Obscure signs adore the path towards the rail. This seemingly unnoticed mind traverse its way time and time and again. What makes it so quiet is not the way it was but what it was along the way. For millions of years since time immemorial that placid darkness alongside the rail seems so inviting for a weary mind that this invisible way-wanderer almost gripped unto this rail closing on by way a side trip step. Has anyone been here before? Not even a single pair of idea had penetrated this needle-eyed cosmic vacuum of consciousness where once touched the lips of a searcher could reverse a counter.
No one is afraid of nothing but nothing is more anxious than an afraid soul. With nothing left inside but the fear of losing life is worse than death. But death is just the thin line that separates life from reality. Reality is not a sense-perception but the eternity. Eternity is from where we came from and eternity is where we supposed to go. Eternity is the ultimate reality for life is not predestined to end but meant for a destiny just few steps forward.
I can’t put these pieces together unless a clear abstract picture clothes my mind. Yes, an abstract one! Our direction in life is measured not by the distance we have walked by but the steps we made with purposes while life is still easy and simple. It is like when you we things the way nature wants it to be. Life can only become difficult and confusing when we failed to breathe the normal inhale-exhale ways. There are more we mistakenly add to the soup that subside the appetite. This is the essence of our existence; when the road is wide and free; we tend to side trip and forget the main route we track that when the night comes, the way gets dusky closing its lane to a dimmer end and finds our way on the old difficult track. Confusion is one simple additive yet cataclysmic in nature. Confusion can end all man’s quests for the truth and wisdom. Only few have crossed the thin line yet all have the gift to cross on it without fail. But why? Is it because we sleep and wake up differently? Or, is it because we were born on different cycle-periods? Perhaps there is the need to ponder on all school-of-thoughts far and wide, like a man made of different organs and systems working together to sustain a normal living, so as to all sorts of knowledge that will make man a living agent of perfection. We have to start from where no one can refute nor change the abstract yet absolute truth – from the inner sanctum of our very existence. We can deny anything or everything but no one can deny that we are thinking. “Cogito ergo sum” is what Rene Descartes has believed. The very nature of our cognition precedes something no one can deny; that our existence is pre-founded in the mind of the Greatest Planner, and that we all existed in another dimension prior to our exodus in this plane.
Eureka! One wandering soul just cried out! Finding its way out is not an easy gait. Thorny and muddy pulped the exhausted feet. Where in this life goes by the name “Destiny” or “Fate”? Not even a single hint closest to its gist! And maybe the closest gist is just a fragment of the slightest hint.
And how about an attempt to definitize something indefinite? When one tries forming the cue, others are already used and tired of the same for another cue of a sort in finding other ways for its re-formation; a cycle of the same system yet of different sorts. We sleep and wake up crossing a timeline from one to another. A day might be too short for a busy soul yet there seem an endless array of dates and days for a man whose days are yet to come and go. So, where in those dates should we put the mark? And where in the past or in the future should we begin to decode? Has there been a fixed period for a man to cross the line? And how about the ebbs and flows that hurdled the ground in finding one’s destiny? Perhaps, we should also compromise the light just to savor the bitterness of dimmer path while nearing to the end of the tunnel in our search for a pot of gold.
Plato said “a good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers”. But what is knowledge compared to numbers? Knowledge is measured in the cognitive domain while numbers is measured in the affective domain. Hence, a wise decision weights more on cognition rather than on affection. In other words, cognition warrants knowledge and wisdom while affection warrants solely on emotion. With this, a crucial judgment deserves a crucial mind. But a crucial mind requires a soaring spirit to traverse from both the ethereal to physical plane. This is the mind’s essence of being a multi-dimensional ethereal entity.
Let us begin then the journey by quoting a very familiar line, “Let these words of great minds inspire you and help you to achieve your goals and live a fulfilling life.” How inspiring to live a life in a world without failure – in the world of thoughts! It is the only world where man can live and enjoy all the things in life even a king has never had. It is the only perfect world where all things impossible are possible. And from here one can slowly draw the framework of his plans for crown-promising endeavors. From then and only then that man can start inspiring his soul and commence with his dreams straight forward without fail.
How great a soul that flies high! How great are they whose dreams of greatness and wonders have ioned the splendidness and magnificence! Great are they whose foundations of wisdom remain pure and without blemish! They are those whose seeds must fall into good grounds!
However, when this cosmic egg of thoughts ever touches the ground of civilization confusion rules the homos. The Watchers were wise! The Nephilims were brutes! The humans were subdued! Wickedness destroys the very foundation of righteousness. The sufferings of human hearts; the lamentations of the Holy God.
Plane and simple, that’s all the way it was. The plan was clear. Every bit of thought was a presence of intelligence. Every bit of intelligence was a perfect creation; a conceiver and agent of perfection. The first step was easy. But now, man is more than a complete cycle away from the beginning. He transformed along the way. He changed a lot and almost changed everything to satiate his desires. This is now his world of creations; the world of instant; the world of the artificial, the world of numbers. John once warned us and the number is six hundred, three scores and six.
This journey seems endless. Thorns and spikes, seductions and spices, the moaning pleasures soothe the wicked spirits. The handful leads that left then consumed by the red erotic lips. Screaming are they with unknown gratifying pains. Lavishness or tortures for now are just mild pins for a satisfied soul. Billions of them who entered were never seen again. The night is coming. The gate is closing. How can this wanderer tell how, where and when? He is just a mute speaker in the small corner of the rail. His weariness also needs to end, so he said, “Lord, grant me wisdom so I can understand these things!” “Grand me strength so I can reach my end!” “Make me your instrument of thy undying dreams!”
With short memory that’s left in him, this way-wanderer takes a deep sigh and solemnly uttered, “My mind is blurred!” “My thoughts are distorted!” “I don’t know where to put the dot anymore.” “Am I not given up into confusion?” “I’ve been in this plane for millions of years now.” “I am the weary mind; the way-wanderer.” “I am he whose dreams of greatness had flown high.” “I’m getting tired!”
But now, his time is near. The call of his Master is getting clear. He’s getting closer; closer to the golden gate of His heavenly place. He can now see the glowing lights of His Holiness. He can now see the smiles in their subtle faces. The melodies of the harps are soothing his somnolent spirit. At last the long journey is over; he can now have his rest.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
My Reply to the Reply of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh
To Whom It May Concern,
My heartfelt thanks to your reply to my concern. However, I regret to tell you that I am not satisfied with your findings and action. I am not after any disciplinary action to be imposed unto your staff but to recognize and reconsider as to the truthfulness of my statements/claims as far as his treatment, voice and intonation in our conversation are concerned.
In your reply, re: With regard to the phrases "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYO" and "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" which were spoken during your conversation with our staff that day, we have learned that the intention of the concerned staff was to ask if you have any more queries on the matter in order to address them and they were not intentionally said in disrespect to you or in a discourteous manner. Please be considerate that the second phrase "ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" was just a rephrasal in his attempt to cover-up his being rude and disrespectful when he first said "ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYO". Perhaps he noticed his being rude when I asked him "ANONG IBIG MONG SABIHIN NA 'ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO KO'?" so he rephrased his first words.
With all the due respect, please do not reply this email anymore. After all, there is nothing more I can do than to treat this as an accepted practice by some government employees which must not be tolerated.
I retrospect, my apology for bringing to your attention this matter.
Respectfully yours,
Ranie F. Cuaresma
My heartfelt thanks to your reply to my concern. However, I regret to tell you that I am not satisfied with your findings and action. I am not after any disciplinary action to be imposed unto your staff but to recognize and reconsider as to the truthfulness of my statements/claims as far as his treatment, voice and intonation in our conversation are concerned.
In your reply, re: With regard to the phrases "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYO" and "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" which were spoken during your conversation with our staff that day, we have learned that the intention of the concerned staff was to ask if you have any more queries on the matter in order to address them and they were not intentionally said in disrespect to you or in a discourteous manner. Please be considerate that the second phrase "ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" was just a rephrasal in his attempt to cover-up his being rude and disrespectful when he first said "ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYO". Perhaps he noticed his being rude when I asked him "ANONG IBIG MONG SABIHIN NA 'ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO KO'?" so he rephrased his first words.
With all the due respect, please do not reply this email anymore. After all, there is nothing more I can do than to treat this as an accepted practice by some government employees which must not be tolerated.
I retrospect, my apology for bringing to your attention this matter.
Respectfully yours,
Ranie F. Cuaresma
A Reply from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh
LOC-57-2010
06 January 2010
Mr. Ranie F. Cuaresma
Email: ranie070@yahoo.com
Dear Mr Cuaresma,
Greetings from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh!
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh wishes to acknowledge receipt of your email dated 03 January 2010, and would like to inform you that the Embassy had looked into your concern. On Saturday, 02 January 2010 being a non-working day, the Embassy has designated one of its staff as duty officer to attend to telephone calls from the Philippines and other countries as well as Filipino citizens living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
With regard to the phrases "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYO" and "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" which were spoken during your conversation with our staff that day, we have learned that the intention of the concerned staff was to ask if you have any more queries on the matter in order to address them and they were not intentionally said in disrespect to you or in a discourteous manner. We wish to inform you that the Ambassador has always emphasized and enjoined the officers and staff of the Embassy to be courteous and efficient in serving our Kababayans as well as the foreigners who are transacting business with the Embassy.
With regard to your request for information on the Foreign Service Officer Qualifying Test, we would like to provide you with the enclosed copy of the Embassy's Press Release No. RVMI -71-2009 dated 20 December 2009 announcing the holding of said examination simultaneously on 28 March 2010 at the Philippine Embassies in Washington, DC and Vienna, Austria, and Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and other examination venues in the Philippines. The press release can be downloaded from the Embassy's website: http://www.philembassy-riyadh.org/.
The Embassy hopes to be of service to you and will be happy to entertain any further queries on this matter by contacting the Administration Section at telephone numbers (01) 482 3559 and 4821802 extension 2127.
Sincerely yours,
ROMULO VICTOR M. ISRAEl, JR.
Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
06 January 2010
Mr. Ranie F. Cuaresma
Email: ranie070@yahoo.com
Dear Mr Cuaresma,
Greetings from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh!
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh wishes to acknowledge receipt of your email dated 03 January 2010, and would like to inform you that the Embassy had looked into your concern. On Saturday, 02 January 2010 being a non-working day, the Embassy has designated one of its staff as duty officer to attend to telephone calls from the Philippines and other countries as well as Filipino citizens living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
With regard to the phrases "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYO" and "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" which were spoken during your conversation with our staff that day, we have learned that the intention of the concerned staff was to ask if you have any more queries on the matter in order to address them and they were not intentionally said in disrespect to you or in a discourteous manner. We wish to inform you that the Ambassador has always emphasized and enjoined the officers and staff of the Embassy to be courteous and efficient in serving our Kababayans as well as the foreigners who are transacting business with the Embassy.
With regard to your request for information on the Foreign Service Officer Qualifying Test, we would like to provide you with the enclosed copy of the Embassy's Press Release No. RVMI -71-2009 dated 20 December 2009 announcing the holding of said examination simultaneously on 28 March 2010 at the Philippine Embassies in Washington, DC and Vienna, Austria, and Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and other examination venues in the Philippines. The press release can be downloaded from the Embassy's website: http://www.philembassy-riyadh.org/.
The Embassy hopes to be of service to you and will be happy to entertain any further queries on this matter by contacting the Administration Section at telephone numbers (01) 482 3559 and 4821802 extension 2127.
Sincerely yours,
ROMULO VICTOR M. ISRAEl, JR.
Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
Monday, January 4, 2010
A Wanton Pursuit: The Ladlad Case
This is my comments to the news posted herein:
What is order in its philosophical sense? What is discipline in its moral sense? And what is morality in an undisciplined mind?
Order is harmony; a unity in diversity; the harmony of polarity. Harmony is the flow of melody, like a music, where all notes and tunes regardless of their ranges are sensibly arranged to soothe and calm even the most sensible ears of a baby. Harmony means peace, order and calmness; the marriage of the opposites, i.e. the union of a man and a woman.
In the beginning God created man and woman to be together for the divine purpose of procreation and to replenish the Earth. God created Eve from Adam's rib. God did not create a second Adam from the rib of the first Adam but a woman from a man's rib. This union of man and woman brings balance to the chaotic order of the inner cosmos which eventually produces the slightest beat of life.
Physics teaches us that two "negative" (-) poles of magnet cannot attract each others; that a magnet has both the positive and negative polarities in one single object; that no where we can find a magnet with only one polarity on both ends.
Now, what is discipline in its moral sense? Discipline means living in harmony with nature. Nature is a very broad term hence it means everything. This includes man's nature as a creation in harmony with the very purpose of his existence which is to procreate life through the blessings of love in harmony with the cosmos. We cannot promote morality without harmony, and we cannot promote harmony without discipline, and therefore there could never be morality and harmony in an undisciplined mind.
What is order in its philosophical sense? What is discipline in its moral sense? And what is morality in an undisciplined mind?
Order is harmony; a unity in diversity; the harmony of polarity. Harmony is the flow of melody, like a music, where all notes and tunes regardless of their ranges are sensibly arranged to soothe and calm even the most sensible ears of a baby. Harmony means peace, order and calmness; the marriage of the opposites, i.e. the union of a man and a woman.
In the beginning God created man and woman to be together for the divine purpose of procreation and to replenish the Earth. God created Eve from Adam's rib. God did not create a second Adam from the rib of the first Adam but a woman from a man's rib. This union of man and woman brings balance to the chaotic order of the inner cosmos which eventually produces the slightest beat of life.
Physics teaches us that two "negative" (-) poles of magnet cannot attract each others; that a magnet has both the positive and negative polarities in one single object; that no where we can find a magnet with only one polarity on both ends.
Now, what is discipline in its moral sense? Discipline means living in harmony with nature. Nature is a very broad term hence it means everything. This includes man's nature as a creation in harmony with the very purpose of his existence which is to procreate life through the blessings of love in harmony with the cosmos. We cannot promote morality without harmony, and we cannot promote harmony without discipline, and therefore there could never be morality and harmony in an undisciplined mind.
A Reply to My Letter to Hon. Ezzedin H. Tago, Philippine Consul General, Jeddah, KSA
From: Ezzedin Tago
To: filembry@sbm.net.sa; pc.jeddah@gmail.com; vp@ovp.gov.ph
Sent: Mon, January 4, 2010 3:35:45 PM
Subject: Your email re concern with an embassy staff
Dear Ms. Cuaresma,
I refer to your email sent to the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah's email address pc.jeddah@gmail.com on 3 January.
I regret to inform you that, from the area code, the number 00966 2 482 3615 which you called is in Riyadh. You may have called the Embassy in Riyadh and not the Consulate in Jeddah. I note however that you have sent a copy of the email to filembry@sbm.net.sa which is the Embassy's email. I trust the the Embassy will appropriately address the situation you mentioned in your email.
In the meantime, the FSO exam you read about is for entry to the position of Foreign Service Office class IV. The position is not for locally-hired employees in Saudi Arabia. You do not have to be a graduate of a foreign service course to take the exam. There will be a qualifying exam sometime in March this year in Dubai.
Sincerely,
Ezzedin Tago
Philippine Consul General
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
To: filembry@sbm.net.sa; pc.jeddah@gmail.com; vp@ovp.gov.ph
Sent: Mon, January 4, 2010 3:35:45 PM
Subject: Your email re concern with an embassy staff
Dear Ms. Cuaresma,
I refer to your email sent to the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah's email address pc.jeddah@gmail.com on 3 January.
I regret to inform you that, from the area code, the number 00966 2 482 3615 which you called is in Riyadh. You may have called the Embassy in Riyadh and not the Consulate in Jeddah. I note however that you have sent a copy of the email to filembry@sbm.net.sa which is the Embassy's email. I trust the the Embassy will appropriately address the situation you mentioned in your email.
In the meantime, the FSO exam you read about is for entry to the position of Foreign Service Office class IV. The position is not for locally-hired employees in Saudi Arabia. You do not have to be a graduate of a foreign service course to take the exam. There will be a qualifying exam sometime in March this year in Dubai.
Sincerely,
Ezzedin Tago
Philippine Consul General
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Mr. Nhazrudin “Rudy” N.D. Dianalan and the OFW's
Personally, I have no objection with Mr. Nhazrudin Dianalan's bid for a senatorial seat. I also have no objection on how his modus operandi be launched for a nationwide or wordwide campaign either by the internet or through other media available. It is his constitutional right to run for any elective position suffice he met all the qualifications and none of any of the disqualifications enumerated in the Philippine Constitution. It is his personal decesion and nobody has the right neither to question nor to empede his ambition. But what I am going to laydown are just my comments to some of his statements as per the news: "OFW asks Comelec to reconsider his Senate bid" posted in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated 04 January 2010.
In the news, Dianalan said "Kasapi represents the major regional groups in the Philippines: the Ilonggos, the Cebuanos, the Boholanos, the Ilocanos, the Bicolanos, the Warays, the Capampangans, the Maranaos, the Maguindanaos, the Tausugs, the Tagalogs, the Cordillera tribesmen. All these members and the OFWs in Saudi Arabia has pledged to contribute a minimum of one dollar each for (his) campaign."
He further added: “While most of (the 5,000 Kasapi) members cannot vote (as) their places of work did not offer an opportunity for them to register as absentee voters…they have instructed their respective dependents to deliver the message of Dianalan as the only candidate representing the voice of overseas workers."
In my more than a year of stay in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an OFW, I never heard of the "Kasapi" or any "Filipino organization" in this foreign land that is working or looking after the welfare of the Filipinos here. On this part, perhaps I am just a less-informed individual. Most Filipinos I came to know never heard nor mentioned about this "Kasapi" or the like, and there are more than the 5,000 figures mentioned by Mr. Dianalan who are not members of the "Kasapi" and therefore there is no truth, and I refute, that "all OFW's in Saudi Arabia have pledged to contribute (for his campaign)". This, I believe, is just an additional statement to add weight to his motion to Comelec but there is no truth on it.
I also do not agree that Mr. Dianalan is the only candidate who can represents the voice of OFW's. He has no monopoly to do so.
If this "Kasapi" is true to its very purpose, can (they) please state their accomplishments since its founding date which already benefited the OFW's? And how about this "little" amount they can/will collect from the OFW's which is already a sure count of chicks from the eggs? There is no assurance that these will be accounted and spent for its very purpose. Imagine a P45 million collections without transparency? This is already something I am doubtful of its fate.
I just hope and pray that nothing personal will gain from it, if not for the common good.
In the news, Dianalan said "Kasapi represents the major regional groups in the Philippines: the Ilonggos, the Cebuanos, the Boholanos, the Ilocanos, the Bicolanos, the Warays, the Capampangans, the Maranaos, the Maguindanaos, the Tausugs, the Tagalogs, the Cordillera tribesmen. All these members and the OFWs in Saudi Arabia has pledged to contribute a minimum of one dollar each for (his) campaign."
He further added: “While most of (the 5,000 Kasapi) members cannot vote (as) their places of work did not offer an opportunity for them to register as absentee voters…they have instructed their respective dependents to deliver the message of Dianalan as the only candidate representing the voice of overseas workers."
In my more than a year of stay in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an OFW, I never heard of the "Kasapi" or any "Filipino organization" in this foreign land that is working or looking after the welfare of the Filipinos here. On this part, perhaps I am just a less-informed individual. Most Filipinos I came to know never heard nor mentioned about this "Kasapi" or the like, and there are more than the 5,000 figures mentioned by Mr. Dianalan who are not members of the "Kasapi" and therefore there is no truth, and I refute, that "all OFW's in Saudi Arabia have pledged to contribute (for his campaign)". This, I believe, is just an additional statement to add weight to his motion to Comelec but there is no truth on it.
I also do not agree that Mr. Dianalan is the only candidate who can represents the voice of OFW's. He has no monopoly to do so.
If this "Kasapi" is true to its very purpose, can (they) please state their accomplishments since its founding date which already benefited the OFW's? And how about this "little" amount they can/will collect from the OFW's which is already a sure count of chicks from the eggs? There is no assurance that these will be accounted and spent for its very purpose. Imagine a P45 million collections without transparency? This is already something I am doubtful of its fate.
I just hope and pray that nothing personal will gain from it, if not for the common good.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
A Letter to Consul General Hon. Ezzedin H. Tago of Jeddah, KSA
Below is an email to the Consul General Hon. (Mr.) Ezzedin H. Tago of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at pc.jeddah@gmail.com, philcongen@pcgjeddah.com, courtesy copied to H.E. (Mr.) Antonio P. Villamor, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, KSA at pe.riyadh@dfa.gov.ph, filembry@sbm.net.sa, and to the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines at vp@ovp.gov.ph. Please spend some times reading it.
Hon. (Mr.) Ezzedin H. Tago
Consul General
Dear Sir,
My name is Ranie F. Cuaresma, working as an Overseas Filipino Worker with Saudi Diyar Consultants – Architects and Engineers here in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and holder of a Philippine Passport No. XX00000 issued on 02 August 2008 at DFA Regional Office 1, San Fernando, La Union.
I would like to call your attention concerning the attitude/behavior/treatment of one of your embassy staff, and I want to relate to you the whole story:
That on 02 January 2010 at around 1:05 P.M. Saudi time, I called up this mobile number “0096614823615” believing it to be the contact number of the Philippine Embassy in Jeddah, as this number was sent to my mobile phone by the Mobily Telecommunication Company as a welcome message and information when I arrived in this foreign soil. My call was received and entertained by a “male” (voice) attendant.
That the purpose of my calling to above-quoted DFA contact number was to inquire about where to take the qualifying examination for Foreign Service jobs so I can apply for a possible post in our foreign embassies most particularly here in Saudi Arabia. I further told him that I cannot find in the DFA website (http://www.dfa.gov.ph/) what exactly I was looking for, however, I further said that I have read about the Board of Foreign Service Examination in the said website believing that this is another kind of examination only for those graduates of Foreign Service course, so I decided to inquire in our Philippine Embassy through phone. The said male attendant who received my call clarified to me that this (Board of Foreign Service Examination) is the same examination I am looking for which I already understood at the onset of his explanations. However, at the middle of our conversations, he deliberately and intentionally uttered these words “ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYO?” with the unpleasant, discourteous and disrespectful tune. I was a little bit flabbergasted so I asked him, “Anong ibig mong sabihin na ‘ano pa ba ang gusto ko?’” He replied, “ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN?” with almost the same high-pitched voice. I sensed his being disrespectful to me which caused me to immediately stop our conversations, and with all the due respect I said, “A, akala ko kasi ibang eksaminasyon ito. But anyhow, you gave me the correct information. Thank you!”
My concern is to get the attention of this person, and perhaps a wake-up call to some of your embassy employees abroad to give at least the due respect to whoever is asking for help in their respective offices without discrimination in the name of public service, morality and ethics. We Filipinos abroad have nobody to trust, rely and ask for help, information or assistance that concerns our problems, issues and cases than our embassies and consulates. Their posts are not licenses to treat the least fortunate OFW’s unworthy of their attention and help. What’s more if those people calling for their help have lesser temper and lower education? They must remember that their offices are for public services and are public trusts.
May the guidance of the Divine Providence be always with us all.
Sincerely yours,
Ranie Cuaresma
Hon. (Mr.) Ezzedin H. Tago
Consul General
Dear Sir,
My name is Ranie F. Cuaresma, working as an Overseas Filipino Worker with Saudi Diyar Consultants – Architects and Engineers here in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and holder of a Philippine Passport No. XX00000 issued on 02 August 2008 at DFA Regional Office 1, San Fernando, La Union.
I would like to call your attention concerning the attitude/behavior/treatment of one of your embassy staff, and I want to relate to you the whole story:
That on 02 January 2010 at around 1:05 P.M. Saudi time, I called up this mobile number “0096614823615” believing it to be the contact number of the Philippine Embassy in Jeddah, as this number was sent to my mobile phone by the Mobily Telecommunication Company as a welcome message and information when I arrived in this foreign soil. My call was received and entertained by a “male” (voice) attendant.
That the purpose of my calling to above-quoted DFA contact number was to inquire about where to take the qualifying examination for Foreign Service jobs so I can apply for a possible post in our foreign embassies most particularly here in Saudi Arabia. I further told him that I cannot find in the DFA website (http://www.dfa.gov.ph/) what exactly I was looking for, however, I further said that I have read about the Board of Foreign Service Examination in the said website believing that this is another kind of examination only for those graduates of Foreign Service course, so I decided to inquire in our Philippine Embassy through phone. The said male attendant who received my call clarified to me that this (Board of Foreign Service Examination) is the same examination I am looking for which I already understood at the onset of his explanations. However, at the middle of our conversations, he deliberately and intentionally uttered these words “ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYO?” with the unpleasant, discourteous and disrespectful tune. I was a little bit flabbergasted so I asked him, “Anong ibig mong sabihin na ‘ano pa ba ang gusto ko?’” He replied, “ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN?” with almost the same high-pitched voice. I sensed his being disrespectful to me which caused me to immediately stop our conversations, and with all the due respect I said, “A, akala ko kasi ibang eksaminasyon ito. But anyhow, you gave me the correct information. Thank you!”
My concern is to get the attention of this person, and perhaps a wake-up call to some of your embassy employees abroad to give at least the due respect to whoever is asking for help in their respective offices without discrimination in the name of public service, morality and ethics. We Filipinos abroad have nobody to trust, rely and ask for help, information or assistance that concerns our problems, issues and cases than our embassies and consulates. Their posts are not licenses to treat the least fortunate OFW’s unworthy of their attention and help. What’s more if those people calling for their help have lesser temper and lower education? They must remember that their offices are for public services and are public trusts.
May the guidance of the Divine Providence be always with us all.
Sincerely yours,
Ranie Cuaresma
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