As many expatriate families in the UAE grapple with reduced wages and unpaid leave following recent geopolitical tensions, one business owner has stepped in with a personal initiative aimed at offering immediate relief.Maria Paz Banaag-Marquez, 59, who runs a well-established pastry chain across the UAE, has announced the distribution of free grocery packets to support struggling residents. Speaking to Khaleej Times, she said the idea came after noticing a growing number of customers facing financial hardship. “Our customers aren’t just Filipino; we serve many nationalities. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of forced leave cases and unpaid leaves among my customers. I wondered how I could help them, and I decided to provide grocery support to at least a few people,” she said.The initiative will begin on Monday, with 300 grocery packets to be distributed across branches in Deira, Satwa, and Sharjah. Each location will provide 100 packets in the first phase. Valued at around Dh75 each, the packages include essential items such as rice, canned food, eggs, coffee, and other daily staples.Maria explained that the contents were based on direct feedback from customers. “I’ve been asking people in my customers’ WhatsApp groups what they need most, and rice and similar staples topped the list. My team at Maria Paz is organising this, and even my daughter and son-in-law in the Netherlands have stepped in to help. I hope this initiative brings some happiness to people in these tough times,” she said.Despite the effort, she acknowledged the emotional toll of the situation. She said she receives frequent messages from people seeking work. “Every day, I get messages on my phone from people saying, ‘Madam, I have forced leave and no salary, can you hire me part-time?’ Honestly, given the current situation, I can’t hire anyone right now. I feel so sorry for them — I wish I could take them all,” she said.Explaining her decision to focus on direct aid rather than employment, Maria said long-term hiring was not sustainable under current conditions. “I’m trusting the people who receive these grocery items. They could misuse the help, but I’m choosing to trust them. Even if I were to hire someone on a Maria Paz visa as I keep getting requests, I need to think about the future. I may be able to train them, but in a few months, if the situation doesn’t improve, I might not be able to pay salaries. I therefore felt this initiative is the best way to help, even if in a small way,” she said.She has also committed personal funds to expand the effort. “Tomorrow, I’m flying to the Philippines for about two weeks. I had a budget set for my vacation, but I’ve decided to cut back on my holiday expenses and contribute an extra 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 helper for 13 years with a French family before starting her business in December 2021, opening her first branch in Al Satwa. Today, her pastry chain operates nine outlets across the country. “Baking has always been my passion, and that’s why I started this business,” she said.Reflecting on her decision to give back, she added, “The UAE has been incredibly generous to me, and it’s time I return that kindness to society.”
