02 July 2012- The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, together with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Eastern Region Operations (POLO-ERO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Pag-IBIG Fund and the different Filipino Community Organizations in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, successfully celebrated the 114th Proclamation of Philippine Independence Day and 17th Migrants Workers Day at the International Philippine School in Al-Khobar last June 15.
Over a thousand Filipinos and their dependents actively attended the whole day affair.
The day-long celebration was spearheaded by Labor Attaché Adam A. Musa who represented Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ezzedin H. Tago. Ambassador Tago was then in Riyadh with Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay.
OWWA Welfare Officer Floro Fernando and Pag-IBIG Fund Representative Lacsamana Tuan assisted the Labor Attaché.
The Filipino Community was duly represented by AFSCOM Chairman Yusuf Orly Flores, OFW Congress President Mary Jane Tupas and Roilo Alojado of SAHI, who was designated as the over-all coordinator of the entire event. All of them were also designated members of the Executive Committee created by POLO to oversee the preparation of this year's celebration. The three Philippine schools based in Al-Khobar were also represented by their respective school principals.
Support of the employers to their workers and the entire celebration was quite noteworthy. Mr. Abdul Fetteh Enayal, Managing Director of Mohammad Dossary Hospital, and Samy Al Filaihy and his wife, Iman, Human Resource Manager of Nessma, other executives of GCC holdings and other companies witnessed the whole-day affair.
Highlights of the day-long celebration included a photo exhibit, a visual arts exhibit and a cultural show from the three Philippine schools.
The showcase of Filipino Culture, Customs and Traditions, which was colorfully presented by ten (10) groups of OFWs and which was organized and spearheaded by the Saring Himig, was the one most applauded.
Various prizes were given away via raffle draws that added more fun to the whole-day celebration.
Ambassador Tago thanked the Filipinos in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region, their dependents and their employers for their active participation in the celebration and looks forward to their continuing cooperation in all the Embassy's programs and services there. END