uplifting words for OFWs in the Middle East

I came across this blog a couple of weeks back while looking for gas prices in Saudi Arabia. My dad mentioned that he was paying $5 for a full tank back home and I wanted to find out if prices were documented on the web somewhere.

Anyway. I really found the blog interesting since the author (A Saudi) is pretty open and vocal about life in Saudi Arabia.

One of the memorable quotes though were his words regarding Filipinos (the comment is right around the end of the post):

"Now if there's one expat group that we couldn't do without long term, it's the Filipinos. Westerners are important, but they tend to be the managers, the architects, the system developers, the builders of the future. If they went, we wouldn't progress, but we wouldn't fall apart. The Filipinos, however, are different. They are very hard working. They are also good technicians and engineers. When your PC breaks down, chances are that a Filipino will come and fix it. They are also invariably cheery, when you are still trying to come to terms with a new working day, and a broken PC - "How you doing today, Boss, OK?". They run the Steak House in Thalateen Street, and are the only set of waiters I know who seem to enjoy their job. They have basketball and bowling leagues, and go out into the desert in families to play baseball - they know how to enjoy themselves. A large number are Roman Catholic, keeping their faith in a country where it is forbidden. I once saw a Filipino in KFC forget where he was and cross himself before attacking his chicken leg - then he saw me, but I smiled and winked. I was tempted to give him a Bishops' blessing, but thought that might be a bit much.

Filipinos, please stay. You help make this place human."

Thank you for those kind words.