Ask Manila for More Consular Officers, Ambassador Urges Community Leaders

Arab News The Middle East's Leading English Language DailyMonday, 24, April, 2006 (26, Rabi` al-Awwal, 1427)Romy Tangbawan & Francis R. Salud, Arab News —
JEDDAH, 24 April 2006 — Outgoing Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla has urged the Filipino community in Jeddah to help put pressure on Manila to assign more consular, labor and welfare officers to the Philippine Consulate.
Speaking during a farewell party organized by “Friends of Ambassador Guinomla” at the Al-Harithy Hotel in Jeddah on Friday night, he said the entire Philippine mission in the Kingdom ought to have more officers considering the huge number of Filipinos spread out across a vast territory.
“The Filipino community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia deserves the full attention of officials in Manila,” said Guinomla in reaction to complaints by community members over the glaring shortage of personnel at the consulate.
Saudi Arabia is host to an estimated 900,000 to 1 million Filipinos, the second biggest Filipino overseas community next to that in the United States.The shortage has become more apparent in recent days after police rounded up tens of Filipinos as a result of the disappearance and killing of three compatriots, whose dismembered bodies were scattered around the Industrial City in southern Jeddah, and the alleged smuggling of gold from a mine in Madinah province.
The consulate currently has only two officials, Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot and Vice Consul Jose V. Jacob. When Guinomla was consul general in Jeddah until 1997, he was assisted by a consul and two or three vice consuls.
Leaders of the Overseas Filipino Workers’ Cooperative Council (OFWCC) said the assignment of additional personnel to the consulate will be in the wish list they hope to present to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she comes for a visit to the Kingdom, probably next month.
During the farewell party, Guinomla reminisced the years when he was consul general in Jeddah. He acknowledged that the community in Jeddah was, and remains, one of the most vibrant and active partner of the Philippine mission.
Many of those who attended the farewell party were active in joint activities of the community and consulate during Guinomla’s watch in Jeddah.
“He is a father, a compatriot and a friend of all OFWs,” Mohammad Eisa de Jesus said when asked by Arab News to give a brief description of the outgoing envoy.
Evelyn Santos, former president of PICPA-Jeddah and other groups, said: “He is strict but very kind person. He’s very considerate and as much as possible, he avoids declining invitations from the Filipino community inviting him. He’s a favorite of OFWs.”
Emy de Guzman, founding chairman of the Kasapi group and general manager of Sky Freight Forwarders, said: “He is a family friend and the word ‘excellency’ is just but fitting to his name. He is a good diplomat whose move is always calculated.”
“He is a quintessential diplomat,” chimed in Edris Tamano, a former chairman of Kasapi and the United Bangsaranao Council.
“I prefer a welcome party rather than bidding farewell to the father of all OFWs,” said Jimmy Leonida, director of OFWNet and a founding father of the OFWCC.
Mohammad Issa Carlos de Leon, principal of Pearl of the Orient International School and former teacher at the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ), said: “I am proud to be the mentor of all his siblings Hashim, Omar, and Sarah. It is my pride and pleasure that I have been part of their educational foundation, now that they’re all grown up.”
Starting next month, Guinomla will be posted as ambassador to Ankara, Turkey, and he will have jurisdiction over Azerbaijan and Georgia.