By Carmela Bignotia (OFW Guide)

There are so many Filipinos working in the Middle East because of the various opportunities for employment there. In fact, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consistently tops the list of countries with most number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). From household service workers to engineers and nurses, OFWs are all over the Middle East playing a significant role in their labor industry and helping their economy prosper.

Construction-Related Jobs

Since 1970’s engineers, architects, and construction workers are constantly in-demand in the Middle East. But today, Middle Eastern countries need to recruit more foreign workers than before. The boom in the construction industry particularly in Qatar increases the need to recruit more workers. Last year, Qatar hired laborers as a preparation for the Asian games. After the Asian games, Qatar is still hiring workers because of the growth of their construction industry.

One profession that has many job openings now are masons. A mason is responsible for creating the foundation of a buiding or a worker who builds in brick or stone. The salary of a mason ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 a month. A minimum of two years work experience is required.

The growth of the construction sector also created job vacancies for secretaries, clerks, and office workers.

Medical Workers

As of this writing, the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia has more than 5,000 job openings for female healthcare workers. Majority of the job opening is for female nurses. Other openings are for medical technologists, x-ray technicians, physical therapist, dental assistants, and dental technicians. Almost all job openings (except for dental technicians) is open to female applicants.

Nurse applicants must be a board passer to qualified. Underboard nurses can be hired if the applicant is a Muslim. The minimum experience in a hospital is two years.

To apply for job openings in the Middle East countries, go to www.workabroad.ph and click on Job openings. Choose the job category by country and click the country where you wish to find employment. The requirements and the agency where you can send your application are provided.

By Joy B. Miranda

Barely a month since her appointment, Honorary Consul to Cyprus Shemaine Alonzo Bushnell – Kyriakides is heading for the United States of America tomorrow for what she said a “personal business”.  She however e mailed to me her message for the 109th Philippine Independence Day  Celebration which will take place on Sunday, June 10, 2007 at Tripoli Park, Solomon Square, Nicosia and requested me to read it for her .  Consul Kyriakides did not mention as to how long will she be away.  Below is the Honorary Consulate’s Statement:

   

   Philippine Honorary Consulate

Cyprus

       

             

 

First, I would like to thank you for inviting me to your Independence Day celebration.  I am very sorry I cannot be there with you today due to a personal matter that requires me to be in the U.S.

But I would like to say just a few words…. 

Philippine Independence Day historically celebrates Independence from the colonial rule of Spain and later from the United States.  

The Philippines has a long and proud history.  It is a place where people of different countries have made their mark, we see it in the many different dialects in each of the islands, the food, the dances, the way of dressing, and even in the way Filipinos distinguish themselves to fellow Filipinos.  They call themselves Tagalog, Ilocano, Visayan…etc.  But all in all Filipinos come together as one, especially in foreign countries where their only network of support is the Filipino community.

So today, as we celebrate the 109^th Independence Day of the Philippines, let us remember that as in the past,

Philippine Independence was achieved through the unity and strength of the Filipino people.  And

in order to be a driving force for change it is important to be united as one.

Good luck and Mabuhay!

Thank you,

Shemaine Alonso Bushnell-Kyriakides

Philippine Consul, a.h.

Cyprus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Joy B. Miranda with reports from Carmen B. Llauderes

Finally, the Philippine Consulate’s office in Cyprus will be opened again to the Filipino community following the confirmation of appointment by Cyprus government dated May 8, 2007 of a new honorary consul in the person of Mrs. Shemaine Alonzo Bushnell – Kyriakides, a mixed bred Filipino-American lady married to a Greek-Cypriot Mr. Alexis Kyriakides.

It must be recalled that said office was vacated eight months ago after the resignation of former Honorary Consul Vanthoula Tsaousis-Constantinides  last September 1, 2006. Constantinides is a naturally- born Cyprus citizen and served the consulate office for two years.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA by American father Robert G. Bushnell and a Filipina mother Sony V. Alonzo, the new honorary consul seemed to be bearing the forth generation political veins being the great grand-daughter of the late Lawyer Francisco M. Alonzo and Mercedes V. Alonzo who were both very active in political as well as social scenes in the Philippines during their time.

She was a year old when they moved from USA to Cebu City, Philippines and grew up there for 16 years. She studied at Cebu International (American) School and St. Theresa’s College before moving back to USA where they stayed at Beverly Hills California and was educated at Beverly Hills High School. After finishing her secondary education in Beverly Hills, she was then admitted to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she earned a degree in Political Science with an emphasis on International relations.

The new honorary consul said that she first aimed to enter the US diplomatic Core but changed her plans after marrying in 1995 to Mr. Alexis Kyriakides, a Greek-Cypriot who is a trained pilot also educated in the US and a business tradesman with his own import-export business named LEASON USA which is based in Los Angeles, California and now here in Nicosia, Cyprus importing commodities from the US to Cyprus and other countries in Europe.

She had a five year stint at Fox News Network from 1995 to 2000 working to produce news events throughout the US. The couple then moved permanently to Cyprus in 2005 and living here till todate.

In her statement, Honorary Consul Kyriakides mentioned her plans involving the promotion of the Philippine tourism, the encouragement of a continued warm relationship between the Philippines and Cyprus government and pursuing her diplomatic duties and functions with regards to the thousands of filipino citizens now working and living in Cyprus.
 
“I would like to thank those who showed their support and especially for the ‘good luck’ and ‘God bless’ messages which I received after my appointment,” she stressed. “I am happy to be your honorary consul and I look forward for my duties ahead. God bless,” she added.
 
The Philippine Consulate’s Office is temporarily stationed at number 10 Filimonos St., 42 Nicosia, Cyprus 1071 and is open from 8:30 in the morning to 1:30 in the afternoon. Appointments can be arranged through mobile number 99377268.

 

The newly appointed honorary consul to Cyprus Filipino-American Shemaine with Greek-Cypriot husband Alexis Kyriakides