“The postponement is due to the fact that the date in the event approval notice from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs was wrong,” according to an official of the group.

Yousef N. Lubid, executive vice-president of SAMPIGA, which boasts over 1,000 members, expressed his appreciation for officers and members who were continuously cooperating to make the event successful. Dionisio B. Tabuco Jr., the president, is currently in the Philippines.

Lubid also thanked Ahmed Abdullah Al-Rebdi, an engineer and vice president for manufacturing and technical affairs of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries and Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO), for the drugs and medicine given free of charge to Filipinos consulting with SAMPIGA volunteers during medical missions.

“These drugs and medicines will also be given free of charge to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who seek consultations with medical volunteers in Hail,” Lubid said.

He said SPIMACO also donated drugs and medicines for the group’s numerous medical missions last year and these included the 16th Health Awareness & Community Outreach Program in Unaizah on Feb. 4, 2011 with 600 OFWs attending. More than 400 patients had free consultations with volunteer doctors and nurses. They also had free blood pressure and sugar check-ups. There were also 59 dental extractions.

Other medical missions were conducted at Badayah on April 10, 2011; Zulfi on July 29, 2011; Al-Salman Hotel in Buraidah on July 29, 2011; and at Al-Rass on Dec. 2, 2011.

Lubid said in addition to medical missions, SAMPIGA also conducted an electronic voting of new officers with the winners inducted to office by then Labor Attaché Adam Musa, who has since been reassigned to the Eastern Province.

He added that the group also conducted an on-site labor education program at the Al-Salman Hotel in cooperation with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Central Region (POLO-CRO) on Sept. 30, 2011.

Lubid added in relation to humanitarian programs, SAMPIGA donated a total of SR9,684 to various individuals and typhoon victims last year. The amount came from donations and contributions from SAMPIGA’s officers.

He said SR3,514 was remitted for victims of typhoon Sendong in northern Mindanao, SR3,000 was paid to the Buraidah Hospital for the hospitalization and surgery of Alejandro Rivera who underwent prostate surgery on June 2, 2011, SR900 was given to Gina Dinlausu in Riyadh when she went home and with SAMPIGA’s help, saying she did not have any money.

SAMPIGA also gave SR700 to Irene Camua whose son was undergoing chemotherapy in the Philippines, SR870 to Corazon Flores, a SAMPIGA coordinator at the Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) whose husband needed surgery due to a blood clot in the brain.

The group also helped Arlene A. Bulusan regarding her membership at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). She’s a nurse at Al-Fereh Hospital.

“We thank all those who helped last year so that SAMPIGA could be a helpful group to the Filipino community not only in Qassim but also in Hail,” Lubid said.

“We look to 2012 with hope and optimism that we can do more in our attempt to make a difference.”

Lubid also thanked Yousof S. Cardenas of Transfast for having supported SAMPIGA’s projects.