Entrepreneurs are us
By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries

Name at which part of this rapidly-changing world do they thrive and you will always find a positive answer. Be it in American, European, African, Australian, or Asian continent. Yes, they are there; as solid and as enterprising as ever.

I have traveled a lot and have always found a tribe of Filipinos in those places. In London, one family I met by happenstance was engaged in bakery products at the rented cubicle along the mezzanine lobby of Park Lane Hotel where I was billeted and attended one of my trainings; our kababayans in Hong Kong and Singapore were vending small-chip snack items to both tourists and locals.

My recent trip to Bahrain truly proved the same. At the Causeway, the giant and longest bridge so far in Middle East that links the littlest Kingdom of Bahrain and the biggest Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you can obviously see Filipinos selling bottled waters, candies, pop corns, and other novelties. As to whether or not they have the legal personality to engage in this small time trade, I did not bother to check.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you can see them at the malls. I was stunned one day when one “kabayan” approached me and offered to sell his skinless chicken and beef longganiza stored inside his duffle bag. Another one was dealing roaming sims and Philippine mobile loads.

The scenario truly amazed me because in this part of the world where almost everything is contrary to law, we pinoys are making big waves and roaring like lions without any trouble at all.

What struck me in awe was when I learned that a networking of health and healthcare products are actively mobilizing within the hard Arabian market; aptly competing Indian and Arabian health products. I attended one direct selling session for the sake of confirming and the number, of more than thirty, was extremely significant; and they are still counting.

Talking about health, I engaged the massage services of another kabayan, a colleague in the company for pay. Works in the mid-east are so taxing that one would always crave for rest. Resting for me is not complete without relaxing my muscles and reflexes, too.

In our last weekend’s jogging along the famed and modern-day inspired Boulevard of Corniche Coastline, the presence of Filipinos fishing the shore of Arabian Sea reminds me of those revelers dunning the same activity at the brick water of CCP Complex in Manila.

Curious, I approached one team and saw their almost-four-kilo overnight catch. It’s going to be their food for the entire week; no need to spend their food allowance in the market to buy the same kind of fishes. It’s actually a lot of savings for them.

Passing along the main thoroughfare of a hundred-thousand Filipino inhabited Eastern Province of the Kingdom would give you a snapshot of Filipino offering taxi services. Nope, it was not a registered taxi cab but a personal car. And again, whether he owns the car or was issued to him by his employer is none of my business; it’s not for me to consume anyway but a detail, I guess, to wonder.

With our Peso getting weaker each day along with the weakening imperial Arroyo Administration and the Saudi Riyals fighting stronger against the US Dollars, not one Filipino contract worker would just sit and relax during free time and not to think of increasing his remittances to the family back home.

The point here is not to inform the whole world that the economic depression in our country is taking its toll but to confirm that our enterprising attitude – translated into creativity and innovativeness, still makes us shine brightly.

That’s what we are Filipinos: creative and innovative creatures of this competitive world that could synergistically produce a hundred out of one plus one against all odds.

Truly wonderful!

Published, Dumaguete StarInformer, 19 October 2008, Sunday Issue