Summer is finally over... just as quick as October.
Time runs fast; I have counted several summers here in UAE and have waited with enthusiasm for winters. This transition is significant for me. If you have noticed, I have written few blogs about this, annually -- when its almost winter.
What makes this time remarkable for me?
I guess, being in the Middle East, knowing that you are in the desert, having experience the heat of summer and have survived it, makes this time an extra special above the other phases.
During this time, it feels good to look back few months back... while you are covering yourself from the sun and the hot wind that blows on your face. The feeling of survival and victory that you have overcome the scorching heat of summer.
This year, blazing wind blew several times... I know its not only me, but many of us had a searing summer.
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Mula sa malayong ibayo kung saan kami nagta-trabaho, isang malaking tulong ang hatid ng TFC para patuloy na kaming maging updated sa anumang kaganapan sa ating bayan. 
the fees will costs more than 2 thousand pesos... and an ordinary laborer in our country cant really afford such amount PLUS the processing fee of 150 thousand pesos in the agency... 
they have presented these copies of post - dated checks that they signed as payment that reached almost half a million pesos: 
they have reached the final stage... had debts that is payable for lifetime. well, maybe not! with the declared salary of 5,200 Dirhams or around 65,000 Pesos per month... 500,000.00 is nothing compared to the better future that awaits these drivers.
as they reached Hongkong, they were surprised that they were given a new visa that should be presented in Dubai Immigration: TOURIST VISA.
from there, they realized that they were illegally hired.
and definitely, the original visa issued to them by Dubai government is Tourist, since they cannot enter the Emirates illegally. 
in less than a week, these people were able to gather monetary donations, collected goods and organized the mission of helping these innocent Kabayans in the nearby Emirate, Ajman.
11 April 2009 - Black Saturday.
Where they stay: the accomodation building of Al Tomooh, CYM's partner agency here in UAE. the buildings are still under construction. this area is also being used as an storage area to keep the chemicals (being used for gun powders). these are flammable... in the middle of the desert where the heat reaches 50 degrees - danger is just within their reach, aside from the germs that they can get from a nearby dumpsite. 
NO Air Condition. Only generators provide the electricity, which is only from 6-12 midnight. with the dump site as their neighbor, they have to keep their windows open despite of the polluted air. Summer is fast approaching. these men are not camels that can resist the hot temp in this desert.
while some of us are talking to these men, others were preparing the lunch for them. with these Filipino dishes, the lunch has been a little "fiesta" that makes the "salo-salo" more special.
after lunch, they invited us to come inside and show their rooms, tell stories on how they are managing to survive... 
Filipinos creativity and funny side were seen as we walk the hallway... in each doors, their group and names were posted...
yet these doors are open to those who want to enter their world.
as we come inside... their smiles welcomes their visitors. the glow in their eyes were enough to express their gratitudes for all the help that they received.
Aside from the goods that are seen on the hallway... each room has their own stocks too. for sure, these goodies will last for atleast 3 months, but of course, none of them is hoping to be there for that long...
they were positive in telling us that they will no longer consume everything, and soon they leave, it will be hand over to other Filipino Organizations to help others as well...
somehow, their voices were heard.
