Getting Married in Dubai- my love story

"I now pronounce you man and wife..."


I was single and very much available when I arrived in Dubai, year 2002.
I met my husband here. Also a Filipino. Ironic... we both lived in the Philippines and only here in Dubai that we got to meet and fell in love.

We used to work in the same company. But we were from different department.
We first became barkadas- Chris (my hubby), Randie, Yzel and me.The usual barkada lakads to the beach, bars and restaurants turned to solo dates for Chris and me.

To make a long story short, Chris proposed to me in Canada while we were enjoying fully his prize for being the "Star Employee of the Year", a trip for two to any branch of our hotel of our choice, airline tickets, free food and beverage to any restaurants within the hotel of our choice, free hotel stays and an extra US$500.00.

After enjoying that trip, we went to Phils for a vacation and he met my family and I met his. He then already stated his intention to marry me to both of our families.

Since I believe that we should not work in the same company as a future couple, we decided to apply outside to other companies, still in Dubai. Whoever gets to have a good offer, will resign in our company. Chris got to have a good offer first and he took it. So, at that time, I was not entitled for a single accommodation so he needs to live out.

Remember, that in Dubai, it is difficult for a couple to be seen living together without marriage because it is not allowed by Islam religion. If caught, both will be subjected to imprisonment (i think for one year) and deportation after serving sentence.Realistically, kabayans know all about this, but still kept doing it. Malalakas yata ang loob ng ating mga kababayan.

So for us to live together, we decided to get married in Dubai via Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. We asked for the requirements: This was 2004

1. CENOMAR from NSO duly approved and red ribboned by DFA, Malacanang and UAE Embassy in Phils
2. Birth certificate
3. Application form
4. Passport copies of the couple and sponsors or witnesses (min of 2)

Then our wedding banns were displayed for 15 days. After that we got a call for wedding date confirmation.
With two witnesses, Randie and Lourdes, a hired car lift driven by a fellow kabayan, Kuya Jun, we drove to Abu Dhabi for 2 hours from Dubai.

When we arrived, we were the sixth couple. I am the only one not pregnant and the only one with a bloody red bouquet of roses. We had a mass wedding, short and concise. The trip was longer than the ceremony.

Then we had a buffet lunch back in Dubai.

Now, the Phil. Consulate located in Dubai can perform marriage rites to Filipinos.

And just last Jan 8 2006, we had our Church Wedding in the Philippines.
And better yet, I am now entitled for a single accommodation provided by my company, so my hubby is living with me.

burgers

Quite ironic that i hve confessed my addiction to dessert that my first review is.... burgers.
Let me start first that all my reviews of any food establishment is of my own opinion. You, as a reader, have the option to try, believe or say something otherwise. I do not have any intent to mar reputations of the food establishments featured here.

Ok... burgers is one of the most common food served worldwide. I can say that for every trip I made, there is an assurance for every tourist that when they see that "M", "BK" etc, they somehow feel that security that they can eat something.... not for me. I do away with it as much as I can, but sometimes I just have that craving to load myself with those sinful calories, or maybe yet I have this ulterior motive that it is not the burger that I have come,but for the other "accompaniments" in the menu...

My hubby and I just went to Johnny Rockets last Saturday. This was our second time.
The first time was in their Jumeirah branch due to the fact that we have read a very good review of a well known magazine here. Out of curiosity, we tried it and never regretted it.
Johnny Rockets is an all-American Diner you usually see in movies or tv series.
Diner set-ups, counter tops, brightly lit areas... and they also sing and dance to "YMCA" while doing all the preps, cooking and serving, giving that total good "All-American feel". And I am pleased to say that most of the servers and cooks here, even the supervisors are FILIPINOS.

Johnny Rockets in Mall of Emirates, Dubai. One of the branches of the restaurant within the city. 

"half and Half" does not look like one.

This is supposed to be half serving of fries and half serving of onion rings. Well, obviously does not look like it is. Both are not greasy. They are crunchy to the bite and hot inside. Served with a styrofoamed bowl of bbq sauce and a smiley bowl of catsup.

An order of a "Single Rocket" in all its glory

This is what I have ordered. I have watched the cook grill these patties. He picked up a ball of fresh beef. Placed it directly to the hot grill, flattened with his flipper, add some salt and pepper and after a few minutes, flipped to the other side and gave it to the "sandwich maker" who has been doing an assembly line of buns. He then added the onions, cheese, tomatoes and another bun on top. He wrapped each "rockets" to the logoed paper. Ready to serve.
My hubby and I sat in the counter top and saw the other diners order the double version of this "rocket". Just imagine how big their appetites are.

The real reason for coming here, real, thick chocolate shake!

Thick, real, chocolatey shake topped with whipped cream. So thick,that I would rather spoon it and lick it to the last drop. The one serving they usually make is more than enough to fill this glass. They will also serve the stainless big tumbler with what i call the "best residue" filling up one fourths of the tumbler.

1 order of Single Rockets
1 order of St. Louis burger
1 order of half and half
1 order of chocolate shake
Roughly AED 85.00

Working and Living in Dubai

There are 3 ways I know that one can enter Dubai:

1. Transit Visa- 48 hours visa that is usually used by business travellers having a short stop in Dubai for a connecting flight.
2. Visit Visa- the most popular type of visa for tourists and job hunters alike. Usually is valid for two months and is renewable.
3. Resident visa- stamped to passports owned by people who are being sponsored either by a company (like me) or by husband/father (both are subject to salary range)
This type of visa is usually valid for three years and renewable.

The most common industry Filipinos here can be seen is the Hospitality industry- hotels, restaurants, clubs, golf courses, salons. Filipinos are very warm, friendly and always smiles...characteristics that even foreigners can testify.

We also have engineers, accountants, administrators who works in oil and gas, blue chip companies and we have a few designers, architects and teachers. Few are in the medical industry like ob-gynes, pediatricians but most are nurses.

Dubai is not America. One cannot come here to work in various establishments on part-time basis. If you are sponsored by a company, you can only work for them. If the company gets to know that you are having a "sideline" to another company, they can easily cancel your resident visa and put a ban on you. Then it is time to head back home.
We have here what we call sponsorship transfer. As I have experienced, if after serving a year or two, depending upon your contract, you can resign, receive gratuity and ask for NOC (No Objection Certificate) from your employer so that the new company you will be joining will be the one to process your visa under the new company's sponsorship.

If you are on husband's or father's visa, life is much easier because you can get work easily because the company does not need to spend money on your sponsorship. And if you are not happy, you do not need NOC from the employer. Drawbacks are, if your husband or father gets terminated or resigns from the company sponsoring them, your visa is the first to be cancelled. And the second is, this type of visa is under the condition of salary range as assigned by the UAE government.

Proliferation of Filipinos on visit visa today is really high. So high as their hopes of having a better life. But i guess, there is a wrong perception of Dubai in Philippines. The proof of increasing cases of sex slaves, abused domestic helpers, and "takas" ( Dubai's version of TNT).

Looking for a Job

I can say that I have been approached by so many kabayans on visit visa asking where the HR is located or where they can look for jobs. I directly reply to them that i suggest that they go back home and look for a job via a legit agency than waste time looking for a job here. Why???? Let me set a scenario.

"Baby is on a visit visa. She got here in Dubai out of the concerned help of a cousin. Baby bought the plane ticket and sent money to her cousin here in Dubai so that she can process her visit visa. Baby's cousin lives in Satwa, Dubai. She is a bedspacer that pays AED 800.00 inclusive of water and electricity per month and shares a room with 3 more girls. It is a double decker bed. Two of these will accommodate 4. Luckily, one space will be vacated. So Baby was informed that her accommodation will not be a problem. She just needs to budget AED 800.00 for two months ( the validity of her visit visa) and some extra for food, transport,and other essentials.
Baby arrives in Dubai. She was fetched by her cousin using a car lift (a privately owned car used to earn money by the owner, illegally). This is a cheaper option that get a cab from the airport.
Baby settles then in Satwa with her cousin occupying the upper bed. She places her clothes in a tiny square space inside a single cabinet and hangs some of her "office suits" in a zipped up plastic tokador. She rounds up the nearest vicinity within Satwa and learns bus routes ( basic is AED 1.50, the farther your trip, of course, additional fee), nearest supermarkets where she can buy instant noodles, coffee, bread and some occasional pork for that sinigang craving.
Baby started looking for a job.She looked in the ads, but was disappointed as the ads say: "Wanted Secretary, AED 10k + benefits Required: Native English Speaker". She browsed in the internet (AED 3.00 per hour) and she visited offices by using the bus.
Two months had passed and still no job. But there is an option. She can extend her visit visa for a fee (am not sure if it will be around AED 350.00) for another month.
After a month, still no job. Again, there is an option. She can exit Dubai and go anywhere and be back to Dubai. Cheapest, most popular option for this one is going to Kish( there is a package of plane ticket, accommodation and food while waiting for your visit visa to Dubai, another fee again). When Baby comes back from Kish, she will be having a visit visa again for two months. And in these two months, fingers crossed, hopefully, she will be able to find a job. And if her savings from Phils. be gone, she has a choice- to go home in Phils or to be a "takas".

If you are looking for a job in Dubai via a legit agency back in Phils. just calculate your expenses if you are still in the Phils. And I believe, the best thing that this situation contributes is that you are not forced to sign the contract and you will be able to have a good research if the salary being offered is reasonable enough for you to leave home. If you are earning quite good in Phils, calculate the taxes deducted, giving you a net income. Compare your expenses if you are living in the Phils and if you are living in Dubai. Calculate the savings, if there is any. If the difference is not that big, why would you settle for the first offer you're gonna get? Apply to other companies offered by the agency until you find a job that suits your goals.

This is the situation a visit visa holder on a job hunt purpose cannot afford to have. The first goal of a visit visa holder is to find a job in less than 2 months.
And employers here know that. Some were being promised that they will be sponsored by the company and after two months, the employer will say that they are no longer interested for your service due to poor performance.. etc. And there you are, expiring visa and a definite need to extend, exit or go home.

There are so many Babys in Dubai. Not only our kabayans but this also happens to Indians, Pakistans, Nepalese, Chinese.

Though there are some who are lucky enough to have a job and does not have to go through what Baby had experienced.

Sabi nga nila, "Ang kapalaran ni Pedro ay hindi kapalaran ni Juan."


Signing the Job Contract

If you gained your job via a legit agency from Philippines or if you have successfully gained a job here in Dubai, there is always a stage for a contract to be signed.

Again, another advantage if you got a job via a legit agency in Phils. You will not feel hurried to decide.

What does a contract include:

Position/Job Title
Salary- is it all inclusive(meaning the food, transpo and accommodation is already included but not provided by the company), so you have to look for a place to live and settle and budget your salary accdg to your needs. e.g. AED6k per month all in
- or it will just state AED 6k per month

Transportation- e.g. AED 500.00 per month or it will state, included in the salary quote
Accommodation- to be provided by company. If it is provided, will it be sharing (how many people in a room) or solo / or included in salary quote
Food- to be provided/or included in salary quote
Medical- company provided
Annual leave- will the ticket(two way) be provided by the company? How many days?
Is it convertible to cash?
Duration of contract
Visa- who will provide? if provided by company, is it deductible to your monthly salary?
These are the basic concerns if you are considering a contract to be signed.
In addition, be aware of some inclusions or clauses like you cannot transfer to a competitor company.
Emergency leave/Maternity Leave

Living in Dubai

The cost of living in Dubai is high.

Accommodation:

Bedspace- approx AED 800.00 per month inclusive of utilities
Sharing room- good for couples, partitioned by either big cabinets or curtains, approx AED 1,500.00/per month + utilities cost divided by the number of occupants
Sharing a flat- AED 2,500 per month + utilities
Some flats are being rented by fellow kabayans. She will be your landlord. She can give post dated cheques to the real landlord and she is the one signing the tenancy contract. Now it is up to her, how much she will charge to her "tenants" per room.
Depends, meaning if she wants to earn by letting others rent the rooms or simply just to be able to have a room for "free". For example, Trina and her husband has rented a 3 bedroom flat with one sharing bathroom and 1 sharing kitchen for AED 60,000 per year. The couple signed the contract issued by the real landlord and at the same time pays via cheques post dated. AED 5000 per month (60000/12 months).
There are 3 bedrooms- AED 1666.67 per room per month (5000/3 rooms).Now if Trina and her husband just wants a decent place to live and be able to sustain it, they will just let their own tenants to pay AED 1666.67 per month for one room. But if they want to stay for "free", their room which cost AED 1666.67 will be divided to two (because there are only 2 rooms for occupation) and be added to the tenant's rent, thus AED 1666.67/2 tenants= AED 833.35. AED 833.35 + AED 1666.67 = AED 2500. Trina's own tenants should pay her AED 2500 per month each. This may increase if the couple decides to make a "business" out of the situation. Then the utilities will be divided to the number of occupants per month. With this scenario, I am sure the couple will chose their occupants to be couples as well for there is only 1 sharing bathroom, and that the couples must be both working so that the utilities will be low. So if you will be one of Trina's tenants, you have to budget at least AED 4000 per month for your living allowance.

Utilities expense depends on how your flatmates uses it. If they iron clothes just before wearing them, so it means they use the iron everyday. If your flatmates have a computer and kills himself playing games all night. And the most brutal is if your flatmates uses the A/C non stop esp. during summer months, and am sure you will too.

Of course, once you find a place to stay, you should buy your bed, cabinets, pillows, linens, toiletries and some form of entertainment if you cannot live without a radio cum CD player or TV. Here in Dubai, there are lots of second hand furnitures, particularly in Karama and Deira.

Or for a more sosyal option, IKEA is always there.

For your food, the cost of the gas will be shared by the occupants. The cost of LPG, the smallest is around AED 50.00 for refill + you have to buy the tank (AED 150.00).
Pork is approx AED 15.00 per kilo. Bangus,tilapia, gg, approx AED 10-12 per kilo.
Garlic, onions, tomatoes, approx AED 4.00 per kilo each, depending if you are just getting the locally produced ones.
Small bread, approx AED 1.50 - 2.00 each. Fresh milk, approx AED 3.00 per liter.

Depending on the location, you should consider traffic (Dubai is worst), how many buses to take to and from work, your 3 meals a day,and of course your "padala" every month to the Phils.

All the costs here mentioned are near approximates for year 2007.
With these costs laid out, you should have a rough estimate how much you have to earn to live decently and still be able to send money back home and save for your own.

This scenario becomes fully reversed when everything is provided by the company. This is common in most hotel employers. Do not be surprised if your salary is below AED 1000 per month for a room attendant. Why?

The company provides you a place to stay, fully furnished. They have a cafeteria in your accommodation and in the hotel, usually buffet style with unlimited coffee, softdrinks and water. And an option, if you want to cook, there is a kitchen provided with the oven, stove, microwave oven, fully airconditioned with exhaust fan.
Your uniform is being laundered by the company. And they will provide washing machine and dryers for your personal clothes. They also provide leisure facilities like swimming pools, billiards, internet facilities, gym, basketball courts complete with sport equipments for volleyball, cricket, basketball, tennis, badminton and they even provide playstation and videoke. Transportation to and from work is every hour, and city shuttles everyday on popular malls. Church shuttles every Sunday for Catholics and Muslims to mosques every Fridays. And most companies provide Cable TV so your TFC is free. And you can have your a/c turned on for 24 hrs, for all you care. No electricity and water costs to pay.

So, you are earning only less than AED 800.00 per month plus tip/ service charge.
Calculate and see if you can still save with this scenario. Remember, in Dubai, your salary is tax free. If you live simply and fully use these benefits, your whole AED 800.00 is for you to either save or spend. The tips/service charge are just extras.

my first food blog

ok, i hve to be honest. i am a foodie. i love baking, sweets, cakes, any desserts. i would rather have an expensive dessert, budget my main course and do away with appetizers. that is how i read menus.

i would rather eat, try restaurants than shop for clothes, make-up, shoes and bags. i guess that is why my hubby tells me i am a low maintenance wife.

i was inspired by food blogs of fellow Filipinos. however, i opted to do more than a food blog. food here in dubai is expensive, if you are for quality, michelin star chef- prepared food. I would say that competition of restaurants here is very stiff. As i hve mentioned before in "going to dubai" post, this city has so many people of diverse cultures. It is due to this type of market that hotels conceptualized restaurants that offers more than 5 cuisines in one sitting. So you can have your caprese salad, a selection of sushi and sashimi or french onion soup,then have pork char siu with yang chow fried rice, or a medium t-bone steak or a chicken biryani or lobster thermidore and finish it off with a plate of miniature desserts from creme brulee of different flavors, a small slice of baklava or that mini chocolate decadent cake or maybe yet try some fried green tea ice cream... and we are talking a la carte. Just imagine a menu consisting of more than 5 cuisines . Each type has its own app/soup, main course and dessert menu (whew), difficult choices to make....

Of course, you will never get away with friday brunches... friday here is sunday in Phils. Fri is rest day. Again, brunches go a looooong way....with overflowing bubbly, a buffet of different dishes of different cuisines, to kid's buffet, to bbq in the beach.. Brunch price starts at AED 250.00 to AED 400.00.

For the foodies out there, Dubai is a place to use that appetite for culinary adventure.