JEDDAH, 10 August — Kasapi, the now-you-hear-it-now-you-don’t umbrella group of Filipino community groups in Jeddah, is undergoing reinvention in hopes of regaining its glory days.
Now sporting the name Kasapi Congress, the group will now actively engage in worthwhile activities again, its leaders said.
Its new chairman is Benjamin B. Garcia, who bested three other aspirants during a hotly contested election held recently by representatives of various civic, sports, cultural and professional associations.
For a start, Kasapi is spearheading a medical and dental mission today in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General, said Gil Manese, the group’s new secretary-general.
Doctors, dentists, nurses and other health workers from various hospitals and clinics in Jeddah are once again volunteering their services to make the mission a success, Manese told Arab News.
Sky Freight Forwarders, whose general manager — Emy de Guzman - was Kasapi’s founding chairman, has agreed to provide the medicines and other needed materials jointly with the organization’s leadership, the group said in a press statement.
Preventing heart attacks
A highlight of the day-long activity is a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training to be handled by the Alpha Phi Omega chapter in the Western Region (APOAAWR) led by Esmael “Mike” Ali.
Romir Aglugub, a nurse who is one of the chapter’s current officers, said the course will teach non-health workers on how to respond in case of heart attack or cardiac arrest when no health professional is present.
Aglugub said participants will be taught the basic normal structure and functions of the heart and lungs, as well as the causes, prevention and immediate action during heart attack or cardiac arrest.
“It is a must for sports instructors and enthusiasts and it should be part of household emergency preparedness,” said Aglugub.
The Kasapi press statement said CPR training is especially needed among members of the community in the Kingdom because of the reported high rate of heart attack cases.
Apo chapter leader Mike Ali said their community service is also a tribute to their “brod,” former Labor Attaché Abraham Malli who died in Jeddah last month of illness.
Kasapi officials
Manese also said te new Kasapi leadership is encouraging other organizations in Jeddah to participate in the council’s planned dialogues in hopes of formulating a common stand on various issues involving Filipino expatriates.
For further inquiries, interested parties may call Ben Garcia at 668-2635, Gil Manese at 669-0494, Ed Catimbang at 648-4112 or Mike Ali at 668-2751.
Catimbang, who chairs the committee on membership and external affairs, had been among the most active community leaders in the Kingdom.
Kasapi’s other officials are: Gerry Cuares, chair of the political and government affairs committee; Rodolfo Cornejo, ways and means; Bobby Dalos, welfare and protection; Vic Aguila, livelihood & reintegration; Mon Usman Islao, religious affairs; Romulo Bani, education and training; Rudy Dianalan, finance a planning; Greg Quimos, cultural affairs; and Alvaro Asperilla III, information and public relations.