DUBAI: Two illegally overstaying youngsters whose parents were jailed in November over unpaid debts say their only wish is to spend Christmas with them and to be given another chance.
The Dubai-based Filipino parents were arrested on the night of November 16 after being on the run from creditors, said their 21-year-old son Lendell B.
Both Lendell, and his sister Lara, 16, whose residence visas expired in May 2009, following the expiry of their father's residence visa, completed their grade school years at St. Mary's Catholic High School in Dubai.
The siblings have not gone back home since 2006.
‘I want another chance'
"We need all the help we can get for our parents to get back on their feet. I just want another chance for my parents and myself. I am able to work to save money to help my family," said Lendell, a self-taught 3D animator and visual artist.
He and his sister left Dubai in 2004 and came back in 2006. Lendell said he never had chance to go to college since completing high school at the New Filipino Private School (NFPS) in Sharjah in 2007.
"I did not understand why our parents did not allow us to stay back home in the Philippines," said Lendell, whose residence visa in Dubai expired in May 2009. "Now we're left with no choice but to face a very difficult situation."
He said he had his father's "blessing" from jail to do what he thought was right, following which he contacted XPRESS.
"Our only hope is for Good Samaritans to help us out," said Lendell. Lendell and Lara said they were ejected from their two-bedroom unit in Satwa last month after rental cheques for their two-bedroom unit bounced.
Because he is past the age of 18, Lendell can no longer be under his father's sponsorship.
"From what I know, my sister's passport was used as collateral for a loan and it's missing. Our parents did not tell us anything about their financial problems," he said.
His mother, a civil engineer who graduated from the University of Mindanao in Davao, Philippines, lost her job in Dubai in 2008. Lendell said his father, an interior designer, lost his job in July.
The advertising agency established by his father five months ago did well and Lendell said he helped in doing design work for various projects.
"We had plenty of projects before our parents were arrested. But our parents were not on good terms with the sponsor; we're being threatened that our business licence will be cancelled if we're unable to pay by this December."
Lendell said there had been occasions when people asked him if he already had a job and if he can pay his parents' loans.
Lara said: "We knew our parents had financial problems but we do not know the extent."
The siblings said they are unable to go out of their flat because of their illegal status.
They currently live in Al Ghusais with a cousin, who is also mired in debts.
