A Socio-economic Organization (1995)
Introduction
In the early Eighties, long before the formations of ethnic-based communities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and not very long after the kingdom open its doors to expat workers, the “Bol-anon” OFWs were already holding festivities in fiesta impression in the kingdom, despite such activities are taboo in the kingdom. The affairs were commonly organized by a cluster (core) that includes Bebot Budlong, Vincent Duroy, Beth Haroun, Rudy Ferniz and others.
Generally referred to as “tapoktapok”, the euphoria of being able to rub elbows with fellow Bol-anons in almost yearly occasion is so fulfilling and rewarding in a place where males cannot mixed casually with females. Not only that you won’t feel you are in Saudi Arabia, but it virtually fills up the void created by homesickness in the course one’s work contract. Denying oneself from attending is next to impossible to a son of Dagohoy.
The BLOC
In the year 1996, while “tapok-tapok” remains the usual means of hanging around with fellow Bol-anons over the years, the slack of not having undefined goals and set of officers to steer the community started to spoil the solidarity of the group. Nonetheless, some Bol-anons and other adopted-sons-of-Bohol were already interacting in the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah with other Filipino communities in the region. Eventually, their interactions led to the creation of the first cooperative of OFWs in Jeddah named “BLOC” (Bohol-Leyte OFW Cooperative), an association of OFWs from the Bohol and Leyte provinces.
The unprecedented alliance drew criticism from and within the Boholano community because the coalition was sealed with majority of influential Bol-anon OFWs out of the picture. The move, not only unpopular and peculiar in the norm of cooperative “residential” principles, was already doomed by many quarters long before BLOC started to take-off.
The BC-J (1995-2009)
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To clear the smoke of restlessness and address the issues confronting the community, some concerned Bol-anons organized to call a “Tapok-Tapok 96” during the last quarter of the year. After long hours of highly charged discussions and deliberations, the smoke finally cleared. The selfless desire to consolidate as one community, rather than allowing to be consumed by the proverbial “ija-ja aho-aho” attitude, prevailed that night. It was a humbling experience to all hearts of the Boholano OFWs who attended that faithful gathering. The tapok-tapok eventually became the catalyst to creating officially a community of Bol-anons in Jeddah which is now called Boholano Community-Jeddah, (A Socio-Economic Organization), a.k.a “BC-J”.
The momentous event was witnessed by no less than Mr. Norman Garibay, then Vice Consul at Philcongen who dutifully joined and shared his ideas during deliberation with his fluent Bisaya tongue.
One week later, set of officers were elected to steer the new organization. Emman Bernaldez was elected as the first President. The objective: to prepare for socio-economic integration of every Boholano OFW. In the same year, BCJ played a lead role in the cooperative movement in Jeddah by sponsoring the first Cooperative Orientation Seminar held at the PhilConGen. The initiative paved the way to the launching the of Kabuhayan 2000 Entrepreneurship Seminars – a government program for the OFWs in Western Region under the auspices of OWWA and DOLE.
In the following year of same leadership, the first Miss BCJ contest was held. May Castro, of Guindulman was crowned Miss BCJ and she is now in Canada, 1st Runner up Hazel Pondoc in now in UK, 2nd runner up Liza Caga-anan is now in Australia. We believed, with the BCJ experiences and values in their hearts, they left the kingdom as our ambassadors to the other parts of the globe.
In the succeeding years, the new sets of leaders namely Aaron Madera (1998) and Antonio Hurtado (2000) continued to promote and pursue consciousness to the established socio-economic reintegration program of BCJ while member became wearier from the Saudization plan. To provide new impetus to the community especially in the prospects of business opportunities in the province of Bohol, they organized investment groups to start capital formation awareness. An encouraging number of investors responded to the challenge, however, inherent to every new organization and for many other reasons, the efforts were not fortunate enough to take the investment group off the ground.
Charitable Thrusts
The felt need of trust and cohesion within the community started to diminish due to Saudization. The situation compelled Diomy Budlong, BCJ president in the year 2003, to act with resolve to engage in charitable works in order to bring new direction for the BCJ family. The move received tremendous support from the community and fund raisings were organized in the next available time even in a place known of its very strict culture.
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From the proceeds, a cash donation was extended to the Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (formerly the Bohol Provincial Hospital) that enable rehabilitation of their dialysis machine back to its full operating capacity. Other cash and humanitarian aids continued to be provided especially to families in the Visayas ravaged by natural disasters.
BCJ donated cash to twenty family victims of the food poisoning at barrangay San Jose Elementary School of Mabini, Bohol.
The CGMA Classroom Donation
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It was in year 2004 when Ric Cordero, then president, guided from example set by the previous administration, met his officers and advisers to agree in supporting the education programs of the Philippines. They found it a better incentive of translating every effort from very risky fund-raising activities to a more worthy cause. In no time, though he left the kingdom shortly after that bold decision, the fund raising campaign was started and relentlessly pursued by his officers lead by Vice President Gaspar Bertumen. Sooner or later the highly spirited officers successfully donated a classroom to the Dr. Cecilio Putong National high School (formerly Bohol National High School) thru the CGMA project of the Philippine government in the following year.
ETV Package (ABS-CBN Adopt-a-hometown-School)
Taking the rein of BCJ in 2005 and inspired by the success, Gaspar Bertumen of Guindulman, mustered an overwhelming support from the organization for the adoption of a continuing project of BCJ; uplift the quality of education of the school children of Bohol through the AFI-ETV programs.
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The project was ably carried on by Rey Toloy of Calape, who took over the rein, after Jun Gaspar left the kingdom for good before he finished his term.
Since then and up to the present leadership of Red Bual (Mabini) and his officers, the BCJ has become a strong supporter of the government program in uplifting the quality of education of school children of Bohol by pursuing to adopt the programs of Adopt-A-Hometown-School of the AFI Foundation. Until presently, and in cooperation with ABS-CBN and DECS Bohol, the BCJ has already adopted eleven (11) different elementary schools in Bohol that provided them with sets of ETV packages (TV, DVD player and volumes of educational programs in DVD prepared by ABS-CBN).
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Socio-economic Reintegration
BCJ Ventures MPC
Parallel to these efforts, the present leadership continued to pursue the realization of the reintegration program of BCJ. It was re-launch in the first quarter of 2006 and was successfully incorporated as new investment endeavor to tap the growing investment opportunities brought about by the tourism industry in Bohol. The new investment group is named “BCJ Ventures Multi Purpose Cooperative” and was accredited with CDA Philippines last July 2007.
The 24/7 Superstore
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It is a midsized modern C-store named “24/7 Superstore” located in Cogon district, along CPG Avenue corner Torero Private Road. It is owned and operated by the BCJV-MPC by long distance management because most of the members are presently working in Jeddah. The store employed nine staff to run the business 24 hrs daily and 7 times a week.
While some Bol-anons in the community are in wait-and-see attitude towards this new business venture, the incorporators and members pinned their hopes that this endeavor will lead them to a sustainable socio-economic reintegration in Bohol in the very near future. With the supports of all Boholano OFWs and migrants scattered throughout the world, the BCJV-MPC management believes that nobody knows well but them about the lives of making a living away from home for many years. This reality offers to the members of the cooperative confidence and assurances that having lots of stories to share together can both support us achieve our long time goals for socio-economic reintegration into our province. END.(emman)
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