Introduction:
The higher price of calling internationally from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Philippines is one of the hardest challenge every Filipino should cope up during the year 2005 when VOIP, Facebook and other social media sites were not available.
Calling internationally from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines costs a lots of Riyals among Overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia. During the year 2005, when I first arrived in the Kingdom, the international calling rates from Saudi to the Philippines is at 3 Saudi Arabian Riyals (3.00 SAR) per minute which is a bit expensive.
In the Philippines the local call rates ranges from P8.00 peso for local calls while Php20-30 for international calls to Saudi Arabia. When compared to the calling rates from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines, the 3SAR per minute is still expensive.
In Saudi, Every Riyals Counts:
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when you're an OFW who wanted to return home immediately after two years contract, every Saudi Riyals counts. During the year 2005-2010 the foreign exchange rates between Saudi Riyals to Philippine Peso ranges from P13.00-P15.00 per 1 Saudi Riyals.
When we round off the highest numbers, every Riyals is already worth P15.00 so calling to the Philippines with P45.00 per minute is indeed a challenge among OFWs particularly those who left behind a huge family to feed.
First Time OFWs Salary Range:
For first time Overseas Filipino Workers during the year 2005, you are lucky enough if you were hired by some multinational corporations or by government-owned companies or establishments but if you're hired by some small-time businessmen, your salary will range from $300. to $500 or an equivalent of SAR 1,125-SAR 1,875.
Calling the Philippines from Saudi Arabia with SAR3.00 per minute is already expensive and once you started calling you will surely incurred around SAR30.00-SAR50.00.
Telephone booth calling from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines is the most common way of communicating during the year 2005. Mobile phones are not that popular during that time with the most expensive phone Nokia N70 as a luxury items among OFWs.
In Saudi Arabia you have to budget your income because the salary comes once a month, unlike here in the Philippines where salaries arrived every two weeks.
Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia in 2005-2010:
Contrary to popular beliefs, the cost of living in Saudi Arabia is not that expensive during the year 2005-2010 because you can already buy a Filipino-Chinese meals worth SAR10.00 featuring a combination two viands and one rice.
Water and carbonated drinks are not that expensive in Saudi Arabia, it is even more expensive in the Philippines because in Saudi you can buy a can of Pepsi worth SAR1.00 or equivalent to P13-15 compared to the more than twenty pesos worth of Pepsi in cans in the Philippines.
The only expensive products in Saudi Arabia are those coming from Philippines such as sardines, bananas, canned goods and junk foods from the Philippines.
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Basic Commodities are Provided for Free:
In Saudi Arabia the basic commodities such as shelter, water and electricity are provided by most companies for free. There are housing units they called as "flats" provided by the companies.
Medical care among the workers in most companies are free as well including the medicines which could easily be refunded by the company once you enrolled in any medical care program which were already taken care of by the company.
Some bigger companies or multinational corporation even provided for free laundry and dry cleaning services as well as transportation from their residence to their work destinations.
Aside from the Higher Calling Rates, This is Even Harder to Take:
I will end this story of mine with a particular incident involving my co-worker, a fellow OFW who left behind his families with three young children in the Philippines and think somebody can relate to his interesting story.
My co-worker hailed from the Province of Bicol but his family already migrated to the Province of Rizal where they started to live since the time when my fellow OFW Nonoy decided to work in Manila.
At the end of every month, we celebrated our achievements of adding another milestones to our journey as OFW. We usually went to the city center to send money to the Philippines and after that we will eat outside and mingle with our fellow OFWs.
Since Month One until the end of the year, as far as I remember I saw this OFW travel only twice to the city as he just asked me to send his allotment to his family because he will render overtime at our factory.
I was also surprised with the huge amount of money he sent to his family back to the Philippines, only living at least 5% for his foods and daily needs which is really amazing because for a single guy like me, I only sent 70% of my income to family and rest will be used by me either by savings or for my enjoyment.
Nonoy's Secrets Finally Revealed:
One time upon arriving Nonoy did not notice me at our flat, although we are in the same room, we have a common CR and dining hall. I went directly to the CR and I heard directly from Nonoy's mouth, how he enjoyed his stay in Saudi Arabia.
He told his wife and his children back in the Philippines that he was enjoying his chicken soap and a huge fresh catch tuna from the Middle East. I nearly cried upon seeing the reality on Nonoy's story because he was not enjoying his meals and it's not chicken soap but a Quick Chow noodles together with Morjon sardines.
Nonoy have been saving everything he could to let his families enjoy the good life in the Philippines, while he is working day and night sacrificing himself of not eating more expensive foods just to save. The secrets of Nonoy was revealed only to me as he told me everything but his story is way to long to be added here.
Until my next experience working as an OFW in Saudi Arabia.
At your service,
Phil Newsome
