Emirati Documentary Series Raises funds for Typhoon Haiyan Relief

Charity auction held at Emirates Palace

Abu Dhabi, January 13, 2014: An auction held at the end of Emirati television documentary series Beyond Borders has raised over 150,000 AED for Philippines disaster relief through the UAE Red Crescent.

The main item at the auction was a Jeepney bus - a popular mode of transport in the Philippines that featured heavily on the show.

Fatima Abdulrahman, who starred in the six-week long series, said of the auction: “I'm so glad we have this chance to raise some much needed funds for the Philippines. Ever since we came back from the trip we've all felt obligated to help out and have encourage others to do so too.

“The Jeepney was a big part of our experience – it took us everywhere and we met so many wonderful people on the Jeepney. Auctioning it off is a fitting tribute to our time in the Philippines and whoever wins the bus deserves our respect.”

Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman of Image Nation, the Abu Dhabi-based company who co-produced Beyond Borders, said: “We were overwhelmed with the response to the show. Not only was it popular amongst the Emirati community, but also among the Filipino community here in the UAE and in the Philippines.

“It was a real eye-opening experience for everyone involved and is a project that everyone here at Image Nation is immensely proud of.”

Throughout the series, Beyond Borders documented the adventures of the cast – Ahmed Al Ghurair; Salem Al Marar; Mohammed Al Ameri; Fatima Abdulrahman; Tasneem Al Naqbi and Mariam Al Kuwaiti - as they experienced life with Filipino families in Manila.

Their journey saw them living with locals and working in industries across the Philippines. This included working with inspirational charitable programs such as GK Farms and Liter of Light – taking on board the valuable lesson that ordinary people can make a difference to society.

The auction evening, which was held at Emirates Palace, also featured a short video highlighting some of the casts most memorable moments.