OFWs in Riyadh pay tribute to servant leaders via website

Filipinos based in Saudi Arabia recently launched a website that features overseas Filipino public servants practicing the values of a "servant leader" in performing their civic tasks. Designed by a group of OFWs in Riyadh, anginyonglingkod.com is a “wiki-style" website, which is open to everyone with Internet access to read, write an entry or edit. "The website aims to instill in the minds of the youth the concept of servant leadership, which can be traced back to a Biblical teaching about serving without asking anything in return," Joseph Espiritu, a telecom engineer and one of the creators of the site, told GMANews.TV in an exchange of email messages. The websites’ introduction describes a servant leader as a steward of human, financial, cultural and a host of social resources. As in charge of such resources, stewards serve others even as they remain faithful to the values of the organizations that appoint them –public or civic groups, he said. Since its launching on July 1, anginyonglingkod.com has already featured nine servant leaders from civic groups and public agencies. It has also featured three civic groups and one service-oriented project. Riyadh-based Arab News also featured the new website over the weekend. Espiritu said that individuals and public servants featured in the website can become members of the online community of servant leaders the site wants to create. "They [featured leaders] may come from government or non-government organizations as long they serve the people without asking for something in return," said Espiritu, adding that fellow creators of anginyonglingkod.com are advocates of good governance, transparency and accountability in public office." One of the first inductees or recruits of anginyonglingkod.com is Abdulghani Kusain Umag. Umag arrived on September 6, 2006 as welfare officer of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Riyadh. Community groups helping distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia’s capital city noted that barely two months with the POLO as acting labor attaché beginning in December 2006, Umag has helped 67 workers get their salaries that were delayed for three months. Also among the website’s first batch of inductees include Alexander E. Asuncion, Ronnie Abeto, Tom Lauson, and Salahuddin Unda "Bagong Bayani" awardee Alexander E. Asuncion was responsible for simplifying the Saudi Labor and Workmen Law so that OFWs could understand the provisions easily. Ronnie Abeto of the Pusong Mamon Task Force, an advocacy group helping distressed OFWs in Saudi, has been noted for his exemplary performance in helping distressed OFWs. One the grateful distressed OFWs described him as a "true picture of Bagong Bayani." Tom Lauson, consular attaché assigned at the Philippine Embassy's Assistance to Nationals Section, has also been noted for his exemplary performance in helping OFWs. Salahuddin Unda, a case officer of the Polo in Riyadh, helped many Filipino migrant workers having disputes with their employers. Espiritu said that the idea of bestowing certificates of recognition to responsible government officials was inspired by Unda's invaluable service to distressed OFWs. The website has also featured groups such as the Pusong Mamon Task Force; Juan!, a group of OFWs advocating the values of helping one another; and the Manila-based Center for Migrant Advocacy, which promotes the rights of migrant workers. - Luis Gorgonio, GMANews.TV