The Itchyworms during their first Dubai trip in 2007. ARCHIVE
Filipino pop-rock band The Itchyworms took fans on a trip down memory lane after sharing a throwback photo from their first visit to Dubai, sparking a wave of nostalgic comments from Filipinos in the UAE and beyond.
The band posted the old photo on Facebook on Thursday (July 16), showing the members posing outside a “Jollibee” restaurant in Karama. “This was in Dubai. You can just guess the year, hehe,” the band wrote in Filipino.
Fans quickly joined the guessing game, with many identifying the photo as a glimpse of Dubai in the mid-2000s. “The fake Jollibee. 2007 siguro yan,” commented netizen Malou D. “Yung [spaghetti] not really Jollibee,” another commenter, Xyris, added.
The throwback photo also brought back memories of Dubai before the arrival of the official Jollibee franchise in the UAE. The first official Jollibee store in the UAE opened at The Dubai Mall in 2015, marking the Filipino fast-food brand’s 1,000th store worldwide.
The Itchyworms’ UAE connection
Formed in 1996, The Itchyworms are among the Philippines’ most recognised pop-rock bands, known for their catchy melodies, witty lyrics and energetic live performances. The band’s original lineup included Jugs Jugueta, Jazz Nicolas, Kelvin Yu, Kevin Santos and Hadrian “Haji” Cruz. Santos and Cruz later left the group.
Today, the core lineup consists of Jugueta on vocals, guitar and keyboards; Nicolas on vocals, drums and keyboards; and Yu on bass and vocals. They are joined by additional members Weckl Mercado on lead guitar and Michael Vargas on keyboards, acoustic guitar and percussion.
Over the years, The Itchyworms have produced some of the Philippines’ most popular alternative pop-rock songs and built a strong following among Filipinos worldwide.
The UAE holds a special place in the band’s history as the destination of their first international tour.
“Our first ever out of the country tour was in Dubai and Abu Dhabi way back in 2007,” The Itchyworms shared. “We’ve been back a few times since but our last UAE show was in 2014.”
The band was scheduled to return to Dubai on January 17, 2026, as part of their “Akin Ka Na Lang” tour. However, the group cancelled their Dubai and Abu Dhabi concerts due to unforeseen circumstances. PIA/Expat Media
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