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Filipino overseas workers in Dubai have joined hands in a fundraising event that draws thousands of OFWs in the city and raised roughly P4 million for the victims of typhoon in the Philippines.

The noble project, “walk for a cause” Giothon “Alay ng Buhay Project” saw its participants trooped to the Safa Park in Dubai to heed the call for help of victims of typhoons that hit the Philippines recently.

The project was organized by the Philippine Business Council. According to Philippine Business Council president Lucille Ong, who was surprised by the overwhelming turn-out  of support, they were able to raised from the event about 300,000 dirhams or around P4 million. They were actually targeting an amount not lower than P5 million to help the typhoon-affected families in the Philippines.

While the event was supposed to call for the support of Filipinos in Dubai, it also got the attention and of support of a crowd of foreigners who came with their Filipino spouses, friends or officemates. They also brought along with them their families to support the project.

Allen Burton, who is from the United Kingdom said, “I have Filipino friends. It’s great to do something to contribute on the disaster that occurred in the Philippines.”

“You know, it tells me the whole world is coming together. We’re here for a cause, thank you very much,” said ABS-CBN Middle East Bureau managing director Edgardo Garcia.

Elsewhere, more fund drives were being conducted. The Philippine Golfers in the Middle East and Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club also organized a project to raise funds for the victims. The groups were able to send about 12,000 dirhams of P150,000 collected from the tournament to ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya.

Meanwhile, tons of relief goods are pouring in from the Filipino community organizations in the Middle East. Cargo and remittance companies are also offering free shipment of donated goods and cash remittance services.