Chapter 18: Dubai - The City Of Dreams

That was...

On the thirtieth day of December 1985, Monday that I left my beloved country Philippines, bound to Dubai carrying the reverie in my heart. I am an Overseas Filipino Worker, in short, OFW.

Manila International Airport, Departure Lounge, Philippines: "Calling all passengers bound for Dubai, you have twenty minutes left to board the plane, Thank you!" The announcement nailed my ears with excitement, hope, and fear.

The International Fast Food Chain of Restaurants hired us, as a group of 100 workers, to manage the stores in different places within Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quain, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah. Everyone was assigned in the whole of the United Arab Emirates, and Dubai was for me...my dream city...the City of Dreams...

Dubai was young for its infrastructure, but an open city in the Gulf region with a busy commercial outlook compared to some other places in the Middle East. It has a long river that cut through the city center and the nearby places. Government restrictions were quite lax. Local citizens and expatriates of numerous creeds combined their wares and knowledge for building the future. International companies were starting to intensify their footing for their visions, to explore the place into the future of Dubai.

Workers from different countries, with diverse cultures mixed up and intermingled with each other, for a hefty salary that they cannot get from their beloved countries.

Moreover, Filipinos consists a large part of the service industry, making us one of the three largest labor resource in Dubai, the whole of the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf, and the Middle East.

The city center, named Deira was ten minutes ride from the store outlet where I was managing. The company rented a villa for our accommodation near the store within walking distance. I managed the free accommodation of the employees, its maintenance, and security. I had a separate room as a Manager, one of the benefits the company offered. Also, we had free meals inside the restaurant when we were on duty, another benefit for us.

I was in the management as a Store Manager with sixteen staff and two assistant managers. The staff includes four Egyptians, two Indians, and ten Filipinos. I scheduled them all, for two shifts per day. My two assistants were Filipinos; Ronnie and Jack. I can easily handle them than the non-Filipinos. The problems of the non-Filipino were they could not speak English well and had a different culture. As a newcomer, I pushed myself to learn the Arabic language. I had to be on guard always, for me to implement the systems and procedures of the company.

For the first six months, I worked professionally with high self-esteem and performance. My Area Manager congratulated me for my assertiveness to manage the employees and increasing the store revenues. I bought all kinds of electronics for my enjoyment inside the room. I fulfilled some of my dream of having these material things.

I used my intelligence, charisma, and my daring personality to conquer the difficulties, but deep inside of me, I knew, I had weaknesses, ever ready to explode, just in case. I kept on praying that, what was happening with my life now will keep going forever until I reached my goals. "If only, I could hold the wheel of fortune."

I was very glad that everything was going according to my goals. Even my family back home, felt the same way as I did. Ayah sent a letter with hope and happiness in my heart.

Seventeenth day of July 1986

Dear love,

How's my love? I am hoping that you're in good health always. I missed you. Tsssuuup!

The children were very busy these past few weeks for their Opening Party Presentation. I personally attend to their costumes that required much stitching and decorations. The primary school principal told me that Anne would be included in their school extracurricular activities, same as with their academic standing. I am happy for them that they tried their very best to have that standing.

You know, Kent got some of your character traits and facial features; a Xerox copy of you! And Philip's fine. I taught them how to read children's books.

Love, do not forget to save money for our dream house and lot so that we can transfer to a bigger one. The children need space while they're growing up. You know our environment here in the city, is much polluted and not safe anymore.

By the way, do not forget to pray. Always pray and thank the Lord for the blessings that we received every day.

Remember, be a good father to your three loving children. Take good care of yourself. Refrain from evil deeds and bad people. Never give up on the things that could broaden our horizons.

I am here to support you always. I love you and you are the only one in my heart.

Sweet kisses, coming from your children (Anne, Kent, and Philip).

Always,

Ayah

I enjoyed reading Ayah's letter, kept in my wallet to read from time after time when I was on duty and happy with my success, which gave me the strength and courage to face life with enthusiasm.

One day, it was my day off; I went alone to "The David Plaza Hotel" – a three-star hotel near our accommodation - to unwind after duty hours. It's around six in the evening I entered the main entrance, directly to the red door with neon lights blinking all over it, as if saying, "Welcome to the World of Happiness." The bar was darkish, but I can clearly view the counter with beer dispensers, beer mugs, wine glasses, and bottles. I sat at the counter and a Filipino lady bartender asked me for my order.

"Please give me a mug of Heineken beer and a bowl of salted peanuts."

"Yes sir, a moment please."

I felt a tap on my shoulder that triggered my reflexes to stand, and back away from where I was seated. It was Ronnie my assistant manager in the store.

"Sir, Whazzzup man!" while holding me tightly on both shoulders, that I moved back to the counter; while the lady bartender handed me my beer looking intently at the scar on my forehead.

I said in a low voice, "Ronnie, what are you doing? Please behave." He only smiled, held me in my arms, and seated me at his table. He was alone and quite tipsy.

"Sir, I have a secret to divulge to you. This was from a reliable source. Some of the staff at the other branch was gaining a sideline."

"What do you mean?"

Ronnie Ramirez whispered to me everything in detail. He even named the names of the staff and handed me a small bottle, directly putting it into my right hand.

"You know Sir, try this it'll ease your loneliness. Keep it secret, you know the police, always watching. I think you knew that the "night-shift-police" were roaming around in hotels during the night."

I accepted the bottle and put it in my pocket. I went to the bathroom, fingered the bottle, and read the label. It was a cough syrup and the precautions stated, "Don't drive, it can cause drowsiness." I spotted the bottle, it was half-full. I swallowed the bottoms up, wrapped the empty bottle, and put it in a trash bin. I returned to the table and seated calmly. I consumed my beer. Ronnie ordered for another round, then another, and again, until I felt stunned with my whole being, not saying a word. My vision was becoming blurred; everything was abstract in size, moving, swaying, colliding, but a small portion of my brain functioning normally. Still, I can hear and feel. I noticed Ronnie, smiling, still talking to me. He paid the bill. We went outside while Ronnie aided me to walk. We were on the elevator heading upstairs.

"Sir, we're going up, to the fifth floor at the Twilight Bar," Ronnie's joyfully teasing me.

"Twi-light-great-we're-going-to-to-fly...?" I answered in a slurry tone while acting to fly with my hands in the air. I slumped down on the elevator floor. Ronnie helped me up.

"No, Sir, no, just another round, hang up and listen to the music. There's a music band up there. Come, see and feel the rhythm of the night, man! Enjoy!"

"Yes-enjoy-enjoy-the-rhythm..."

"Sir, walk normally..."

"Okay! Okay! Walk-normally..."

We entered the Twilight Bar, seated near the right-hand corner of the stage. Ronnie called the server and ordered two mugs of draught beers with slices of lemon and peanuts. The band played a mellow rhythm song that made me feel tired, down, and irritated. It was freaking me out and my energy collides inside of me...

"Ron request-a-song-of-my-friend-Michael Jackson..." I commanded Ronnie like a soldier.

Ronnie called the server for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote, "Please play a Michael Jackson song. Thank you!" He gave the piece of paper to the music band on stage.

The band played, "Man in the Mirror of Michael Jackson." After drinking my beer, I bolted to my seat. I was suddenly energized, all over me. I stood up shaking and wobbling heading to the platform. The band continued playing, not bothered by my presence. I danced with all the vigor on the stage.

Customers and employees were laughing at me for my horseplay and even the band. I perspired a lot that my polo shirt and denim were wet, my job uniform. I was a laughing stock at that moment, never realizing any consequences that I might befall.

"Sir, come down, come down the stage!" Ronnie shouted at me. I heard him but I continued my stunt on the stage. I grabbed the microphone and sang together with the music band. After which, "Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thank you, thank you!" Bowing on stage like it was the greatest performance in my whole life!

Ronnie came up at the stage, clamped, and, dragged me outside the Twilight Bar, "Man, what are you doing? You're such a jerk! You're an embarrassing moron! Come! We'll go home now!"

Ronnie influenced me more than I could expect. We experienced the glorious moments of our lives every night around Dubai City after our duty hours and day-offs. Our friends multiplied, and so did our party invitations. Ronnie and I spent lavishly on our caprices with no limits. We pretended to be rich in the eyes of our new friends. I disregard my job...my dream...my family...just for the sake of sustaining my "cough syrup" addiction...an addict in the eyes of my staff and my friends. My staff did not bother or was afraid to report me to the higher management about my addiction. They kept it a secret. I kept it a secret too, even with my family back home.

Ronnie introduced me to his friend, Ryan Mallari. He got everything under his domain; wheels, money, freedom, food, and anything he liked most. He's the mover of my vices for free and anything I wanted with my life at the moment in Dubai City.

Ronnie Ramirez distanced himself completely from us and I was hooked totally with the "cough syrup overdosed" addiction that my bank savings began to decline. I borrowed money from my friends, loaned from the company, and even sold my personal things. I was disoriented; I could not think normally and my health slipped down steadily. I tried so hard to attend to my work, to have a salary at the end of each month to pacify my existence. I was helpless to the point that nobody cares about my well-being. Almost a year, my life took its toll when I received a letter from Ayah.

Eighteenth day of June 1987

Dear love,

How are you? Are you not telling me the truth? Why Marco what happened? Or, you're out of your mind? You know, I couldn't bear anymore to look with our children with nothing to eat. We were having our food once a day and I do not know what to do! Anne and Kent asked me about you. I can't answer them truthfully.

Now, I am in debt here in our place. The mini-market where I am getting our food summoned the police for not paying my bills, so I signed an agreement that I have to settle this thing next month.

Marc, please, send money at once, I am begging you, please...

Take good care always. Do not forget to pray, He was there waiting for you to knock.

Always,

Ayah

I cried for pity for myself and my family, I cried for the bitterness in my heart, I cried for what I've done, I cried for my weakness and cried...following with my dreams but, I've muddled my chances, asked for forgiveness to the Lord, asking why I was easily influenced...why like this...a weakling...

My heart bled...Ayah too...our children suffered...I sinned...a mortal sin...

I telephoned my friend, Ryan Mallari, "My friend Ryan please, please help me now. I want some money for my family back home, just this time friend? "

"Sorry my friend Marco Fernando I don't have neither."

I was crying in my room, heard a knock, I dried the tears in my eyes. I composed myself hurriedly, so as nobody knows that I was crying, and opened the door.

"Marco, what happened? I heard you crying, what's the matter?" asked Ronnie while stroking my shoulder.

"Ronnie please help me...read this...." I gave him the letter and read it. "How much do you want?" he asked me.

"One thousand American dollars, Ron, can you lend me that much?"

"I didn't have that much. I have a proposition for you. Did you remember what I told before, that the other branches were making money as their sideline?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Then, starting tomorrow or the next, we have to do it. Schedule me in your shift, so that we're together. I have to do all the action, okay?"

"Okay," answered him without hesitation.

I scheduled Ronnie together with my shift every day. The cashier connived with Ronnie to do the secret method of gaining cash out of the store products. After a week, Ronnie came to my room.

"Sir, Marc, I've got the one thousand American dollars, give me the address of Ayah, I'll be the one to send to her at once. I have a friend in the Remittance Exchange."

"Okay, here's the address," Ronnie wrote on a small piece of paper and left.

"Ron thanks!" I shouted at him while he left, filled with joy.

I was glad that Ronnie will send the money. I was excited to know that Ayah Isabel can repay her debt. I trusted Ronnie since we worked together. Ronnie encouraged me again for the cough syrup addiction. We were doing our ploy to support our vices and I continued using the "cough syrup overdosed".

XXX