Because of Nourah Alkhereiji ArabNews' Reporter, I Write

It was Nourah of Arab Newspaper, the first person, a woman who encouraged me to pursue my blog and blogging hobby online. It was her also who pushed me to pursue my plan to study Journalism and Short Story writing courses with the Writers Bureau in Manchester, London in 1999-2000 by mail and with the ICS - International Correspondence School in Pennsylvania, USA in 2000-2001 also by mail during those years, I was working with Kawasaki Helicopter (S.A.) Limited as an account analyst - owned by Sheik Abed-Leilah Kaki of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the period from March 23, 1994 to April 30, 2012.

On January 31, 1999, I wrote a letter and sent it off to the editor-in-chief of Arab Newspaper - Mr. Khaled A. Al-Maeena for Nourah Alkhereiji whom I mistakenly addressed as Big Mister.

My letter reads, "Hundreds of thousands of OFWs have loved, saluted and commended Nourah for his dedication to write such exposes, to edify readers to know behind the perception, disregarding any race". That was sixteen years ago, a draft of my letter to the editor is still available on my notebook.

I thought Nourah was a young guy. His daring expose re "Mutawwas give self a new role" as they loved to impose the law - mandated in the prevention of vices and promoting virtues in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Arab Newspaper published the said article written by Nourah on January 30, 1999.

Gaiety filled my heart when unexpectedly, I received letter from Mr. Tarik Alkhereiji - the brother of Nourah after a week that Mr. Al-Maeena, the editor-in-chief of Arab Newspaper forwarded my letter to Nourah. His letter mentioned that his sister wanted to thank me for my encouraging letter and she wanted to point out too - that mistake I had in referring Nourah as big Mister.

Immediately, I replied his letter. I explained to him what caused my mistake. And then I received again another letter from him telling me that I already got his sister's apology. Believe it or not - that mistake I made addressing Nourah as big Mister has pushed me to write more and more. 

With the help of Internet, I started to look for an online group on the Net with the same interests, loves and likes. Until in 2000, I started to create my personal blog at Blogger.com and had purchased my own domain website from the money I earned from my online blog and blogging hobby. Now they are open for public visits, comments and suggestions. 

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Of course, love is my other reason why I would write. Like Nourah Alkhereiji - who always loves to write for anything that interests her even though English language is not her language according to his brother Tarik - mostly of her writings were written in her Arabic language. Nourah is daring and competent writer that Arab Newspaper must be proud of her. Wish she can read this piece. My simple ways to say "Thank You".

Like Nourah, I could write too because I have the love in my heart. I have the dream to become a writer too, someday. Because of love, my interest to write for anything and everything I mostly liked and loved is growing every day. Besides, there is money from writing!

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Saudis Awesome Cultures and Practices

Saudis are good-groomed, loving, friendly and generous people. Saudi men wear their national clothes, a floor – length garment called thobe. They cover their heads with white or red and white-checkered scarf called ghutra, which they wear it indoors, and outdoors. Women wear black outer garment called abaya and a black veil over their heads and faces. They often wear black gloves as well. In Saudi Arabia, the most important thing to consider is to learn to appreciate Saudis cultures and to abide the laws regulated in the Kingdom.

In social conversations or even in the opening of business conversations, for Saudis there is always small talk in which an interest is shown in the health and well being of the other party. In conferring with Saudis, one should not show impatience or causeless rapidity. It is not practice by Saudis to introduce a visitor to their wives or daughters. But by way of politeness, a visitor can inquire about a female member of the family. For them it is chary and appropriate to ask about the family rather than the wife or daughter. 

Saudi Arabia (Photo credit: Retlaw Snellac)

When you invited a couple do not be surprised when only the man comes. And to sit or relaxing in a chair, with the legs so crossed, with the soles of the shoes, can offend to them. Saudis received guests with complete attention, and lavish hospitality of any circumstances. When in any kind of invitation is received, a prompt answer is expected from invited visitor in the language in which the invitation was extended. Saudi’s coffee flavored with cardamom is first served in a small cup; three cups may be consumed, but it is impolite even if the bearer offers it to you and you will take a fourth. Then a sweetened tea is served in a small glass, and it is follows by unlimited quantities.

Saudi’s dinner parties begin late in the evening. It is often around 9 and 10 PM. There are plenty of snacks to eat. Dinner is served as a climax to the evening’s merriment. Any thing: foods, gifts or drinks to be received from a Saudi host, it should be taken with the right hand. 

Expatriates in order to avoid counteract with the Muttawa or religious police: for immigrant women, they should wear abaya. It should be used properly; otherwise it can offend to many Saudis. Immigrant women if not wearing abaya, they should wear garments, that are loose fitting, with hemmed in below mid-calf or ankle length, sleeves elbow length and necklines modest. Immigrant women should not wear jeans, slacks, shorts, skirts tight fitting or sleeveless garments in public places, supermarkets and in hotels. Those dresses worn by Indian or Pakistani women are free will to long dresses. 

For men, they should wear long trousers and skirts that are not open below the collarbone in public. Religious police enforce ban on men wearing neck jewelry, when visiting the souqs (markets, malls and other public areas). It is inapt for men and women to touch publicly other than a brief handshake or to give assistance to a person crossing a street. A woman if married should always carry a photocopy of her husband’s iqama and work permit.

Immigrants should pause from laughing or speaking loudly or acting in a conspicuously manner. This can be perverted in this culture. It is considered for all newcomers to make themselves aware of general law and customs of the host country. If in any unpleasant encounter with the Muttawa or with the police and for any reason should be sent to jail be sure to contact your consulate or embassy or if you are working in a company, immediately contact the office of your company for help.

The affairs of the Kingdom and its citizens are regulated in accordance with the Islamic law. The King assigned religious police or Muttawas. They are also the men of actions. They imposed the law mandated in the prevention of vices and promoting virtues in the kingdom. They check people in the street or in the alleys, in taxies, limousine, and malls. They are everywhere. They strictly imposed salah to all the Muslims. They are great help for the Imam, in maintaining peace and order in the Kingdom. 

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DXN is a Company Without Compassion to Their Hard Working Leaders!

Nobody can deny it that DXN Wellness Products have become well-known around the world. These products already have traveled to 151 countries from east to west and from north to south of the globe. And no-one will disregards the hard works and efforts of its million distributors around the world who introduced these products to people. These hard working DXN leaders have worked together as a team and the result, DXN becomes more developed and accessible for anyone who has the interest to invest money with the company and to enjoy the benefits from being a DXN distributor.

DXN distributors are not employees of DXN. They are independent distributors. If a DXN distributor is not earning much in the business, he has the right to add or venture another business that does not conflict with DXN – that is to supplement his income. This is an era of free enterprise where one creates a multiple streams of income. Even Dato Dr. Lim Siow Jin, the founder of DXN has multiple businesses not just DXN.

DXN Malaysia

DXN is characterized by innovation and partnercenteredness, grounded in equality and a sense of belongingness. DXN believe in the conviction that there are extra ordinary possibilities in ordinary people. The company want to develop their distributors to become extra ordinary people, with a heart that cares for his fellow distributors. The company want to uphold Teamwork – to make the load lighter, Determination – to stay on course, Creativity – to rise above achievement and Humility – to want to learn from one another. 

And anyone who engages business with DXN – he is bound to follow the company’s rules and regulations. And whoever disregarded or violated its company’s rules and policies will be subject for termination. At the time he register himself and is approved, he becomes as an official DXN distributor. He will receive a copy of the terms and conditions about the DXN rules and regulations. As stipulated under the rules and regulations of DXN (17.1) If a distributor has breached the rules and regulations, code of conduct, DXN marketing plan and any of its policy the distributor may be suspended or terminated immediately but he will receive a SCN (suspension notice) and 14 days to answer the allegation.

DXN Saudi Arabia

On September 4, 2012, I received a very shocking letter from Edwin Q. Mamaril – one of the most active DXN leaders in Middle East. Mr. Mamaril has started his DXN business in 2005 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During those years of his hard works and efforts, he became the most active DXN diamond leader. Under his active leadership, the DXN Saudi Arabia stand out as one of the best in Middle East. He has trained thousands of DXN distributors through massive training and seminars. Now DXN Saudi Arabia has approximately 200,000 DXN distributors and eleven DXN centers available for business 24/7.

Below is the copy of his letter I quote intended to all his DXN partners around the world says:

“As the Admin of this group and your fellow independent DXN distributor, I regret to inform you that I will no longer be able to promote DXN products and its opportunity starting today. A decision has been made by DXN Middle East Management to terminate my distributorship for the reason that I am involved with another business in the Telecommunication Industry. But please take note it is not a Wellness Company.

“Myself, my family, my relatives and my close friends are loyal consumers of DXN products but it makes me feel sad that this now has to be changed. We never shifted to other products for our health needs despite of other offers from different Wellness Companies. Likewise, as one of DXN Saudi Arabia’s top leader, motivator, achiever and speaker and has helped DXN Saudi Arabia as one of the best in Middle East, I felt the decision seems to be unfair. However, the company has its rights to apply their policy regardless of the good deeds a distributor has done for them.

DXN Worldwide

“It’s been a fruitful 7 years doing DXN and supporting our Team members with trainings and motivating them. From my side, there’s no hard feelings because I love my life and family better than any networking company in this planet. We all know that we joined DXN as an independent distributor and not as an employee.

“As independent distributors, we own the business and not the DXN owns us. We are the one to design our future and not the DXN or any MLM company that we have joined. I hope so, you get my point. On the positive side, this decision of DXN Middle East Management will make me free to start for a new and better Wellness Company along with my Telecommunication business.

“To all my DXN teams especially in Saudi Arabia, I know how difficult this is for all of us. We know that challenges and good times that we have shared together but I always believe that whenever a door closes, another door and window will be opened for us! All the best in Health, Wealth and Happiness.”

Anyone can say that the said termination of the distributorship of Mr. Edwin Q. Mamaril is not acceptable. It shows that DXN is a company without compassion to their hard working leaders!

Written with permission from Mr. Mamaril.

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Some of Riyadh Treks to Spend Your Weekends and Holidays

If you happened to visit Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia and you wanted to spend your weekends and holidays, there are isolated places outside the city which are good places for excursions like the Hidden Valley, the Red Sand Dunes and Mountain Rocks for your mountain climbing. 

Trip to Phils Embassy, Riyadh Sand Dune And Riyadh Desert Slideshow: Paul’s trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was created by TripAdvisor. See another Riyadh slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

In my first week of work in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – one thing that came to my mind was to take some trips outside the city. I wanted to visit some of the historical places, including mountains of rock and mountains of sand dunes, which are good places for excursions on weekends and holidays.

It was a Friday. With my peers, we visited on some of Riyadh’s treks. First was a trip to Hidden Valley.  At five-thirty in the morning, we started our trip as no-one wants to drive under the sun.

On our way to Hidden Valley , I saw mountain of rocks standing robustly on each side of the highway. I heard the sound of winds haunting, and whispering in every corner of the mountain – calling them that the King Sun was about to rise.

Facing to the South was another spot of great beauty delighted my eyes, a red mountain ofsand dunes that resembled a maiden in red, lying down with the mountain rocks at her sides and waiting for someone to come and feel her beauty.

At seven, we reached our destination, by passing through an isolated pass between high fortresses – like rock in the Tuwaiq wall. Our cars rumbled up and down with the shrubs to right, left and white dust. As we drove up the soil – covered path of the Valley between piles of gravel, was a Pinnacle Valley that called because of the pillar of rock that stands near the entrance. We stopped driving when the track got rough.

Soon, everybody left the car and went around to the area and embraced the beauty of nature. We photographed the mountains around us as our souvenirs. We also went for a hike, did some mountain climbing and had a lot of fun together.

What a wonderful place to see! I was surprisingly amazed to see such beauty that only nature can provide. Hidden Valley can easily charm you and let you believe that this place is not just a desert of sands but also a place of beautiful rocks and mountains ready to be embraced and enjoy. Most amazing of all was the absence of running water, to bathe her for added beauty. A completely dry valley but yet a surprisingly beautiful one!

Household Helpers and Servants are Favorite for Maltreatments in The Kingdom

Domestic servants in the Kingdom are the favorite for mal-treatments and abuse by their employers. Some of them are forced to work hard straight the whole day without food and sleep. Some of them are unpaid. Not all migrant workers coming to Saudi Arabia are protected by Saudi Labor Law – especially the domestic servants. If you were one of those applying for this position – this article will help you decide because mostly of the abused workers in the Kingdom belong to this group of workers.

There are cases that some of the domestic servants are being abused and mal-treated by their employers. Some of them are working straight the whole day without food and sleep. Some of them are raped and some are unpaid. If you were one of those workers planning to work in the Kingdom as domestic servants – be sure to keep with you the contact addresses and numbers of your consulates and embassies in the Kingdom where to report any of the problems regarding your employments.

Who are these domestic servants? Everyday the Kingdom receives hundreds of migrant workers for these positions. These workers are coming from Asian countries and other third world countries who are willing to work for survival. They are family drivers, family cooks, family nurse, nannies, gardeners, family cleaners, family electricians, plumbers, air-conditioned technicians, household helpers, maids and other migrant workers recruited to work with the Saudi families.

Saudi Labor Law and its rules of implementation determine the relation between worker and employer which in turn would result in providing a suitable work environment for migrants, preserving their rights and establishing an appropriate work relation between the two parties of production. However, there is always an exemption for every rule and it is stated in Article 7 of Saudi Labor Law.

Article 7 of Saudi Labor Law states - The following shall be excluded from the application of this law:

1. Members of the employer’s family, namely his wife, ascendants and descendants who work in the establishment with no other employees.
2. Domestic servants and the like.
3. Sea workmen who work in vessels whose tonnage is less than 500 tons.
4. Agriculture workmen other than the categories set forth in Article 5.
5. Non Saudi workmen who are brought in to perform a specific task and for a period of not more than two months.
6. Players and coaches of sport clubs and associations. The Ministry of Labor shall, in coordination with the competent agencies, draw up and submit to the Council of Ministers the rules applicable to domestic servants and similar categories to regulate their relationship with their employers and to define the rights and duties of each party.

If you're interested to have the full copy of the Labor Law of the Kingdom – go to this link and download SAUDI LABOR LAW free. The said labor law was intensified on June 1, 2006.

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Saudi Arabia: My Home for 17 Years was Indeed a Rich Country

I witness many dramatic events and great changes of the country. The Kingdom had become my home for the past 17 years while Philippines is my country – I started to like and love its very colorful history. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will celebrate its 82 years of progress and prosperity from the time the oil was discovered in 1930s – the most vital asset that brings economic and cultural changes to the country. The country is also on its 80 years when Arabia was unified into a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on September 23, 1932.

From its oil wealth, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is robustly standing among the super powers of the world. Saudi Arabia had become a country for humanity. Million of people around the world have invested their talents, efforts and hard works to help develop Saudi Arabia – including ten of thousand investors to do business in the Kingdom. The country helped million of people to reach their dreams come true.

At present the Kingdom has eleven oil refineries located in the different parts of Saudi Arabia that produce thousands of barrels of oil per day and created thousands jobs for domestic and foreign workers alike. For the past 17 years, I lived with the fresh and the warm desert air of Saudi Arabia, I learned that there are already six Monarchy Kings from King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to the present King Abdullah -  who have thoughtfully worked hard to make the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a paradise place to live in for its citizens and foreign workers as well.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day every September 23 of the year. It symbolizes their national unity and sets best example of solidarity between leaders and citizens.

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About the Author – My favorite Saying: “Dream big and don’t stop without giving it a chance to come true.” I am a father of 3 for 25 years, OFW for 17 years , a Blogger, sometimes a Poet, Self-motivated and Professional by experience. You can call me Paul or Pruel. I am friendly animal but can kick you off when it is needed. LOL. I have no specific areas where my writing will focus on. I write any subject that interests me under the merciless sun. 

Constructive Guidelines for Migrants Coming to Work in Saudi Arabia—part Two

Within (90) days as of the arrival date of the worker in the Kingdom, the employer must obtain a work permit and resident permit for the recruited worker. Failure to do so, the employer shall be deemed responsible to pay penalties accordingly. And the work conducted by the worker, in this case, is in violation of the Law and the decisions regulating the recruitment of non-Saudi Workers in such circumstances may report this case to the concerned Labor Office in order to make the necessary procedures towards the employer.

Work permit is issued for one or two years renewable for the same period of validity with the approval of the employer and the worker for renewal. In this case, the work permit should immediately be renewed upon expiry – if the employer fails to renew the work permit and the resident permit, the applicable penalties to those who violate the laws of residence and labor shall be imposed on that employer.

Whereas the worker is the one aggrieved for not renewing such permit, he/she shall ask the employer to renew the work permit and the resident permit as long as the work relation remained on going. If the employer did not respond to that, the worker should report this to the concerned labor office to make the proper procedures towards the employer.

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About the Author - My favorite Saying: "Dream Big and don't stop without giving it a chance to come true." I am a father of 3 for 25+years, OFW for 17 years +, a Blogger, sometimes a Poet, Self-motivated and Professional by experience. You can call me Paul or Pruel. I am friendly animal but can kick you off when it is needed. LOL. I have no specific areas where my writing will focus on. I write any subject under the merciless sun. For your inquiries: Send email to: ppruel@gmail.com, ppruel@yahoo.com.

Constructive Guidelines for Migrants Coming to Work in Saudi Arabia—part One

Image via Wikipedia

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Labor Law is a comprehensive law which regulates all aspects of work relation. It is also a balanced law which provides for both workers and employers what is needed to regulate work relation between the two parties. The said law is applicable to all workers with no exceptions, whether they are Saudis or non-Saudis.

Everyday the country receives hundreds of migrant workers from around the world willing to work for survival. This information will guide them some basic knowledge about the provisions of the Labor Law and its rules of implementation that determine the relation between worker and employer which in turn would result in providing a suitable work environment for migrants, preserving their rights and establishing an appropriate work relation between the two parties of production.

The Ministry of Labor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes all people coming to work and wishes that they have a successful period until they complete their work and return to their home countries. The Ministry, along with all concerned agencies would like to assure all workers that they are guests of Ministry and is keen to take care of them in accordance with the Islamic Law (Shariah), applicable rules and International Charters. The Ministry wants to prepare the workers to know about the work environment in the Kingdom and then coping with it when arriving.

However, embassies and consulates working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hopefully will coordinate with the concerned agencies in their own countries to consider this basic source guide for migrant workers by which they can get to know what lawfully rights they have and what they are obligated to do. So if you are applicants – you need to ask a copy of this guide from your agencies you are applying with – this guide will help you determine if you would proceed or not to come to Saudi Arabia to work.

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