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Imagine a world without Filipinos
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Imagine a world without Filipinos

Abdullah Al-Maghlooth | Al-Watan, almaghlooth <at> alwatan.com <dot> sa

[This article had been lifted from Arab News on June 16, 2008]

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 June 2008 )
 
Pinoy Pilgrim Genius Search: Extended!!!
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Pinoy Pilgrim Genius Search: Extended!!!

 

Due to popular demand, the timeframe for applications for Pinoy Pilgrim Geniuses has been extended.  Anyone who can recommend a potential Genius can do so by sending us an e-mail or mailing us a letter.  Pinoy Geniuses, Apply Na Kayo!

Please refer to the earlier post regarding the application process.

Good Luck!
Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 June 2008 )
 
Search for the Pinoy Pilgrim Genius
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Search for the Pinoy Pilgrim Genius

 

Press Release: 16 April 2008

Carlo de Leon, Executive Director of the Pinoy Pilgrim Global Foundation, Inc. (PPGFI), announced recently the launching of the Nationwide Search for the Pinoy Pilgrim Genius, a scholarshisp program for gifted and deserving children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

De Leon explained that the goal of the scholarship is “to help gifted children who have the potential to be great to get the support they need to make their dreams come true.”

The first batch of scholarship awardees, to be designated as PP Geniuses, would be announced by early 2009. Several applications from young boys and girls from all over the Philippines have been received. A scholarship committee from the academe and business evaluates the applications to identify the most deserving ones.

“If possible, in five years, we want to get scholars from every province, region, city, town, municipality, and barangay,” de Leon added, “so that we can help as many kids as possible coming from every part of the country.”

What makes the scholarship special is that each Genius has the potential to receive support until he or she finishes a Master’s or Doctoral degree. 

There are not too many strings attached to the scholarship. The basic rules to avail of the program are available at the Pinoy Pilgrim website (www.pinoypilgrim.org).

“The Genius can decide to be a musician, artist, engineer, doctor, carpenter, electrician, or farmer, but he or she has to exercise ingenuity in whatever line of work they decide to go into.”

Who are qualified and how should they apply?

First, the applicant must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a public elementary school anywhere in the Philippines.

Second, one or both parents must be currently working or have worked outside the Philippines.

Third, the Genius has to write a short, one-page letter to the Pinoy Pilgrim Global Foundation explaining why he or she deserves to be supported. The letter should show acceptable proof that the applicant is a Genius.

Lastly, the applicant must post the application personally through the PPGFI website or send it by mail to the following address:

Search for the Pinoy Pilgrim Genius

Pinoy Pilgrim Global Foundation, Inc.

P.O. Box 333

Greenhills Post Office

San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1502

There are no deadlines. Once a Genius is identified, the Pinoy Pilgrim foundation will contact the family. The scholarship support terms and conditions would be explained in detail. According to De Leon, an initial test announcement of the program in early March 2008 attracted some 72 applicants from 46 provinces.

“We were greatly encouraged by the response, which was really amazing! We discovered a 7-year-old girl, consistently at the top of her class, who will be in Grade 6 next school year, and a 9-year-old boy who is a genius of astronomy, having memorized all the stars he could see in the sky. 

We were also impressed by a 6-year old girl who speaks 12 languages, including Greek and Latin! In fact, her application letter was in Classic Latin. We were lucky one of our volunteers is a Latin expert, so she translated the letter for us.

We want to help these Genius kids achieve their dreams.

This way, we can show the world that what makes the Philippines great is the quality of our children, especially kids of hard-working Pinoy Pilgrims or OFWs. 

Seeing all these geniuses has helped us in PPGFI continue having hope in the future of our country.”

PPGFI is a Filipino foundation committed to promoting the greatness of the Pinoy’s country and people. Friends of Manuel de Leon, author of the highly acclaimed autobiography “Pinoy Pilgrim”, established PPGFI two years ago.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 June 2008 )
 
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