DAMMAM, 24 Sept. – Filipinos in the Eastern Region will have the chance to personally voice out the pressing concerns of overseas Filipinos to the third highest Philippine official next month.
Sen. Franklin Drilon will be visiting the Kingdom to grace the 9th Filipino Community Day 2002 on October 25 in Dammam, according to Tony Morales, president of the Saudi Arabia Hiligaynon Inc. (SAHI).
Morales told Arab News that they had invited Drilon to be their guest of honor on this year’s Filipino community celebration and had received word from his office that he will be coming.
On top op the concerns of overseas Filipinos is the Absentee Voting Bill, which Congress had been sitting on.
AVB campaigners, frustrated over the refusal of the Senate and House of Representatives to even schedule schedule the measure for debate, are trying other means to put pressure on the legislators.
In Riyadh and Jeddah, campaigners met with senior Philippine media officials who are on a visit to the Kingdom, and sought help.
The Eastern Province community said they will also seek an audience with Drilon to find out what’s going on and to seek his help in getting the measure passed.
SAHI is a community group of Ilonggo-speaking Filipinos. Drilon is also from the province of Iloilo in the central Philippine island of Panay.
Morales said that Drilon is looking forward to meet his kasimanwas, the Ilonggo term for townmate, here in Saudi Arabia.
Roilo Alojado, immediate past president of SAHI and chairman for the coming community celebration, said that OFWs "are very fortunate to have the chance to meet Senator Drilon for we have so many issues to discuss with him particularly the absentee voting bill which is still pending at the Congress."
Alojado said that they have already sent a letter to Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla to inform the embassy of the confirmed visit of the senator. "SAHI had coordinated with the embassy to jointly prepare the visit of Senator Drilon," Alojado said explaining that the Filipino Community Day is usually held through the supervision of POLO-OWWA in the Eastern Region Operations.
The event is also fully supported by the member organizations of the All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (Afcscom), of which SAHI is one of its active members.
SAHI also made its name in the Filipino community in the Eastern Region when it started sponsoring Filipino Community Day, featuring Filipino artists coming from Manila.
This time, they have invited Rey Valera, Karding of the former Reycard Duets, and teen artist Lance Raymundo.