences, talks, workshops, and activities.
It is free to attend and welcomes visitors of all ages to explore, learn, and engage with light in a way that is both profound and playful.
The event is partnering with Liter of Light to provide high-quality solar lighting to disadvantaged communities.
Dhai Dubai invites visitors to engage with seven magnificent light art installations, reflecting the city’s rich tapestry of narratives and creative expressions.
Running from January 26 to February 4, 2024, Dhai Dubai welcomes guests of all ages to an illuminating series of talks, educational workshops, stunning projections, and immersive experiences.
Liter of Light, on a mission to brighten lives, is teaming up with Expo City Dubai for the spectacular Dhai Dubai Light Festival—the first-ever Emirati-led light art festival! This is big news because it marks the first time a Filipino organization is a strategic partner of Expo City Dubai.
When? January 26 to February 4, 6-11pm daily
Where? Expo City, Al Wasl Dome
This will be an amazing way to experience immersive light art and installations from renowned Emirati artists.
Liter of Light will run a campaign to invite Filipinos in the UAE to help spread light and hope to communities back home.
What is ‘Liter of Light?’
Liter of Light is a global, grassroots movement, born in the Philippines, committed to providing affordable, sustainable solar light to people with limited or no access to electricity. The organization is also an Expo Live award-winning global movement.
What can you do?
🛍 Visit our booth
🛠 Join our workshops
💙 Make pledges to support Liter of Light’s work
Your pledges will help empower over 1,600 families in the Manobo floating villages of the Agusan Marsh in Mindanao.
Fun Challenges and Workshops
To raise awareness about this campaign, the group is challenging us to build one simple solar light.
You will be provided with a solar light kit and an online workshop with a trainer just for you, so you can make a difference all from the comfort of your home.
Once your light is ready, record a video, share it on social media, and challenge your friends to visit the festival, attend our workshop, and make pledges to light up lives.
It only takes 30 minutes, and the solar light you create will brighten a family’s life for the next five years, reducing carbon emissions by a whopping 1000 kg! 🌏
Light to the World
Visitors will also have the opportunity to pledge a contribution to other locations across the Philippines, Kenya, Cameroon, and India. This collaboration aligns with the festival’s belief in the power of light to influence not only artistic expression but daily life, uplifting communities, and building a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
The Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival is a celebration of light, art, and culture that will take place for the first time in January 2024 at Al Wasl Plaza in Expo City Dubai. It aims to create an immersive and enriching experience that celebrates the spirit and culture of Dubai and the UAE. In addition to the awe-inspiring displays, the festival offers diverse, engaging talks and interactive workshops, providing a deeper immersion into the artistry and cultural significance of each creation. Together, these create a holistic showcase of remarkable local artists while creating an unforgettable experience for visitors worldwide.
Immersive Experiences at the Festival
Beyond the central artworks, a series of dynamic and responsive light art experiences will be featured.
Solar Canopy, an interactive visual spectacle, is fueled by the movements of guests cycling on stationary bikes, creating a unique experience where visitors’ presence and energy literally illuminate the space.
Elysian Arcs presents a serene and seamless blend of immersive curved structures, traversing the delicate line between color, light, and our own human emotions and perceptions.
Sun Dance is an installation that comes to life with every move, creating a captivating dance of light that mirrors visitors’ actions. A playful yet magical reminder of our intrinsic connection to art and our surroundings.
Speed of Light by XDubai is where skateboarding transcends into an art form. This installation epitomizes the spirit of Dubai’s urban culture and youthful energy, offering an electrifying experience for both skaters and spectators. Speed of Light features designs and illustrations by the renowned Emirati artist, Aysha Al Hamrani.
Educational Talks and Workshops
Dhai Dubai also offers a Knowledge Programme, where visitors can engage in deep discussions around art and culture, gain professional insights, and enjoy interactive workshops.
The event features nightly talks from cultural leaders and artists, providing a deeper understanding of the artistry and cultural significance behind each illuminated creation.
The Lens and Light Masterclass, hosted by Nikon, invites participants to learn how to create exquisite light paintings by combining motion blur techniques with lights using a DLSR camera. Cameras will be provided for participants to practice with, though guests are also welcome to bring their own.
Children’s Workshops
More than 20 activities and workshops for children are available to unleash their creativity and curiosity through light and color.
Children aged 3 to 5 years old can enjoy exploring light, reflection, and shadow with a set of safe, interactive boxes through Light Exploration Boxes.
For hands-on creativity, they can indulge in fingerpainting with non-toxic glow-in-the-dark paints or create their simple lanterns.
For dress-up fun, they can relish the Glow Wear activity, where they’ll be invited to craft their wearable art pieces, including eyeglasses, bunny ears, bracelets, and flowers, using vibrant light sticks.
Children aged 6 to 12 years old will have a chance to create solar-powered lanterns using recycled materials (in collaboration with the Liter of Light project) and craft their kaleidoscopes filled with geometric wonders.
They will also produce mesmerizing artworks featuring seascapes inspired by Dr. Najat Makki’s creations, using bioluminescent paint.
For more information, please visit the event website, dhaidubai.com.
