Buying Filipino products made the businesses of Al Ramah, Kadiwa and Saudi Groceries (Dammam) thrive. I don’t know the exact number of Filipino workers in the Eastern Province but what I do know is that most of them would at least purchase once a month from these specialty groceries.
My friend Darwin could hardly find ‘Lady’s Choice’ tuna / chicken spread in the shelves Kadiwa and Al Ramah. He has to go to Western Butchery (Another Filipino specialty store) to get one. Filipino products are so popular amongst Filipinos that it’s sold out as soon as it is displayed into the shelves of these specialized stores. There were months when Century Tuna were out of stock, and since I love Tuna, I had no other choice but to buy solid pack canned tuna imported from other parts of the world. These specialized stores sell different kind of items that ranges to food, beauty products and anything you could ever imagine. The most popular are the dried fish, salted anchovies and canned Spanish sardines in tomato sauce.
There are clever Saudi businessmen whose food businesses cater to Filipino taste. The most successful fast food restaurant in Al Khobar is the Al Bahar. In Al Bahar you can taste the authentic Filipino home cook meals. Their viands are freshly cooked, friendly staff and they’re CLEAN! I don’t mind queuing on Wednesdays since I get to eat my favorite ‘Ginataang Mongo’ and fish fillet.
Some of us may not realize it but buying Filipino made products on these specialized stores means we’re indirectly helping the Philippine economy on a micro level. I don’t want to detail the micro effects of buying Filipino made products. Some other time maybe LOL!
The Filipino community is a big economic force in the Kingdom of the Sands. Although other nationalities send money to their country of origin, Filipinos are the remittance centers biggest senders (Indians might disagree with me LOL). If in case the Filipinos leave the Kingdom, several businesses would for sure, close down.
2 comments:
True.
Whenever I go on vacation, laging tinatanong ng tatay ko: meron bang bagoong sa Saudi? Nakakain k b ng mungo sa Saudi?
Sagot ko naman: Opo. Meron nga rin po dung saluyot, dahon ng sili, malunggay, mama sita kaldereta mix, etc. Wala nga lang po talagang baboy. A meron pala pero mahal.
Akala nila joke-joke lang ako.
And yes, I also like Al Bahar. Sila lang kasi ang pinakamalinis na Pinoy restaurant para sa akin. Tsaka consistent ang timpla.
I agree with you "Some of us may not realize it but buying Filipino made products on these specialized stores means we’re indirectly helping the Philippine economy on a micro level. I don’t want to detail the micro effects of buying Filipino made products."
At saka sa part na pinoy ang pinakamalaking remittance, kasi lahat ng pinoy lahat ng sahod padala sa pinas...haha!
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