Filipino bakery owners in UAE offer free groceries to expats facing unemployment and unpaid leave: 100 packs distributed at each outlet | World News

With many expat families in the UAE struggling to cope with reduced wages and unpaid leave due to recent geopolitical tensions, one business owner has taken a personal initiative to provide immediate relief.Maria Paz Banaag-Marquez, 59, who runs a well-known pastry chain in the UAE, announced the distribution of free grocery kits to support struggling residents. talking khaliji eraShe said the idea came about after noticing an increasing number of clients facing financial hardship. “Our customers are not just Filipinos; we serve many countries. Lately, I have seen a lot of furloughs and unpaid leave among our customers. I wanted to know how I could help them, so I decided to support at least some people with groceries,” she said.The program will start on Monday with 300 grocery packs distributed at branches in Deira, Satwa and Sharjah. In the first phase, 100 data packages will be available at each location. Each set meal is worth approximately Dh75 and includes essentials such as rice, canned goods, eggs, coffee and other daily staples.Maria explains that the content is based on direct feedback from customers. “I have been asking my customers in WhatsApp groups what they need most, and rice and similar staples are at the top of the list. My team at Maria Paz is organizing this event, and even my daughter and son-in-law in the Netherlands have stepped in to help. I hope this initiative will bring some joy to people during these difficult times,” she said.Despite her efforts, she admitted the situation took an emotional toll on her. She said she often receives messages from job seekers. “Every day, I get messages on my phone from people: ‘Ma’am, I’m furloughed and without pay, can you hire me part-time?’ Honestly, given the situation, I can’t hire anyone right now. I feel really bad for them — I wish I could take them all with me,” she said.Explaining her decision to focus on direct assistance rather than employment, Maria said long-term employment was unsustainable under current conditions. “I trust the people who receive these groceries. They may misuse the help, but I choose to trust them. Even if I were to hire people with Maria Paz visas, because I keep getting requests, I need to think about the future. I might be able to train them, but in a few months, if the situation does not improve, I may not be able to pay the wages. So I thought this initiative was the best way to help, even just a little bit,” she said.She also invested personal funds to expand the effort. “Tomorrow, I am flying to the Philippines for about two weeks. I had budgeted for the holiday but I decided to cut back on my holiday expenses and donate an additional Dh5,000 to this initiative,” she said.Maria’s journey reflects a steady rise built on persistence. She moved to the UAE in 2008 and worked as a domestic help for a French family for 13 years before starting her business in December 2021, opening her first branch in Al Satwa. Today, her bakery chain has nine locations across the country. “Baking has always been a passion of mine and that’s why I started this business,” she said.Reflecting on her decision to give back, she added: “The UAE has been very generous to me and now is the time for me to return this kindness to society.”