23 DECEMBER 2005

APO, Bituin, Kyla Heat up Doha!

Before leaving for Doha, Qatar, we had asked a few OFWs lined up in the embassy getting their visas what Qatar was like. The few we talked to said there were no theme parks, no great shopping outlets to go to and that it was a boring place compared to Dubai or even Bahrain. With that impression in mind, we landed in Doha.

While it was true that there was no 'Disneyland', everything else was underrated. Doha is a country in a state of frenzied construction since they will be hosting the Asiad Games next year. They are sparing no expense to spruce up the city and to build the biggest sports complex in the world. There are builders, workers, big machines everywhere working 24 hours a day to make sure this is all finished on time. Qatar is, to be sure, a country on the make.

And this is where APO's producers had a problem. They could not find a sizeable venue to accommodate our kababayans who wanted to watch. All venues that were big enough to house thousands were in a state of repair. We ended up in a nice but tiny movie theater called the Doha Cinema and because of its small size, tickets were priced way to expensive—far beyond the reach of the regular OFW. The ticket price was easily ¼ of their take-home pay. And so we performed for a meager but, extremely enthusiastic crowd. They wanted to make sure that they would enjoy every moment—and did. Kyla, Bituin, the APO and our band gave our all—enough energy and magic to light up a 5 thousand crowd. Our audience deserved it and we felt good giving it to them..

Our producer Saeed Al Ghanim, who is one of the friendliest people I have ever met has promised that next time we come back, he will have a venue big enough so regular working Pinoys can watch. We are really looking forward to that.

As a visitor to Qatar, the most charming element I loved was its 'Arabness'. The Arabs are a loud, warm, wonderful people who love good food and are quite conscientious about how they show their hospitality. And this combination of Arab and Filipino alaga which our producers showered on us was just great. We were housed in villas with a Filipino cook who made sure we were 'overfed'. And almost every single wish we dared express was scheduled for execution. Thus, we were able to go to the desert and see sand dunes, ride a camel, experience an Arab feast, and dress up Arab style for pictures. We also had a chance to shop in their very modern malls and also their centuries old 'souqs' or markets where the no. 1 merchandise people trade is still gold. Next is precious stones.

I brought Lydia along. I thought it would be timely since she would probably never go on her own anyway. It was her first experience in the Middle East and so she sure took it all in including the food (lamb, kebabs, humus, and other delicacies I can't remember the names), the sweets (chocolates with almonds, pistachios, and Baclava pastries etc..). Then there was the shopping. She went crazy at the souq where she bought 'old world' stuff—antique bells and bangles to wear including a few pieces of gold which had me sweating for aw while. Ha ha! What we enjoyed most together where the uniquely Arab experiences which were the excursions to the desert, the food and meeting Qataris who are very friendly.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states are quite open and tolerant of foreigners. In fact, they are in some ways quick to embrace their ways but without losing their own culture. It's the charm of the old world blending in with the new in the way only Arabs can.

All of us enjoyed the wonderfully foreign experience of driving though streets lined with date trees, and the sound of the call to prayers from minarets everywhere at different times of the day. Throw in the awe of looking at a centuries old society which is making the big leap into the 21st century with their satellite dishes, modern buildings, new cars, computers, and modern hospitals while still wearing their traditional clothes and adhering close to their traditional mores. All of it is wondrous and exotic. Unlike Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states are quite open and tolerant of foreigners. In fact, they are often quick to embrace foreign ways but without losing their own culture. It's the charm of the old world blending in with the new in a way only Arabs can do.

It's good to discover that Filipinos are generally liked and respected in Qatar. Our resourcefulness, probably honed because of years of deprivation and our training in making something with so little, is regarded highly. With the Filipinos running their transport system, supervising their constructions, starting up their small businesses, processing their oil, etc., the Arabs as a people will become less and less alien to us. A great many Pinoys now eat shawarmmas, and have become acclimatized living there for so long. Someday soon, Kahlil, Mubarak, Saeed, Mohammad will have become names as common to us as Boyet, Jon-jon, Kimberly and Arnel. Who knows, in exchange they could be one day be singing 'Pumapatak ang Ulan'!

Watch out Doha! We'll be back again!

PHOTOS

Qataris with Lydia, Jim, Sammy, and Saeed (in blue)	In the desert	APO with Al Ghanin brothers
Jim on a camel	The whole Nayong Filipino Staff who helped put the show up and who took care of us.	Bituin and Kyla dishing it out!
APO, Kyla, Bituin with Fathima	The show	Kyla and Bituin with Saeed Al Ghanim
Danny on a camel