Last October 2018, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh held its Diplomatic Reception at the Cultural Palace, Diplomatic Quarter, in celebration of the 120th Declaration of Philippine Independence and the 49th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This was the first reception under the leadership of Ambassador Adnan V. Alonto, and our first reception here since we arrived in 2017. The guests included members of the Diplomatic corps, Saudi royalty and businessmen, Filipino community leaders, and all Embassy personnel and their spouses. Being a photobook enthusiast, I couldn't pass up the chance to create a memorabilia of this occasion. My husband was equally supportive of the idea and agreed to donate a copy of the photobook to the Embassy. Talk about a supportive (stage) husband. I must say it was great seeing everyone dressed up in their Filipiniana's finest. Even our friends from other embassies complimented our nice gowns.
After the formal program, high school students of the International Philippine School in Riyadh rendered a singkil dance - to the guests' delight and amazement. Finally, for dinner, everyone enjoyed sumptuous traditional Filipino and Maranao food, catered by Holiday Inn - Meydan, and Ms. Norhanie Dimakuta, respectively. In keeping with the festive atmosphere of the occasion, the Ambassador's Choir continued to entertain the guests during dinner with their lively Filipino songs and some kundiman. As a bonus, the guests also got to enjoy traditional sorbetes! So Pinoy! Having attended a number of receptions since our arrival here, I must say that our reception was one to be remembered. It's the little touches like the dance, the sorbetes ice cream, the lively singing, so characteristic of our own fiestas, that make us very unique and very Pinoy.
A big congratulations to everyone for pulling off this successful event, Embassy personnel and sponsors alike, but most especially to Ambassador and Madam Alonto. Looking forward to and so excited for the diplomatic reception this year when the Embassy shall be celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between our country and the Kingdom. Photos by Ms. Heidee Urbano and Mr. Normal Casil * * * Read: My other articles about our diplomatic life here in Riyadh: Gorgeous and Modern: Princess Nourah Universty Beyond Malls: Exploring Riyadh... with Kids! Welcome to the Kingdom The Start of our Diplomatic Journey Also, do check out our Saudi Arabia Gallery for more pictures from around Riyadh. Thanks!
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What an interesting time to live in Saudi. In the less than two years we've lived here, we've personally witnessed and experienced the major transformations the country is going through: from the not-so-good such as the Saudization (depends on your point of view) and the imposition of expat levies, to the wonderful such as the lifting of the ban on cinemas and the much-anticipated women driving. MOVIE DATES ARE BACK, BABY! One of my and my husband's favorite bonding activities in Manila is watching movies. That's why we felt so anxious when we learned Von would be posted in Riyadh, where there are no cinemas. Gah! But last April, the government finally lifted its 35-year ban on cinemas. Whereas before, Saudis and expats usually would have to drive to Bahrain during the weekend, Saudis can now enjoy watching movies in the cinema with the opening of two major theatres in Riyadh. "Black Panther" had the honor of being the first Hollywood film to be screened in Riyadh after 35 years. Unfortunately, we were in the Philippines for our vacation then so we weren't able to catch it. Nevertheless, when Avengers Infinity War came out, we finally experienced watching a movie in Riyadh in the beautiful AMC Cinema Theatre located in the King Abdullah Financial District. A few observations:
Overall, our first cinema experience was great. Since the lifting of the ban, another cinema, VoX Cinemas has also opened. We have yet to try their iMax cinema. Can't wait for more cinemas to open within the city for more options on screening times and movies. #SaudiWomenCanDrive September 26 last year, King Salman issued the royal decree to lift the driving ban on women. On June 24 this year, Saudi women were finally allowed to hit the road. Initially, the issuance of licenses were opened only to Saudi nationals and working women (or those with sponsored visas). A great source of annoyance for me as I fall into the category of expat dependents and their registration system has not been designed yet to accommodate us. The first time I went to the muroor (similar to our LTO), the chief of police told me to come back in a few days' time when they have fixed the system. (I was so depressed that night, Von took me to TGIFriday's to stress-eat, hehe.) But after a couple of weeks of chilling, last July 30, the same day as Mira's 1st birthday, I got an exciting gift as well. Finally, I received my Saudi license! So many words to describe how I felt when I finally received my license: Relief. Freedom. Convenience. Empowerment. All the wonderful things I can think of. Left: With Madame Jo Alonto, spouse of Ambassador Alonto, as we got our driver's licenses; Right: No escape. That's me taking the driver's license test. My diplomatic status did not exempt me from taking the test. Hehe. In the five years that I drove in Pinas, I only parallel parked about two times, so I was a bit nervous doing it here. But hey, I passed! Happy that now I can relieve my husband from having to fetch Elise from school during his lunch break. Happy that I will be sharing in his stress. Happy that on days when he's on travel or business trip, the girls and I don't have to confine ourselves in the house. Happy to be doing *some* things on my own now, like grocery-shopping, which I used to do before in Manila. I absolutely love driving and happy to be back to my old self. As for the Saudi way of driving, oh my. Let me just say I'm thankful I learned how to be a defensive driver in Manila! Can't wait to explore the country more, especially during wintertime when I can bring the kids to the parks even while the husband is at work. This issue on Saudi women being allowed to drive remains highly political thus I would like to refrain from posting any more comments on this. For now, let me say I am grateful to the Kingdom, and to those who paved the way, for making this happen. >wink< * * * Read: My other articles about our diplomatic life here in Riyadh: Gorgeous and Modern: Princess Nourah University Pinoy Fiesta in the Kingdom Welcome to the Kingdom The Start of our Diplomatic Journey Also, do check out our Saudi Arabia Gallery for more pictures from around the country. Thank you! Hello, we're back and we have loads of stories to tell! The past three months were crazy hectic - some good, some not so much. To recap the highlights: * We went on a two-week vacation to the Philippines. * We celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary at Plantation Bay, Mactan, Cebu. * Baby Mira is finally baptized. * I was diagnosed with Acute Vestibular Neuritis on my left ear and spent a good amount of time at the hospital. * The Embassy welcomed Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano (and tons of other hectic activities). * Elise started with (summer) school - yey! * Started planning baby Mira's first birthday - yey again! So yeah, given all those happenings, I didn't have the chance to update our blog since January. Please bear with me as I'm excited and eager to share all our stories. :) * * * Let me begin by telling you about my recent tour of the gorgeous Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. During SFA Cayetano's visit, the Embassy spouses handled the parallel program for the SFA's wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, who visited with him. One of the activities included a tour of the Princess Nourah University, arranged by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Being a women's university, not everyone is able to visit this university, our spouses included, so I was thankful to have joined this tour. This University is magnificent and the tour a definite eye-opener. We only had a couple of hours for the tour so our visit was limited only to the Central Library, Medical Sciences Building, and the University Gymnasium. Such a shame that we were only able to visit these three buildings as Princess Nourah spans 800 HECTARES! (In comparison, the total land area of my Alma Mater UP Diliman is 493 hectares so picture double UP.) I read somewhere that Princess Nourah is the largest women's university in the world. First stop, the Central Libray - what can I say, it's a researcher's dream! Upon entering the building, one is greeted with this stunning lobby. No words to describe it, just this: I thought it was a simple tour of a beautiful library, but truly the most impressive part about the tour was the demo on the automated book circulation. From any floor of the 8-storey library, a student can just summon a book with some computer clicks - and voila! And returning it is just as high-tech - with the conveyor belts and all. Throughout the demo, I can't help but compare the library to the "door warehouse" in Monsters, Inc. This library is only one of three libraries in the world with this system. The library can also hold 5 million books and currently has 2 million. Everyone from our group was utterly impressed.
In the University Gymnasium, we saw their Olympic-size swimming pool and indoor track. Interestingly, the lady who conducted the tour of the gymnasium was probably no more around 5'3", and introduced herself as the team captain of their women's basketball team. We even saw them as they were practicing. Honestly, I was amazed to see Saudi women dressed in sporty clothes playing basketball. I would have never pictured them this sporty. While traveling between the buildings, I can't help but admire the sheer size of the university and the beautiful Arabian architecture. Princess Nourah also has an 11-kilometer, driverless monorail inside the campus - whut?! (And there I was, reminiscing my UP Ikot/Toki days.) Due to the limited schedule, we were not able to visit the monorail stations, but I'm sure it must be impressive as well. Driving around the university, I couldn't help but feel jealous that these facilities are available to Saudis only. To make my pangs of jealousy worse, I learned that studying here is free as well. I long for the day when Filipino students can have access to ultra-modern facilities like Hanako and the fully automated Library, among others.
That being said, I still think Filipino students kick ass and are top-notch and can compete in any arena outside the country despite what we are given. Just imagine the possibilities when we have all these at the tip of our fingers! * * * Read: My other articles about our diplomatic life here in Riyadh: Beyond Malls: Exploring Riyadh... with Kids! Pinoy Fiesta in the Kingdom Welcome to the Kingdom The Start of our Diplomatic Journey Also, do check out our Saudi Arabia Gallery for more pictures of Princess Nourah University and from around Riyadh. Thanks! Last October 16, Von, Elise, and I attended the launch of the Pinoy Fiesta 2017 at LuLu Hypermarket in its Murabba branch. Von attended as the representative of the Embassy, while I tagged along as I was curious about the event which ads I have seen in my Facebook feed. We also brought Elise along as we had an appointment with her pedia later in the evening. I was surprised with how big the event was. We thought Von was just attending a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony. To our surprise, we were given a red carpet treatment with all the executives of LuLu. There was also a big Filipino crowd waiting for the start of the program. There was a real fiesta vibe in the atmosphere.
After the tour and a short press briefing with LuLu executives, it was time for the much-awaited program. Students of different Philippine International schools paraded on stage wearing these absolutely lovely Filipino traditional costumes. The kids were adorable! Aftershock Dancers, an all-male Filipino dance group also rendered a dance performance to "Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas". Props to the LuLu Filipino staff who worked overtime to arrange the displays and organize the program. Overall, it was an awesome night spending time with the Filipino community. My only gripe? After the event, some of the executives and mall security escorted us directly to our car and didn't leave us until we have left the building (the diplomatic way of life, I guess? For security reasons?). So we didn't get to buy those Philippine mangoes which I was dying to get my greedy hands on and the ube cake which Elise tasted and loved. By the time we returned to LuLu last Oct. 21, most of the stocks were gone, including the mangoes. Huhu. I guess our other kababayans didn't waste time and made sure to also stock up on those Pinoy goodies. Hehe. Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to next year's festival and would know what to do next time. :) * * *
Read: My other articles about our diplomatic life here in Riyadh: House-Hunting in Riyadh: Fantasies and Realities Welcome to the Kingdom The Start of our Diplomatic Journey
Since our Muslim brothers and sisters are celebrating Ramadan, the program at the Embassy started only after the "iftar", or the breaking of the fast at sunset. Consul General Iric Arribas from the Embassy led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the "Partners for Change Art Exhibit" showcasing paintings and sculptures created by members of Hagod Filipino - a group of Saudi-based Filipino artists. Given the quality of the artworks, it was surprising to know that the members of Hagod are just regular OFWs - engineers, nurses, etc., who dabble in the arts as a hobby or as a way to earn extra income while abroad. Cheers to Filipino talent! After dinner, the second part of the program commenced with performances rendered by the members of the Filipino community depicting Philippine history. Elise enjoyed the performances and she was especially mesmerized with the fight scenes, hehe. She even cried when it was time to go home. The performances were diverse, from song and dance numbers, to even a fashion show of traditional costumes. There was even a "Santacruzan" with elaborate costumes and gowns created by RAMFA or the Riyadh Association of Modern Fashion Artists, a talented group of Saudi-based FIlipino fashion designers. We were already familiar with the works of RAMFA, having attended one of their events before - The Wedding - which showcased bridal couture gowns and Filipino wedding suppliers in the Kingdom. Elise was glad to meet the "princesses" - although she was already cranky and sleepy - and even got a souvenir to boot. Overall, despite the muted celebration because of Ramadan, the atmosphere was festive. The celebration was a good opportunity for the Embassy people to mingle with the members of the Filipino community. Definitely looking forward to attending more Embassy activities in the future.
* * * Read: Other articles about our foreign service life here in Riyadh: The Start of our Diplomatic Journey Welcome to the Kingdom House-Hunting in Riyadh: Fantasies and Realities One of the things I looked forward to the most during our move here was hunting for a new home. Despite the cramped space, we loved our small one-bedroom rented condominium unit in Quezon City. It had a lot of great memories and we could see that Elise felt sad leaving it. Weeks after we had left the Philippines, she kept asking us when are we going back to our "blue house". Upon learning that we were moving to Riyadh, I researched like crazy regarding housing options in the city. I learned that expats usually live inside compounds which offer more freedom for women. One, compounds are guarded so it's safe to go outside your house even without male companions. Two, the muttawa, or the religious police, cannot go inside these compounds so women can remove their abayas even when outside, and gender segregation is not practiced. Three, some compounds also offer shuttle services to malls or supermarkets which is a huge relief since women can't drive. Some bigger compounds are also self-sustaining, like there are schools inside, groceries, gyms, restaurants, etc, so you don't have to go outside. They also hold events and socials for their residents, since Riyadh basically lacks a nightlife. I got quite excited with the prospect that we will be living inside one of these compounds, I even bookmarked some compounds we can check upon our arrival.
Unfortunately, I had to let my fantasies go. Haha. While living inside a compound or DQ may seem like a neat idea, the high rental fees are just not practical. So off we go looking for a condo unit or house outside the compound life. Upon our arrival, the Embassy provided for our accommodations for two weeks while we waited for our iqama, or residence card, since one cannot enter into a lease contract without an iqama. Looking for a house in Riyadh is a lot more difficult than in Manila, as expected. I've lived in 9 different places in Manila for the last 12 years, and I'm no newbie at house-hunting or moving around. Still, I wasn't ready for the challenges posed by house-hunting abroad. For starters, there was the language barrier. It was very difficult to ask questions or haggle regarding rental fees with someone who doesn't have any idea what you're talking about (same goes for us). We had to ask an interpreter from the Embassy to accompany us during every ocular visit, just so we're not totally at a loss when dealing with the locals. (Plus, they're a lot nicer to you and more open to giving discounts when you can speak their language.)
As for the houses themselves, I find Arab architecture generally pretty, with the straight lines, geometric shapes, and hard edges found in houses and buildings, combined with intricate, almost lace-like, designs and patterns on their walls, windows, even their doors. I was surprised, however, with the layout and features of typical Saudi houses. I was looking forward to renting a house with big, open, airy windows, but most houses we saw had tiny windows, some with no views at all. I was initially disappointed. But then I learned that big windows in Saudi houses are not common because 1) they value privacy and women should avoid to be seen; 2) big window equals heat which can be excruciating during summer; and 3) there is dust everywhere! Fair enough, I stopped daydreaming about the big, airy windows. I was also surprised to see rooms separated by doors. Like there is a door separating the living room from the dining room, dining room from the kitchen, etc. I was hoping for more of an open space, since I'm a bit claustrophobic. Again, I learned that the closed spaces are designed for segregation. Like if you have male and female guests visiting, you may entertain the male guests inside the living room, and the female guests inside the dining area. In some cases, there is even a separate entrance for the living and dining area just so the males and females can altogether avoid seeing each other. I was blown away by these details. Location-wise, we tried to look for a house near the Filipino International schools since we expect to stay here for the next six years. The schools are mostly located in the Olaya and Sulimaniyah areas, which are quite far from Safarat, where the DQ is located. These areas are also located in the Riyadh City center, so the rental fees for housing units here are much higher than what we would have preferred. Ultimately, we decided to let this consideration go and just worry about moving later, or maybe just hiring a driver, once Elise starts schooling. With all these numerous considerations, we were concerned that we could not find an acceptable house to rent. Finally, our hearts settled down to a one-storey apartment unit in Irqah, a town in west Riyadh, and only 10-15 minutes away from the DQ. It's quite far from the city center, at least 15-20 minutes drive away, but oh well, something's gotta give. (I find it amusing whenever I say now that a place is "far" when it's 20 minutes away. Back in Pinas, Von drove everyday from QC to the DFA Main Office in Pasay! That's two hours of driving everyday, one-way! Oh my.) The house is a good compromise between my fantasies and reality. It has medium-sized windows, but with metal bars and a view of the high concrete wall surrounding the house. Fine with me. At least I can still remove my abaya inside our backyard, hehe. I just had to give up my dream of going outside, taking a walk, or bringing Elise to the nearby park by myself, since it's not considered generally safe. Anyway, the DQ is just a few minutes away and we can always go to the parks there. As for the layout, it's not as closed as the other units we saw. We just keep the doors open all the time just to avoid feeling cramped in. The next challenge is to furnish our house, one piece at a time, because the house is completely bare! No ACs, not even a kitchen sink! Anyway, so that's our first experience at international house-hunting. Challenging, but also exciting. Elise looks like she's having a grand time so far being able to run around the house, something she wasn't able to do inside our last house in QC. I can't wait to give birth to baby #2 and for another tiny voice and laughter to fill our new home.
* * * Read: Other articles about our foreign service life here in Riyadh: Welcome to the Kingdom The Start of our Diplomatic Journey The Day I Visited a Palace During the Philippine President's State Visit last week here in Saudi Arabia, the spouses of the Embassy officers were requested to render assistance to the female accompanying delegates from the Philippines. The main Philippine delegation stayed at the King Saud Guest Palace as guests of the King. I was fortunate to get inside the Palace as well---something I never imagined would happen in my lifetime. The other ladies and I were not sure if we could take pictures inside so we were initially shy and took pictures discreetly. But when the Royal Protocol officers themselves invited us to take pictures inside the majestic halls, well, what do you expect Pinays would do? Haha. Of course, we still had to observe proper decorum since we were there representing the Embassy. As for myself, I only took a few pictures as I was too conscious about security protocol. We were also prepared to wear our hijab all day, but upon getting there, we learned that they were not strict about women covering their heads inside the Palace so some of us decided to remove them. My guess is since this is where Heads of State usually stay during official visits, they are used to foreign women roaming around the place without their head covers on. I was stunned when I first saw the Main Reception Hall. It was so beautiful. We stayed mostly at the Mirror Room with its equally gorgeous chandelier. But among the rooms we visited, this is my favorite of all, the Moroccan Room. With its high ceiling, intricate designs and a small fountain in the middle, it just looks surreal. I made a mental note to also put up a Moroccan room when Von and I would have our own palace someday. Haha! The Guest Palace looks opulent and rich, with lots of chandeliers. What else can I say?
It's been almost two months since we moved here to Riyadh and what can I say? It's been mostly good, so far... 1. The abaya. When Von told me the first time that he was being considered for posting in Riyadh, my initial reaction was: oh s***, I have to wear an abaya (think Harry Potter robes EVERYWHERE you go). As it turned out, the abaya has been the least of my concerns, so far. I like that I don't spend time anymore worrying about what I'm going to wear outside (except when we are going to the DQ -the Diplomatic Quarters area-where women are free to remove their abayas or during Filipino gatherings). Mostly, the lack of attention is refreshing. I don't miss at all the leers and stares from some perverts back at home when I dress sexy and even when I don't. The wearing of the head cover or “hijab” doesn't bother me too, since it is not mandatory for non-Muslim women. Nevertheless, I carry one with me all the time in case I encounter the "muttawa" or the religious police who are strict with these things, or if I just want to blend in the crowd. 2. Lack of mobility. My biggest complaint so far. Since this is Von's first posting, we did not avail yet of the free shipment of household items and vehicle via container van which diplomats are entitled to since we don't have that much stuff yet we want to ship. That meant leaving our beloved family car, Pokie, behind, too. Since we're also fairly new to the Kingdom, applying for a car loan has proven difficult since most banks require at least three months residency. We also can't afford to buy a second-hand car which requires full payment. So we're left to our own devices, since public commute is difficult here. Good thing Von's officemates in the Embassy have been nothing but helpful in lending us their cars or driving us around during the first two weeks when we were getting settled in (looking for a house, processing our residency documents, buying basic household furniture, etc.). We have not experienced riding a cab, but we have used Uber on many occasions and we have not had any issues so far. I'm hoping that once we are able to buy a car, we can go around more and take Elise to parks, to Gymboree, and to other places of interest around Riyadh. 3. Women are not allowed to drive. Still struggling to deal with this one, especially since I'm such a travelbug. Back in Pinas, I had all the freedom to drive to the mall or to the supermarket whenever Von was busy with work or out of town. I could easily drive to Tagaytay or Bulacan when I'm itching for some lakwatsa. Here, I have to rely on Von ALL.THE.TIME---which drives me absolutely nuts, since he is also busy with work at the Embassy. There have been rumors online that the government will soon allow women to drive but I'm not counting on it. I'd probably be scared to drive here, too, because of the fast pace of driving here. 4. The segregation. Unrelated people of different genders are prohibited from mixing, so in most restaurants and establishments, and even in some malls, there are dedicated sections or schedules for single men and for families/women. So far, it's been a non-issue for us since we are a family, except that one time when we wanted to eat inside a restaurant which didn't have a family section, so Von bought food to-go and we ate inside the car. The booths at the family sections of restaurants are also covered with curtains, which I found claustrophobia-inducing in the beginning, although I don't mind them now. But it's only been two months and I expect to encounter more instances of segregation. Let's see. 5. Life begins at night. Surprisingly, a big adjustment for us! Von and I are not particularly party-people, so unless we're scheduled to meet friends for dinner or watch a movie, we'd be usually at home by 8 watching movies or playing Wii. Here, we go to our doctor's appointment at 8PM, go to the supermarket at 9PM, and leave the mall at 11PM! Upon arriving, we learned that life in Riyadh starts late due to the observance of prayer times until the evening, and also due to the sweltering heat during summer. We were so surprised when we visited a big mall for the first time and almost all the shops were still closed – at 2PM – on a Friday afternoon! (BTW, the weekend here starts on Friday). I can't imagine a mall in Pinas which would open its doors that late, haha. This is a pretty big adjustment especially for Von since some of our errands run late well into midnight, and he's still expected to report for work the next day at 8AM.
Those are my observations for now. It's been pretty good, but I won't deny, it's definitely challenging. I told Von the other night that it's a good thing we've been married for four years now. For a newbie couple, I just couldn't see it happening. The first year is challenging enough, and I can't imagine the added stress of relocating and all the adjustments it entails. Still, I can see the charm in this city. I'm excited to explore Riyadh more, meet more new friends, and enjoy our life here for the next six years, inshallah (“God-willing”). * * * Read: The Day I Visited a Palace I never envisioned myself living abroad. After college, I had the opportunity to live in the US with my mom. After just a few months, I begged her to send me back to the Philippines. She couldn’t understand why I would want to go back, when some people would literally give anything to have the chance to live in the US. I just told her living abroad wasn’t for me. "I want to go back to the Philippines and do something for the country." She told me I was too idealistic. In the end, she agreed to send me back only when I told her I would either 1) join Binibining Pilipinas, or 2) take up Law. I held my part of the bargain and took up Law in 2007. Fast forward to 6 years. I married Von in 2013, whom I met in law school. I was already a lawyer then working for a law firm in Makati, while he was finishing his last year in law school and working full-time at DFA. Practice law in the Philippines, it was a pretty clear-cut plan. At least to me. Until Von took and passed the Foreign Service Officer Exam in 2014. Even then, I knew he would be posted abroad someday, but I didn’t think much about it. Things got real when the administrative order for his assignment in Riyadh finally came out August of last year. Finally, I was confronted with the reality of relocating. The whole family moving abroad with him was always part of the plan. I have always envied mommies who can afford to stay at home and take care of their children, but I never really thought about giving up my career, the logistics of moving, and the challenges of living abroad. More so in a very conservative country such as Saudi Arabia. I've never been so excited and terrified at the same time. Thank you for reading the blog up to this point. I love telling stories and so I decided to put up this personal blog. In part, it is also a way to keep my sanity in check during my transition from a full-time working to becoming a stay-at-home mom. I hope you will enjoy reading more stories of our crazy move here in the Kingdom. |