DAMMAM, 30 October — Filipinos in the Eastern Province are looking forward to meeting some of their favorite entertainers from Manila during the Filipino Community Day in Dammam on Nov. 9.
Organized by the Saudi Arabia Hiligaynon Inc. (SAHI), in cooperation with the All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (Afscom), the long-awaited affair will be held at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Amusement Park, Half Moon Bay.
SAHI officials said event’s highlight is a musical presentation, starring balladeer Rey Valera, as well as TV comedian Bernardo Bernardo.
For the past years, SAHI had invited showbiz personalities from home, such as Hajji Alejandro, Willie Nepomuceno, Rannie Raymundo and Norman Mitchell.
SAHI president Roilo Diaz Alojado said that Filipinos are dominantly music lovers and so his group’s main aim is to give them an opportunity to meet and mingle with celebrities from home.
"It is our tradition to bring talents from Manila to give our OFWs total entertainment on the community day celebration," he said.
Alojado said that among the invited guests are Ambassador Rafael Seguis as keynote speaker, Labor Attachés Arturo Sodusta and Jainal Rasul, and Supervising Welfare Officer Sotero Tornea.
Also expected to arrive is deputy administrator Delmer Cruz of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Manila.
In the same occasion, Afscom will be awarding the winners of the Annual Sports Festival 2001.
The friendhip games which include basketball, volleyball, chess, darts, bowling, and table tennis, are now being played at the Al-Nahda Sports Club with full support from the Embassy/POLO/OWWA.
A parade of Afscom member organizations with more than 50 professional, civic, sports and cultural community groups under its roster list of members, will also take place.
Aside from the cultural presentations, the attending OFWs will be entitled for raffle prizes courtesy of generous sponsors such as Al-Suwaidi Industrial Services, Power Horse Energy Drink, AYTB Company, and Asia Restaurant, and free rides inside the amusement park.