Filipino expats join forces to keep Saudi Arabia green

As of October, the group has 200 volunteers, collected 356 bags of trash, and planted 100 trees. They have held more than 10 cleanup drives in Heet Caves Park, Sha’ib Luha, and in other southern parts of Riyadh. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 13 October 2022
Follow

Filipino expats join forces to keep Saudi Arabia green

  • Volunteer group sees clearing trash and planting trees as ‘way to give back to society’

JEDDAH: Every Friday before the break of dawn, Jimrey Buntas Dapin boards a bus with his group and travels to the deserts in Riyadh to pick up trash and plant trees in support of the Saudi Green Initiative.

Dapin, 29, is one of five co-founders of the Filipinos for the Saudi Green Initiative, a group set up in 2020 after being inspired by the work of other volunteer bodies, the Environmental Green Horizons Society and Green Daqla.

While the Saudi Green Initiative seeks to combat climate change and improve the quality of life for future generations, Dapin and his group found that their volunteer work also allows them to give back to Saudi Arabia. 

“Working in Saudi Arabia has given me a good life here, and it has made my family’s lifestyle better back home in the Philippines. Thus, I feel the responsibility to give back to society,” said Dapin. 

“My simple way of giving back to the society was tree planting and desert cleanup. We live here in the same space and ecosystem, so it’s everyone’s responsibility.” 

Dapin, who works at a Riyadh-based company, is also a licensed social studies teacher. He encourages his students and peers to “participate in social and civic responsibilities.”

With all major objectives of the Kingdom aligned with Vision 2030, the Filipinos are using the year as a number to reach by each member — in terms of bags of trash collected and trees planted.

As of October, the group has 200 volunteers, collected 356 bags of trash, and planted 100 trees. They have held more than 10 cleanup drives in Heet Caves Park, Sha’ib Luha, and in other southern parts of Riyadh. During one of their recent trips, the group collected 3,000 plastic bottles in just five hours from the Red Sand area. All the trash collected is delivered to a local recycling facility.

“For cleanup drives, we enquire from our friends about the public places and research the location before embarking on the trip,” said Dapin. 

Dapin said they started with just a handful of community members passionate about the environment, but pictures of their work on Twitter attracted attention and traction.

One of people who saw the social media posts was Mary Abigail Pajarillo, who works as a public diplomacy assistant at the Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom. “I have been residing in the Kingdom since I was three years old. For me, (the) Kingdom is my first home. I saw one of the posts of Jimrey on Twitter, and it piqued my interest since I was not aware that a group of Filipinos was volunteering for such an activity. Whenever I’m free, I’m always ready to join.”

For Reine Baquiano, a Filipino engineer, joining the group was also an introduction to social work. “Volunteering is a first for me and I have grown to enjoy it and learn as I go with the process.” 

Dapin said it takes him and his team a week to plan a trip that comprises conducting meetings with authorities, making travel arrangements, shopping for trash bags, gloves, food and water for the attendees, and creating social media posts pre- and post-trip while juggling full-time jobs. 

“It’s all commitment and love for the environment here in the Kingdom.” 

Once everything is set, volunteers “wake up 3 a.m. every weekend to do their part for their home, Saudi Arabia.”

SAPTCO, a transport company, provides free transport for the group as part of its social responsibility program.

Several good Samaritans and organizations including Tadweer, Dunkin Donuts and Romansiah offer support to the group.

Their work has garnered significant praise on Twitter from Saudis. While overwhelmed with all the support and encouragement, Dapin believes “that caring and protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility not just the citizens and government.”


Saudi Arabia showcases digital progress at Osaka expo 

Updated 12 min 44 sec ago
Follow

Saudi Arabia showcases digital progress at Osaka expo 

RIYADH: The Saudi Data and AI Authority revealed the Kingdom’s progress in digital transformation and smart city development during its participation in Saudi events at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

The authority outlined national efforts to adopt data and artificial intelligence technologies to improve service efficiency and support sustainable development, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Mishari Almishari, deputy director of the authority’s National Information Center, said that Saudi Arabia was steadily moving toward a more integrated digital society under Vision 2030, which identified digital transformation as a key development goal.

He noted that the authority’s establishment in 2019 marked a significant step, coordinating efforts through three main entities: the National Information Center, the National Center for Artificial Intelligence, and the National Data Management Office.

The authority plays a central role in data and AI regulation and development, according to Almishari, contributing to the Kingdom’s growing position in data and AI-based innovation.

He also highlighted support for smart city systems through projects like the National Smart C Platform, the Smart Riyadh Operations Center, and initiatives promoting innovation, such as training camps, incubators, accelerators, and national hackathons.

The authority’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka reflects Saudi Arabia’s aim to contribute to global AI development and build a more inclusive digital future.


Hajj volunteers on duty at Arar border crossing

Volunteers from various government and charitable organizations are providing comprehensive support to Iraqi Hajj pilgrims at th
Updated 18 May 2025
Follow

Hajj volunteers on duty at Arar border crossing

RIYADH: The Jadidat Arar border crossing in the Northern Borders region continues to welcome Hajj pilgrims arriving from Iraq, with volunteers from various government and charitable organizations providing support.

Teams from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority offer medical services and health education to ensure the safety of pilgrims, delivering urgent care when needed, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Volunteers from the Northern Borders Health Cluster perform medical examinations and monitor health conditions, safeguarding pilgrims’ well-being from arrival to departure.

Volunteers from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development help organize pilgrim movement, oversee transport and provide logistical support.

They also assist the elderly and people with disabilities, ensuring smooth and accessible mobility, the SPA reported.

Teams from the Ministry of Sport offer guidance at entry points and educate pilgrims on organizational procedures.

Students from Northern Borders University assist with translation, facilitating communication with non-Arabic-speaking pilgrims.

Volunteers from various associations guide pilgrims on entrance and exit routes to ensure smooth movement.

Saudi volunteers ensure pilgrims have a straightforward and enriching Hajj journey, working tirelessly in several sectors to maintain top-level service, according to the SPA.

The annual Islamic pilgrimage — required once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially able to do so — will begin in Makkah on June 4 and end on June 9.


Saudi FM receives Turkish counterpart in Riyadh

Updated 18 May 2025
Follow

Saudi FM receives Turkish counterpart in Riyadh

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday received his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Riyadh to discuss the latest regional developments, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.


Filipino conjoined twins in Riyadh for surgical separation

Updated 18 May 2025
Follow

Filipino conjoined twins in Riyadh for surgical separation

  • Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa are being assessed at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital

RIYADH: Filipino conjoined twin sisters Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa arrived in Riyadh on Saturday and are being assessed for possible separation surgery under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

The twins were taken to the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard upon arrival at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Klea Ann and Maurice Ann, accompanied by their parents, were brought to the Kingdom from Manila upon royal directives.

They are the third conjoined twins from the Philippines to be placed on the program.

The program’s medical and surgical team is led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also an adviser at the Royal Court and director general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief.

The twin’s parents expressed their gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous care and warm reception, as well as the comprehensive medical attention they received, SPA reported.

Conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann are now undergoing medical assessment for possible separation surgery at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital. (SPA photo)

In an interview published on Saturday in Arab News, the twin’s mother, Maricel Misa, said that since her children were born seven years ago, she had been praying that one day someone would help them to live a normal life.

Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang Island in Mindoro Oriental province, central Philippines, were unable to afford the expensive operation the twins needed. Her prayers were answered when she got a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila and was told that the Kingdom was willing to help.

“We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,” Misa said.

Since its founding in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated more than 140 children born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Among them were Filipino conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manz — joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum — who were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004.

A second Filipino pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph — joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver — were successfully separated in September 2024.

Al-Rabeeah said that the program “reflects the Kingdom’s principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.”


A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

Updated 18 May 2025
Follow

A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

  • Chef Mayram Atiq’s contemporary take on Saudi cuisine is winning hearts with every bite

MAKKAH: In the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary scene, award-winning Saudi chef Maryam Marwan Atiq has emerged as a trailblazer, celebrated for her creativity and commitment to showcasing Saudi cuisine on the global stage.

With more than 15 years of experience, Atiq presents Saudi dishes in a contemporary, internationally appealing style without compromising its authentic essence. She is currently a member of the team of female Saudi chefs behind Tairat Al-Boulevard restaurant in Riyadh.

To Atiq, Saudi cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a “sea of flavors and ingredients” shaped by the Kingdom’s rich geographic and cultural diversity. This depth, she believes, gives Saudi food its distinctive character and its power to act as a bridge between cultures.

Through her participation in local and international exhibitions, Atiq has seen firsthand how Saudi flavors captivate people from around the world.

One of her most memorable encounters, she said, was with a man in his nineties who tasted jareesh for the first time at an exhibition. Deeply moved by the dish, his reaction reaffirmed her belief in the universal appeal of Saudi cooking.

“Food is the ambassador of culture,” she told Arab News. “And combining Saudi flavors and ingredients with international presentation techniques helps convey Saudi cuisine more quickly and accessibly, making it more appealing to international palates.”

Atiq praised the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission for their efforts in documenting and preserving Saudi food heritage. She herself has contributed to documenting traditional recipes from two regions of the Kingdom.

She also emphasized the role of online platforms in promoting Saudi cuisine to a global audience. Atiq called on media professionals and content creators to participate in this “cultural mission” that she is a major part of.

“I will continue my efforts to spread Saudi cuisine — , with our authentic flavors and cultural spirit — across the globe, making it a cultural ambassador worthy of the richness and diversity of the Kingdom,” she said.