A group of Filipino legislators, business leaders, and members of the media, led by Speaker Jose de Venecia, visited this country and witnessed how King Abdullah and three of his brother- princes, lauded some one million overseas Filipino workers here.
De Venecia and his group called on Crown Prince Sultan, Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, and Riyadh Governor, Prince Salman, on separate occasions in their respective palaces and offices during the Filipino delegation’s four-day visit here.
All four told the Filipino group their household staffs are composed of Filipinos because of their admirable traits and work habits common only among Philippine natives.
Compared to workers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, and India which have patterned a labor exportation program after that of the Philippines, Filipino laborers and employees get higher pay from their Arab employers.
"I learned that many Filipinos are paid at least 10 to 20 percent higher than their counterparts from other countries," said Sulu Rep. Hussin Amin.
De Venecia welcomed the praise reaped by his compatriots and announced to various Filipino communities here what he heard from the top leaders of this country.
The Speaker said the tribute to hardworking and trustworthy Filipinos also came from government and business leaders.
Sheikh Dr. Bin Homaed, speaker of the Shura Council, and officials of the Saudi Arabia Chamber of Commerce are among the Filipino workers’ patrons.
"In general, Filipinos are very honest, have a good reputation, and I’m very pleased with them. My children are growing up with their Filipina nanny," said Prince Talal, chairman of the agriculture fund of Saudi Arabia. In appreciation of the Filipinos’ service to his country, the Prince said he financed the establishment of a Riyadh school for children of Filipino workers, which he asked the Speaker to visit.
Despite a tight schedule, De Venecia found time to visit the International Philippine School in Riyadh, where he announced to at least 900 Filipino youths how well regarded their parents are by members of the royal family.
In his visit to King Abdullah at the latter’s Jeddah Palace, the Saudi leader described his preference for Filipino workers to serve in the Palace, praising them for their "honesty, dedication, and industry."
"King Abdullah had great praise and compliments to the one million Christian and Muslim Filipinos working here," De Venecia later told an interview on Saudi News Television.
De Venecia said the King also praised Filipino workers as "very stable and friendly."
The Saudi King vowed to "seriously consider" the Philippine proposal for an endorsement by Saudi Arabia to attain an "observer status" in the Organization of Islamic Countries.
Aside from De Venecia and Amin, the rest of the Philippine delegation is composed of Reps. Abdullah Dimaporo (Lakas, Lanao del Norte); Abdulmunir Arbison (Lakas, Sulu); Lorna Silverio (Lakas, Bulacan), and Belma Cabilao (Lakas, Zamboanga Sibugay).
Also with the group were Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo; Mrs. Georgina de Venecia, president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc.; Commissioner Noel Cariño of the Constitutional Consultative Commission; Alfredo M. Yao, chairman of Zesto Corp. and special ambassador to China; lawyer Alfonso Reyno Jr., chairman of the Manila Jockey Club; Veronica Carandang, vice chairperson of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Marilou Romero of the PhilippineSaudi Business Council.
