JEDDAH, 18 August 2006 — A consulate official has urged Filipino workers in the Kingdom make it a point to save part of their earnings and fulfill their dream house or at least start their own businesses when they return home to the Philippines.
“No matter what you jobs and how big or small you are being paid, make sure that before you return home for good, you have built a house at home or have substantial savings that you can tap as capital for a business endeavor,” Trade Attaché Faisal Abdullah said.
“We are urging our compatriots working in different fields around the Kingdom to start their own savings program for a much brighter future,” he said.
Abdullah made his pitch during the recent re-launching in Jeddah of Megaworld International, a premier property developer in the Philippines.
He exhorted OFWs to refrain from buying unnecessary things or non-essentials and instead save or invest in their future.
“I’m sure you all don’t want to see the day when you would lament not having saved for more difficult times,” he said, citing the example of other nationals who are known to be frugal.
Filipinos are said to be the favorite of many shops not only in the Kingdom but everywhere.
“We are easy-going; we like the good life. And that is proving to be a liability,” said one community leader who attended the Megaworld’s relaunch Real Palace Hotel in Jeddah.
Also present were Labor Attaché Bulyok Nilong, Essam Al-Fudaili of Megaworld International, and Adnan Khafaji, general manager of Al Rawan Homes.
Danilo Madlansacay, business development consultant of Megaworld International who came all the way from Manila, showed a slide presentation of the company’s profile and projects.
The organizers headed by the marketing manager John Asperilla made an appeal to those who attended “to spread the good news of promoting the Philippines’ booming real estates, not only to fellow OFWs but to all foreigners to make our country their second home.”