Dear Readers,

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It gives me great pleasure to present to you the maiden issue of AFCSCOM Gazette, the official publication of All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (AFCSCOM).   After 21 years since the formation of AFCSCOM in 1996, this is the first time our group has come up with a publication that will serve as the medium to keep our members and the Filipino Community in Eastern Region abreast with the latest information on AFCSCOM’s programs, activities and achievements as well as with the various events held by the Filipino Community.

       As an umbrella organization of more than 60 Filipino professional, educational, civic, regional and sports organization, it is but fitting for AFCSCOM to have a publication that will be shared by its member-organizations.  The publication will also give a unique identity for AFCSCOM that has been active in the service of Filipinos for 21 long years, be it in sports, community and cultural. 

         AFCSCOM is always ready to serve our Kababayans especially those who are in distressed.  Also, it is in the forefront to assist and support the projects and programs of POLO-ERO and the Philippine Embassy for the welfare of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) in Saudi Arabia.  AFCSCOM remains as the voice of OFs and the Community Partner of POLO-OWWA/Philippine Embassy.  With the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement held in Riyadh in 2001, between former president Engr. Sammy Perez and Labor Attaché Arturo Sodusta and witnessed by then Ambassador Rafael Seguis and former Senator Manny Villar, AFCSCOM became the first and only Umbrella Group accredited by the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh as a Community Partner in Eastern Region.

         AFCSCOM will never compete with any group when it comes to volunteerism and service to our kababayans.  Instead, it will work hand in hand with any group in helping our kababayans especially the needy.  AFCSCOM has proven its worth all these years.  It has an excellent track record.  It started to take the lead role in 1996 when it spearheaded the selection of players and campaigned for support of Eastern Region Delegation to the 1996 Philippine Friendship Games in Dubai and later on in Bahrain, covering various sports including basketball, volleyball, bowling, chess, scrabble, darts, table tennis, lawn tennis and martial arts.  The Friendship Games was organized by OWWA for the Filipino Expatriates in the Middle East.  AFCSCOM was successful with the support of then Welfare Officer Hassan Jumdain of Philippine Trade Center for Commerce (PHILTRACEN).  The rest is history.  To date, AFCSCOM becomes the legitimate award-giving body for recognizing the sporting abilities and the achievements in sports of Overseas Filipinos and the Filipino students in Eastern Saudi through its prestigious AFCSCOM Sports Excellence Award.

        AFCSCOM had been successful in organizing/conducting and/or spearheading various community projects in the Eastern Region like the monthly Embassy on Wheels (EoW) where AFCSCOM provided volunteers and marshals and assisted the EoW Team from Riyadh.  It also spearheaded the campaign and holding of Overseas Absentee Voting Registration and Voting in Eastern Region travelling as far as Al-Hassa and Al-Khafji.  AFCSCOM together with POLO-ERO officials conducted the “POLO on Wheels” in Hafar Al-Batin and meet with community leaders in that area regarding their concerns.  It spearheaded clean-up drives and various medical missions and distributed goodies to our distressed kababayans working in Mohammed Al-Mojil and other companies.  It organized various Re-Integration Seminars, leadership trainings and Kapihan sa AFCSCOM among others.  Also, AFCSCOM spearheaded the campaign for donations to calamity victims in Eastern & Western Visayas, Bicol Region, the Cordilleras and Central and Northern Luzon when typhoons hit these areas.

       To help the POLO-ERO to serve better our kababayans, AFCSCOM has requested for additional manpower and also requested for Assistance to Nationals Representative in Eastern Region.  It has sent petition letter to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to return the service of Embassy on Wheels to Eastern Region.

           Not only that, to give entertainment to our kababayans and to showcase as well their talents, AFCSCOM organized “Awit at Sayaw Cultural Show” which was participated by all Cultural Associations in the Eastern Region.  It spearheaded the Cultural Program of the yearly celebration of Philippine Independence Day and organized the first and only “Linggo ng Pinoy” Cultural Show and Trade Exhibit held at Dhahran Exhibition Center.

         AFCSCOM has shown the true meaning of service to others with sincerity and integrity.  That’s why it has produced fifteen Outstanding Migrant Worker Awardees, a Presidential Banaag Awardee and seven Bagong Bayani Awardees from 2002 to date.

           With these achievements, AFCSCOM will remain humble.  It will continue to serve as bridge and communication link between the POLO-ERO/Philippine Embassy and the Filipino Community.  It will continue to assist/support the programs and projects of POLO-ERO and the Philippine Embassy.  And with the realization of this publication, the Filipino Community will be informed and updated on what’s going on in this part of the kingdom.