In 2001, I was one of over a hundred students who enrolled at the Second Philippine International School (SPIS) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A number, like me, had transferred from other Philippine schools in the area. Many, however, had moved from the Philippines with their parents. We also had over 20 new teachers and staff from the homeland.
Thus the fastest-growing Philippine school in Riyadh at the time grew a little bigger.
And tucked inside the first 2001 issue of SPIS Insights, the school’s then two-year-old publication, was a short yet ingenious Filipino article on an OFW’s new life in the Kingdom.
The author, a pseudonym (that is, not me).
It matched the homesickness of those missing the Philippines with the quickest available connection they had to home–ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel or TFC.
Even if you haven’t landed on the Arab desert, the sampling of TV shows (many defunct, others still airing) in this piece will evoke memories of the early 2000s.
(POSTSCRIPT, Oct. 5: After posting this, I thought of sending a link to a former SPIS teacher, Sir Nick Peñaverde. Turns out the tidbit I heard was true all along. He did write the following piece. And reading it again seemed like a gift on National Teacher’s Week. Here’s a tribute to all my elem and high school teachers–all OFWs too.)
Ganito ang Sawdi Layf
– Nike(Published on Page 10, Filipino section of SPIS Insights, Volume III, Issue No. 1, August 2001)
Mahigit apat na buwan na rin ang nakalipas sa PAHINA ng aking Saudi life. Animo’y MISSION X ang bawat karanasan na nilalaro sa MBA ng buhay.Noong una’y OKA TOKAT ang nararamdaman, ngunit dahil kapwa Pilipino PIPOL ang KABALIKAT palagi, KEEP ON DANCING ang feelings kahit sobrang init ang bawat sandali.
Ala SINGKO Y MEDYA ang gising kung magluluto ka pa at ASAP ka naman para ‘di mahuli sa SINESKWELA.
SARAP TV kapag may selebrasyon at bertdeyan, dahil libre ang MAGANDANG TANGHALIan BAYAN.
Sakay ng THE BUZZ sa tuwing mag ma-market day, S.I.M. card ng Aljawwal ang kailangan upang celpon mo’y maging okey.
Iba’t ibang bagay dito sa Camel Land aking lubos na nauunawaan. Huwag gagawa ng maling GIMIK upang ‘di ma-ISYU 101, sumunod sa alituntunin at batas upang ‘di ma-KRIS & TELL ang buhay.
O SPIS sa Sawdi, salamat, maraming salamat. PANGAKO SA’YO mga turo mo at aral ay aking pahahalagahan. Sa PUSO KO IINGATAN KA tulad ni SHARON na iniidolo ng masa.
Ang galing mo’y dapat lang i-TALK TV at ibalita sa TV PATROL, at awitin ng lahat ang tagumpay mo sa SING dat SONG.
Kung KAYA NI MISTER, KAYA NI MISIS ang mga homesick na nagdaan, asahan mong ako’y ‘di magbabago, BODY en the GUARD mong tunay.
Mananatili ang suporta ko sa iyo, tulad ng nag-aalab na FLAMES. Saan man, kailanman, MARTIN LATE AT NITE o MAGANDANG GABI BAYAN man, TFC THIS WEEK, this month, this year- ikaw lang, MAALAALA MO KAYA ang laman ng puso’t isipan.
RECUERDO DE AMOR ang ngalan mo, at maituturing na THE GLOBAL FILIPINO ang iyong mga produkto.
Ito ang aking Sawdi life, ang aking karanasan, bumalikman sa Pinas ‘di ito malilimutan, ngayon, bukas… hanggang SA DULO NG WALANG HANGGAN.
Sino ako ang tanong mo?? ASSIGNMENT mo na ‘yan!