MANILA — The Philippines’ rich culture is the highlight of this week’s Riyadh Season as Saudi Arabia launches its Global Harmony Initiative.

Filipino cultural dances and traditional costumes are being showcased through stage performances and street parades at the Suwaidi Park in Riyadh. Several Filipino artists and celebrities, some all the way from the Philippines, are also lined up to perform.

An array of Filipino food, handicrafts, and fashion items are on display too in many of the booths set up around the park.

Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Media, the event is meant to give back to the Filipino community for its contribution to the Saudi society and to hopefully encourage more Filipinos to work and live in the Kingdom.

“I grew up with having Filipinos around me— the house, supermarket, dentist, hospitals, helpers, airports, service industry, engineers," said Suwaidi Park Chief Management Sarry Shaaban who is co-organizing the festivities. 

"Everywhere we go in Saudi Arabia, the Filipino community is a part of it… It’s a way of saying thank you, saying we appreciate you, we love you. Riyadh is your second home,” 

One of the concert attendees, a Filipino domestic helper, said the experience was like having a taste of home in Saudi Arabia.

“Sobrang saya po kasi yung mga namimiss namin sa 'Pinas, nararanansan po namin ngayon,” said Fe Mahinay who hails from Davao.

(We're so happy because the things we miss about the Philippines, we are experiencing them here.)

For Melany Marasigan, it’s a good way to further promote her Filipino food business, which she runs on the side while continuing to work as a nurse.

A Bicol native, she said she is looking to earn additional income to send back home to her relatives affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

“Noong unang panahon kasi hindi talaga binabaha (yung bahay namin.) So ngayong alam mo nang binabaha na, siguro ang next step is taasan ang bahay,” she said.

(Our houses didn't get flooded before. So now that we get flooded, maybe we need to build higher floors.)

“It’s also about the opportunity na aside from doon sa job na meron tayo, pwede pa. Yung passion mo to run a business or sa pagluluto so nailalabas mo,” added Marasigan.

(It's also about the opportunity that aside from the job we have, we can show our passions for running a business or cooking.)

The Philippine week is part of the bigger Global Harmony program to strengthen the bonds between the expatriate communities and the Saudi society. 

“It’s a good opportunity also for the local Saudis to see what’s going on and to know about their friends and the community,” said Shaaban.

Other cultures that will be featured as well over the course of the season are that of India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, and Egypt.

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