The Filipino community in Dammam crowned last weekend its charity queen and her six princesses who successfully launched a fund-raising campaign to fund the needs of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). The coronation ceremony was held at the Philippine School in Dammam and attended by officials from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and community leaders in the region. The fund drive was a project of the Filipino Overseas Workers Association (FOWA), an accredited community partner of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, and composed of a cross-section of the Filipino community in the Eastern Province, including those working in the service sector. Elizabeth Cubillan, who raised the highest amount of money, was crowned FOWA Charity Queen. She was crowned by Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom, Antonio P. Villamor, and Lita Rulloda, principal of the Philippine School in Dammam. The six princesses who were also crowned were Princess of Bataan Babylinda Villaruel, Princess of Mindanao Rita Villasin, Princess of Nueva Ecija Teresita Castro, Princess of Metro Manila Dolores Ri?o, Princess of Bicolandia Flor Talattad, and Princess of Ilocandia Nelia Baclagan. They were crowned respectively by labor attaché David Des T. Dicang and Amy Caldeo, Director Abdul Fettah Ennayal of Mohamed Dossary Hospital and Anna P. Avance?a, POLO welfare officer Rolando Coquia and Adelaida Cortina, Dr. Richard B. Joseph and Cleofe Macatuggal, Bagong Bayani Awardee Rolando Ocampo and Jazmine Jean Laynes, and Dra. Nieves Matas. Ambassador Villamor lauded FOWA for spearheading the fund-raising drive. He urged other Filipino community organizations in the Kingdom to initiate similar activities that will help Filipino workers who are in need. “As guest-workers in this country you are expected to observe and respect the laws of the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is treating you as guest-workers, and that connotes the clear message that as guests in this country you are expected to behave respectably,” Villamor said in his message to the Filipino community in Dammam. Director Abdul Fettah Ennayal said Filipino workers should be proud of what they are doing. “Whether you are a carpenter, a domestic worker, a driver, a car mechanic, an engineer or a doctor, without you life for us here will be miserable,” he said. Welfare officer Rolando Coquia lauded the contribution of FOWA in supporting the activities of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office Eastern Region Operation in Al-Khobar. Ambassador Villamor also inducted the FOWA officers and members led by Dr. Alan V. Notarion, OD. The following FOWA officers and members took their oath of office. Dr. Alan V. Notarion, OD, president; Frankie Nicolas, vice president internal affairs; Ven Macatuggal, VP external affairs; Adelaida D. Cortina, secretary general; Frank Mercado, executive secretary; Florencio Adventurado, assistant secretary; Carmelo Ayunon, treasurer; Nestor Bauzon, auditor; Sammy dela Cerna, assistant auditor, Teresita C. Castro, public relations officer; Jazmine Jean Leynes, assistant PRO; Elmer dela Cruz, business manager; Dra. Nieves Matas, assistat business manager; and Juanito Gelacio, peace officer. The FOWA board of directors is composed of Ustad Salman Laynes (chair), Dr. S. Inakay, Leo Camba, Armando Santiago, and Dolores Ri?o. The medical outreach committee, which will provide free medical assistance to FOWA members, is composed of Dr. Adolfo Chan, Dr. S. Inakay, Abet Tabucol and Mary Jane P. Tupas. The advisers are Sir Joe Avance?a and sensei Rey Diaz __
