‘Stay strong’: Filipino community in UAE reacts to Philippines earthquake

Dubai: As a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines early Monday morning, Filipino residents in the UAE found themselves picking up their phones to check in on family back home.

With phone lines down temporarily, and an initial tsunami warning which was later cancelled, many Filipino expats in the UAE waited anxiously to get more details.

Justin Guisihan Dupalco, a 27-year-old Dubai resident who moved to the UAE in 2023, said his family lives close to the affected area.

“It was a really strong earthquake but thankfully my family is safe. My father and my relatives live in General Santos City, which is near the affected area,” he said.

“I spoke to him earlier in the morning and I asked him if he and the rest of our family is okay. Thankfully, they are all safe.”

Dupalco said he had seen reports of extensive damage through social media and from relatives on the ground.

“What I saw on social media and heard from relatives was that there has been a lot of structural damage to buildings in the area,” he said.

He added that support for affected communities would be critical in the coming days.

“Everybody needs support there, so I think our government is doing that and sending the support.”

Ryan Lim, a 48-year-old freelance photographer based in Abu Dhabi, said several members of his family live in Mindanao, including his brother and mother-in-law.

“I’m from Davao City. It’s nearby, about a two-hour drive from the affected area. When I heard the news, I was shocked because it’s a strong earthquake,” Lim, who has lived in the UAE for 12 years, said.

He added, however, that earthquakes are not uncommon in the region and that communities are generally well prepared to respond.

“The community knows it does happen, so they know what they are doing. Especially in schools, every year before classes start they have earthquake drills. So they know how to react, especially during an earthquake,” he said.

Lim's message to those affected was simple: “Stay strong and always pray.”

For Sharjah resident Nacel Concepcion, the news served as a reminder that distance does little to weaken emotional connections to home.

“Thankfully, my family is far from the affected area and they are safe. However, my heart goes out to all the Filipinos and families who have been affected by the earthquake and the uncertainty that followed,” she said.

“Living abroad, news like this always hits close to home. No matter how long we have lived outside the Philippines, our connection to our homeland never fades. When something happens back home, our first instinct is to check on our loved ones and hope that everyone is safe.”

Concepcion said Filipinos have repeatedly demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity.

“In difficult moments like these, we are reminded of the importance of supporting one another and holding on to hope. My prayers are with everyone affected, and I hope for the safety, recovery and well-being of all the communities impacted,” she added.

Dubai resident Mark David, 25, said the earthquake was a frightening development, even though his family was not directly affected.

“What happened in Sarangani was frightening and shocking. Thankfully, my family are safe because we live in the northern part of the country, while the earthquake occurred in the south,” he said.

“I hope everyone affected is safe and that there will be no further disasters,” he said.