A few weeks back, the Philippines was hit by one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded. Typhoon Haiyan packed maximum winds of 235 kph with gusts of around 300 kph when it made landfall.
The resultant damage is unimaginable. Buildings were ripped apart and the civic infrastructure totally collapsed. The Philippines is a relatively small country but very densely populated. It is one of the oldest countries in the world. It was established more than 500 years ago and went through many phases. From tantric to Islamic periods and from more than 300 years of Spanish rule to nearly 50 years of American occupation, Filipinos went through a lot and emerged as a hardworking nation that is always on the go and refuses to bog down in the face of calamities and crisis. It gained independence at the end of World War II.
Saudis got exposed to Filipinos during the mid-70s. In just a few years, Filipinos were to be found in every household, company and hospitals across the Kingdom. I respect expatriates from all across the globe who came to work and live in the Kingdom, but have no hesitation in claiming that Filipino workers have proved their mettle in almost every field. It is not unique to Saudi Arabia; Filipinos have set high work standards in almost every country they go in search of greener pastures.
There was a time when the United States Navy and Air Force recruited thousands of young men and women from the Philippines for their skills. In other words, Filipinos do leave positive impact on whatever job they do.
Currently, the Republic of Philippines is going through a difficult phase. In the aftermath of Haiyan, the country is faced with humanitarian crisis and needs medical, financial and other forms of assistance to recover from the losses inflicted by the super typhoon.
Filipinos greatly contributed to the development of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Almost every home in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries had, in one way or the other, utilized the talent of the hardworking Filipinos. They came as guest workers but their contributions are impossible to measure.
In the wake of the natural calamity, Saudi Arabia and other countries were quick in offering generous aid to the victims. It is also the duty of individuals across the globe to help Filipinos rebuild the destroyed areas and to recover from the effects of the typhoon.
It is the need of the hour to initiate a fund-raising campaign to help our Filipino friends.
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