RIYADH, 16 May 2003 — He was introduced simply as “Dodong” by Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla during a general assembly of Filipino community leaders last weekend at the embassy.
“What better occasion to introduce him than this one, where the leaders of the community are very well represented,” Guinomla said.
“Dodong” is Manuel Roldan, the newly appointed labor attaché of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to Riyadh. According to the ambassador, Roldan will be temporarily assigned in the Eastern Region which its former “caretaker,” Jalilo dela Torre left for Tel-Aviv last month.
Roldan will replace Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul Jr., whose term will end in the later part of July. Rasul had been abroad for six years, including two in Libya and the last four in the Kingdom.
He said he may have to stay in the Philippines for a year before be could be given another foreign posting.
Like Rasul and his predecessor, Roldan is also from Mindanao. He is from Davao del Sur province.
“We want to give a break to people from the Southern Philippines,” Guinomla said, adding that he personally requested Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas for Roldan to work with him.
Guinomla said it was during his assignment in Davao City as assistant secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs when he came to know about Roldan, then the regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment.
In his speech, “Dodong” said that the secretary had warned him of a tough job ahead. He quoted the secretary as saying “mahirap na post ang Saudi Arabia,” without elaborating. He then congratulated Rasul for initiating the organization of the community leaders and promised to continue its objectives.
“You are called heroes. Hindi namin magawa lahat sa embassy at POLO, I am very glad na sama-sama tayo to address all these things, to put meaning to the heroism of all Filipinos who are OFWs. Let us continue to make them heroes by taking care of them right there at the job sites,” Roldan appealed. “That would be the challenge I would have for the next two years as labor attaché,” he added.
