RAS TANURA, 17 November 2003 — In a show of solidarity with their compatriots, some 24 doctors, dentists and other health workers from various hospitals and clinics in the Eastern province volunteered for a medical and dental mission for Filipino workers in the eastern district of Ras Tanura last week.
Organized by the Rastanura Overseas Filipino Workers Association, or ROFWA, the mission got volunteers not only from Ras Tanura but from Alkhobar as well, said association president Simeon P. Perez.
The volunteers came from Saudi Aramco Ras Tanura Clinic, Gulf Dispensary Clinic, Mohammad Al-Mojil Group (MMG) Medical Clinic, Al-Saad Medical Center, Rahima Al-Ahli Dispensary and Al-Taafi Dispensary.
The volunteer doctors included Dr. Adolfo Chan and his wife, Dr. Edna Co and Dr. Clothilde Teliakel.
Providing support were volunteers from the Heritage International School, where the event was held, led by school academic director Aida M. Dela Paz. Dr. Ray P. Suanding, the medical officer of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, also came and gave advice on how to stay fit and healthy. He also provided free medicines for workers in need. Ras Tanura, 500 kilometers away from Riyadh and 80 kilometers from Dammam, has a Filipino population of about 8,000.
ROFWA has promised to help in healthrelated activities but also in serving as a conduit between the embassy and the community. Aside from Perez, the association’s executive officers are Antonio M. Marasigan, Andres T. Cudiamat, Manuel Miranda Jr., Darwin de Guzman, Abner Garcia, Ferdinand Aves, Ador Arenas. It’s Board of Directors is composed of Edilberto Buado, Edmond Pagalanan, Nazario Solijon, Juanito Mallari, Rodney dela Cruz and Danilo Silorio.