Mga Puna at Pagbubunyag

President Aquino's State of the Nation Address (SONA) Part 1

Ang galing ng ating presidente. Talaga memoryado po n’ya ang kaniyang mga sinasabi – nadaig pa niya ang dating presidente ng Pilipinas na si F. Marcos nang magsalita siya sa UN noon.

Sa palagay ko po kung ano ang narinig ninyo at nakita ay iyon din ang narinig ko at nakita. Ang daming naglaro sa isip ko po. Mga sari-saring tanong… mga puna at pagbubunyag!

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The Ruined Old Diriyah---Riyadh, KSA

The Old Diriyah, according to the recent history of Saudi Arabia , was a kingdom. The family of Saud once ruled the kingdom in the early 1800s. The remains of those ruined palaces were built of mud bricks and stones, supported with some blunt timber. The Old Diriyah can be reached by a two-wheel drive and is only few km away from the city center of Riyadh.

(Thanks to IMP1's photostream for this photo). The ruined Old Diriyah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In its heyday, Diriyah had approximately 5,000 residents and 400 to 500 guests daily fed in the ruler’s palace. In addition, there were thousands of fighting men, available to do battle for the ruler. However, in 1818, Diriyah was laid waste, after a six - months' siege by the Ottoman Empire .

When we entered inside the circumference of the kingdom, we saw that the ruins rise romantically above the palms, and can be seen from the highway. Without special permission, you can visit the place especially on a weekday morning, and you can have the place to yourself to enjoy.

To get an idea of the traditional design of the old houses, we had passed through the narrow old streets, saw those rooms open off a central courtyard, partially open to the sky, and partly covered by an upper story.

The most picturesque of the Diriyah is the Salwa palace area, located on the left side of the main entrance. The palace is a four-story. During its heyday, the palace served as the administrative seat of government, and as well as the residential complexes.

In order to get an idea of what the town looked liked at the height of its power, we ascended up to the highest part of the area, where the palace of Prince Saud bin Saud has been completely rebuilt. The palace is adjacent to the smaller palace of Prince Naser bin Saud, built of mud - bricks in a traditional way. The ruined Old Diriyah is really an attraction on treks.

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Places To Hang On---Riyadh, KSA

In my first week of work in Riyadh, one thing that came to my mind was to take some trips outside the city. I wanted to visit some of the historical places, including mountains of rock and mountains of sand dunes, which are good places for excursions on weekends and holidays.

It was a Friday. With my peers, we visited on some of Riyadh’s treks. First was a trip to Hidden Valley . At five-thirty in the morning, we started our trip, as no-one wants to drive under the sun.

On our way to Hidden Valley , I saw mountain of rocks standing robustly on each side of the highway. I heard the sound of winds haunting, and whispering in every corner of the mountain - calling them that the Sun was about to rise.

Facing to the South was another spot of great beauty delighted my eyes, a red mountain of sand dunes that resembled a maiden in red, lying down with the mountain rocks at her sides and waiting for someone to come and feel her beauty.

At seven, we reached our destination, by passing through an isolated pass between high fortresses - like rock in the Tuwaiq wall. Our cars rumbled up and down with the shrubs to right, left and white dust. As we drove up the soil - covered path of Hidden Valley between piles of gravel, was a Pinnacle Valley that called because of the pillar of rock that stands near the entrance. We stopped driving when the track got rough.

Soon, everybody left the car and went around to the area, and embraced the beauty of nature. We photographed the mountains around us as our souvenirs. We also went for a hike, did some mountain climbing and had a lot of fun together.

What a wonderful place to see! I was surprisingly amazed to see such beauty that only nature can provide. It can easily charm you and let you believe that this place is not just a desert of sands, but also a place of beautiful rocks and mountains ready to be embraced and enjoy. Most amazing of all was the absence of running water, to bathe her for added beauty. A completely dry valley, but yet a surprisingly beautiful one!

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Announcement---All Filipino Get-Together

Invite your Filipino friends to COME and JOIN us in our ALL FILIPINO FESTIVAL with the theme: “OFW KA NGAYON, ANO KA NA BUKAS?”

RIYADH: (Thursday), July 22, 2010, Time:  4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Location: DXN International Office, 1st Floor, (Food Court Area), Akariah Mall Bldg. 1, Olaya St., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: (Friday), July 23, 2010, Time: 4:00 PM to 8:00PM Location: DXN Center, Al Mahmal Center, King Abdulaziz Street, Balad, Jeddah 

 

Registration is free for this event. Seats are limited to 50 only !!! So Hurry !!!

There will be lots of Fun-Learning, Surprises, Raffles and gain new friends! We encourage you to invite all your Filipino friends and help them to be part of this event.

This is a great event for those who wants to learn how to retire from J.O.B. (Just Obey Boss). Remember, employment is only a "temporary" source of income JOB versus DXN. If you are trading your skills for money, then think twice again before it’s too late.

"Paano na ka na at paano na rin ang family mo kung inubos na ng trabaho mo ang iyong lakas at ang iyong kabataan. Don't take that risk...there is always a better way.”

So if you are in Riyadh or in Jeddah, join ka na sa JULY 22, 2010 (Thurs), July 23, 2010 (Friday) at magsama-sama tayo tungo sa magandang kinabukasan.

For more information, inquire to:

PAUL:   +966 533475056   email: paul_khs@hotmail.com

EDWIN +966 508488941   email: eqmamaril@yahoo.com

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Ang Paga-Abroad Po Ba Ang Tanging-Solusyon-- Part-1

Image via Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kung kalabisan man itong aking ilalarawan Di ko po sinasadyang ito’y aking ipagsigawan Marahil bunga ito ng aking pagod na isipan Na naghahanap ng liwanag at kasagutan…

Sa mahigit dekada kong pamamalagi Sa kandungan ng Kaharian ng Saudi Buhok ko na dati’y itim ngayo’y putim-puti Tulad ng koronang kumikinang kapalit ng aking pagpupunyagi…

Thanks to OFW Nation Connecting Filipinos Worldwide for this photo.Nguni’t kailan ma’y ‘di ko pinagsisihan Ang kabataan ko’t lakas ay dito mapaparam Dahil ang bunga nito’y kaginhawahan Pangako sa mga mahal nang ako’y lumisan…

Subali’t kahit ‘tanggap ko na ang sitwasyon Lungkot at hapis sa mahabang panahon Di parin mawaglit sa isip ko ang magtanong: Ang paga-Abroad po ba ang tanging-solusyon?

Sinubok kong hanapin kung ano ang ugat Diwa ko’y lumipad sing-bilis ng kidlat Narating ko’y ang baul na nakabukas Naglalaman ng mga larawan ng aking pangarap;

Paraisong pagkakanlungan ng aking sambahayan Bahay na gawa sa bato na kumikinang sa kagandahan Sa loob nito’y mga mamahaling kasangkapan Na kanilang aarugain at pakakaingatan;

Kahit para sa iba ito’y kalabisan Sa bandang kanan ng tarangkahan Nakaparada ang magarang sasakyan Magagamit sa araw-araw na lakaran Saan man sila pumaroon lakad nila’y mapapadali’t mapapagaan… (Sundan ang Part 2)

Thank you for your time. Visit also my other world: Tutubing Mahilig Lumipad.

Saksi Ang Kaharian

O kay lupit ng tadhana

kayakap sa lupang banyaga

sa bawat araw at gabi'y lungkot

hapdi, lumbay at kirot...

 

Kay sakit ang sinapit niya

lumipad patungong Arabia

nag-iwan ng pangako na sa pagbalik n'ya

ang buhay niya't pamilya’y sasagana...

 

Nguni’t sa kasamaang palad si Tutubi ay naipit 

ang dinapuan n’yang sanga'y  nabali

ang buong kaharia'y naging saksi

siya'y tumilapo't sa kulungan ay napadpad!

 

Ilan tutubi pa kaya ang matutulad sa kaniya

na naghihintay ng tulong na makawala sa hawla

makarinig kaya ang mga nanunungkulan sa bagong administrasyon

sa bansang Pilipinas - sa panawagang dumadagundong?

 

O magbingi-bingihan at magbulag-bulagan na lamang sila

at magkakaisang ipapaubaya siya sa kandungan ni KAMATAYAN?

 

(Thanks to facebook for the photos). Visit Tutubing Mahilig Lumipad

Nightmare Of An Expat

Image via Wikipedia (Thanks for this photo)

In Saudi Arabia, the migrants should avoid the following: never smile and stare at people you are not familiar with, make low profile spending your free times walking inside malls and in the parks and other public places with unloose shirts, short pants, gold bracelets and necklaces (especially for men) the Muttawas or religious police might send you deep in hot water.

I still remember my co-worker who received his first and last Ramadan gift 7 years + (ago). The gift was unusual and it was a real nightmare for Dong and also for all of us working in the same company.

On November 11, 2002, a Filipino expat (we called him Dong – his real name is withheld) was scheduled to leave the Kingdom. But his departure was rescheduled on November 16, 2002. The reason was that, the person to approve for his release was not around.

Dong arrived in the Kingdom on December 03, 2001, to work as clerk/typist with the company where I am also working. He was friendly and a hardworking employee. Sometimes he had some arguments with his co-officemates but those were only jokes of the day with laughter and shouting.

Dong’s nightmare started on September 23, 2002 (Saudi National Day) also for that year the month of Ramadan was approaching. At 7pm Dong left our flat to buy bread at Al Othaim supermarket – a walking distance from our flat, but Dong was unable to return home. We got worried and surmised that Dong may have been abducted by some idiots and was desecrated and murdered. Usually when Dong goes out for shopping, in an hour or two he’s at home already. At around 12midnight we decided to report the missing Dong to the police and the police assured us they would look for him.

The next day at the office, we received a call from the police informing us that Dong was already in their custody handed by the religious muttawas, who caught Dong at Al Othaim supermarket. The police reports stated, that the Muttawas charged Dong with keeping earring, a small pendant cross and a small pamphlet of Christian bible kept in his wallet. Also he was suspected of being a woman/gay with his mushroom haircut, fair complexion and his smiles and preaching Christianity in the Kingdom.

Of course everybody in the office was surprised and believed that Dong was innocent of those charges. That same day Dong was released. We asked him if those charges were true but he told us those were only allegations.

Now we thought the case was over but on November 6, 2002, the police called us again and instructed our company to prepare Dong for deportation. They said that the religious muttawas brought the case to court and their request was approved by the high court deporting Dong out of the Kingdom immediately. It was so sad to learn about the news, as Dong will be deported soon.

On November 16, 2002, Dong went to the immigration department escorted by a police officer and our company secretary to get his deportation clearance but he was not cleared on that day. The reason was that the officer was in Makkah. The police officer insisted that Dong should be detained in their custody until such the time his clearance to depart out of the kingdom is materialized. And there, Dong was temporarily detained for days at Al–Batha Police Station, Riyadh City and later was transferred to the immigration office in Riyadh City . Finally on November 18, 2002, Dong received his early Ramadan gift; he left the Kingdom at 8:30 PM for Philippines .

There was fear and tensions in me at that time and thought what if it happened to me as well? What would I do? Whom I would ask for help, especially now our government is not responding quickly to help the many maltreated Filipinos in the Kingdom?

In Saudi Arabia alone there are approximately a million Filipino registered workers serving as doctors, nurses, skilled technicians, janitors, laborers, hotel staff, accountants, engineers, housemaids, drivers, teachers and trainers, barbers, and in every other imaginable field. Despite the homesickness, which is our constant companion, we adjust to different races, cultures and standards of living. A few among us have been able to save money, build a house or make some investments, but the majority are overworked, abused, maltreated and under paid or even unpaid.

Our government officials and political leaders call us, the Filipinos working abroad, modern-day heroes. That is an honor. But that is not what we are looking for from them.

Thank you for your time. Visit also my other blogsite Tutubing Mahilig Lumipad