The Flight of the Butterfly {PEBA 2011}

Japan sees the butterfly as a personification of a person's soul. Butterflies flying together is a symbol of love in China. The Philippines sees the butterfly as the symbol of a soul visiting or rebirth or good luck. In Greek mythology, a butterfly is related to fire. You know what the Pink Tarha associate butterflies with? The Overseas Filipino Workers. Us.

And why not? The three main characteristics of the butterfly also apply to the OFWs and Filipino expats all over the world. First... polymorphism, the occurrence of more than one form. From an egg to a larvae to a pupa to an imago, butterflies undergo differences in appearance and state. They change their looks, too, according to their location and the seasons. Filipinos, in a way, are like that. We change ourselves according to where we are to adapt and adjust, but we're still Filipinos. Just like the Filipinas in Riyadh wearing the abaya and the tarha. We wear them outside because we're in Saudi Arabia but inside, we're still Filipinos. Second, mimicry. The butterfly imitate other species to enjoy the protection of an attribute they do not share with others. We global Filipinos do not necessarily imitate other nationalities but we abide and respect their culture, tradition, and laws because we're in their country. And lastly, migration. We, like the butterflies, are capable of long distance flights to thrive and settle in other places. Do we need to elaborate this more?

So, it's not surprising to see the butterfly as the symbol of the Pinoy Expats/OFWs Blog Awards. PEBA has used a butterfly, in the colors of the Philippine flag, logo ever since and the Pink Tarha hasn't really put a thought into why. So we hope we're correct in our interpretation (or maybe close to it?). Choosing the butterfly is a brilliant idea, don't you think? The butterflies are really dainty, fragile creatures but they possess the most amazing attributes. They're stronger than what you think. Like all the Filipinos worldwide.

 The fourth season of PEBA.

The Pink Tarha is in full support of this year's PEBA with the theme, "Ako'y Magbabalik, Hatid Ko'y Pagbabago" (I Will Return, I Will Bring Change). This is not only a motto but a challenge to all global Pinoys to return to the Philippines and bring CHANGE. True, we already help with our remittances but this year, PEBA urges us to go beyond that. We, armed with our skills, talents, and knowledge, and the experiences from the countries we've been to, are being challenged to act and contribute in the different aspects of the Philippine society.

Wear this badge in your blog's sidebar. 

Heroes' Homecoming Towards Change. Despite the varied reasons why Filipinos go abroad, nationalism is still evident on the narratives of the 12 million Filipinos scattered all over the world. PEBA has witnessed how OFWs take pride of our Filipino roots, our culture and our race. Filipinos abroad, after they have followed their dreams, have chosen to return, evident on how we are called... "Balikbayan." They return to share their talents, skills and fortunes in an effort to bring change to the families left behind, communities and country. Thus, PEBA 2011 is dedicated to our "balikbayans", the unsung heroes of our time. Their homecoming brings a spark of change to the lives of their loved ones and their homeland.

We call on our Filipino expatriates around the world to continue their roles as Global Ambassadors of our country in foreign lands by promoting and patronizing our locally-made products, making the Philippines the first stop destination for holidays and investing in the home country. We ask them to teach their children and their foreign spouses on the positive Filipino values and the Filipino language. Let’s be proud of our race, for nationalism knows no time and bounderies. [more]

The Pink Tarha believes that the OFWs are heroes but more than being modern heroes, we can become mavens --- trusted experts in various fields who seek to pass knowledge and skills on to others! Imagine the possibilities! But then first, we need to come home. To return not simply for a pleasurable vacation but to return with a more nationalistic, community-centric purpose and approach. We implore you to become mavens in your own right. Start by joining the PEBA 2011!  

We urge you to follow the flight of the butterfly... start slowly, then spread your wings, and see the world. No matter how small or frail you are, have the courage to go the distance!
 

Butterfly photos from The Gilded Bee.

Easter, And Then Some

Hi dear readers, we'd like greet you a...

Fresh beginning for everyone!

May love, forgiveness, and gratitude reign in our hearts. :)

We're also taking this time to announce that the Pink Tarha blog will be under maintenance starting Thursday, April 28, 2011. Don't fret when you see the sign that the blog is for "invited readers" only orayt? Hopefully, when you wake up on a May morning, we'll have the blog up and running again.

Watch out for Metamorphosis V.2!

If you need to reach us, kindly email us at thepinktarha@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page. 

Thank you very much!

Photos (blog stock) from puglypixel.

The Sights and Sounds of Janadriyah

The past is haunting Saudi Arabia now... in a good way! It's time for the 26th Janadriyah Annual Heritage and Culture Festival, where Saudi Arabia's cultural traditions are highlighted and celebrated. The two-week event features Saudi Arabia's regional architecture, cuisine, crafts, markets, dances, and folklore. The event opened last Wednesday, April 13, and will conclude on the 29th.

Eyecandy, her brother, and I went yesterday. The camel race, which we're supposed to watch first before going to the Janadriyah village, was canceled. Maybe because it drizzled a bit? We were disappointed because we were really excited to see camels run like the wind (do they?). However, we just considered the happening's silver lining --- we'll have more time for the Janadriyah village! Turns out 5 hours is not even enough. We only managed to see half of the place. Hay. But the 5 hours are sulit!

We haven't had any trips for the past few months (thus the lack of travel entries) and we're raring to go! Janadriyah proved to be the perfect place to jump start our wanderlust. We love this event because we get to know more about the Saudi people. We're used to dealing with them in the city proper and somehow, we get the image that they're really conservative and formal. The festival sheds a different light. We see the Saudis have fun and enjoy their day with their families and friends and somehow, that make them a lot like us Filipinos, who thrive in the presence of our families and friends too, especially during festivals, fiestas, and reunions. We share more in common with them than we'd ever think about.

The Janadriyah Festival is one of the biggest event of the Kingdom and we're glad to be there again this year (our first time was last year). We were the only Filipinos in the huge Saudi crowd but we blended right in! Some Saudis might probably be curious on what we're doing there but they didn't really pry and stare. We entered a lot of exhibits, but not as many as the ones we went to last year because we got sidetracked in the sword dances and musical performances. Japan is the featured country ("guest of honor") this year and they did an amazing job in their stage performances and pavilion. We won't pre-empt those who are going by giving you a full account of what we experienced in the event. Instead, here's a teaser of sights, textures, and colors to encourage you to visit the Janadriyah Festival:

The sky is starting to clear after a brief drizzle.

Getting ready for some action. Sword action, that is!

The Saudi Hawks.

Find all the huge plates in the festival.

Bright blooms.

Saudi mangoes are like our apple mangoes.

Can you guess what this is?

Pottery.

E says these look like amoebas!

Love the colors.

Love the colors + pattern!

Design 101.

Ang lampara, bow!

Open sesame... oil!

The hustle and bustle of men in thobes.

Made for the Pink Tarha! :P

Woot, a concert in Saudi Arabia!

We found our sashimis! Plastic nga lang!

Free Japanese postcard!

Up, up, and away!

If you go, tell us if you were able to locate the photos above. :)

And because it's a once in a year event, Eyecandy and I seized a lot of opportunities and did a lot of crazy stuff (Pink Tarha style). E, our spokeswoman for the evening, was courageous enough to approach strangers (ie. men in white thobes) and ask if we can have our pictures with them. Also with the Japanese exhibitors and the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia(!). We wanted to have a photo with the military band, and even the Saudi Boy Scouts, but they're busy and shy. Lol. We're not really sure why we do this picture-taking stuff with them. I guess we just realize how rare these moments can be. Hello, having a photo with an officer of the... Royal Saudi Air Force?! Seize the day, people! Priceless moments are just waiting to be captured (no pun intended).

While hanging out near the stage where the Japanese band will be performing, E rambled sentences in what seems like the Japanese language (strings of words sounding like Japanese) for fun and caught the attention of Saudi ladies wearing cowboy hats and shades (the sun has already set). They said "Konichiwa!" and "Sayonara!" back at us. So cute! We even saw Saudis making the "kawaii" pose when taking photos. E said the theme of the night was "fedora" because a lot of Saudis were wearing fedora hats in various designs. The hats are being sold inside. We also dodged Saudis as we rushed to the West gate to catch our service bus. And yes, the bus left without us... but came back for us too. Thank you, good Faris! :D

Okay, I'll stop the story-telling right here. I'm not supposed to share our experience now. Not until you go and see Janadriyah. We urge you to go because this year, we didn't expect the event to be so alive, upbeat, and hyper. But it is. The people are friendly and happy. They didn't get uncomfortable when we were taking photos too. There are more food kiosks (we ate shawarma, of course!) and information booths (yes, we asked questions too). The drizzle that welcomed us on the way to Janadriyah provided a cool breeze that lasted well into the night. The event is more organized and the place is cleaner this year. And there are a lot of displays and stalls that are good for photography enthusiasts out there. So what are you waiting for? Goooooo!

Hep, it's ladies and family days only until the end of the event so gentlemen, bring your family with you. The Janadriyah site is 30km North East of Riyadh. Take the Dammam highway and take the left fork (there's a huge Janadriyah sigh so you won't get lost). The site is located beside the Horse Racing Club and across Selwa compound. It's a 1-hour ride so sit back, relax and enjoy the sights (of sand and a few camels) along the way. The festival is open from 4 in the afternoon until 12 midnight. :)

A full account of our experience and more photos will be posted soon.

§undrenched

Oh My Jarir!

There are a few places outside the house where you can leave me for hours and I will never ever complain: the mall, the supermarket, and the bookstore. I can walk for hours in these places but my eagerness and curiosity in the things I see can't be satiated. Walking and seeing beautiful things is one of my life's simple joys. Reading is at the top of that list that's why I love being left for hours in a bookstore the most. (Pero hindi naman tipong malock-up magdamag ha!)

A bookstore is like a kid's candy store to me. I'm giddy and bursting with excitement whenever I go to a bookstore. I have so many things I want to buy there, sometimes beyond logic and reason and financial capabilities. Why do I need to hoard all the books of Baldacci, Grisham, and Berry? Why would I need a coffee table book? Why would I need a camera again? Why would I need a netbook when I have a laptop? Being in a bookstore weaves dreams in my head and stirs my imagination and creativity like crazy. When I step into a bookstore, ideas pop all over the place and they ceremoniously enter my head creating a storm inside it. It drives me nuts to think about reading books, scrapbooking, looking at gadgets, etc. all at the same time but it also unleashes a positive energy I don't feel when I'm working (may positive energy ba sa working?! lol) or eating. It's kindda magical. Doesn't reading this paragraph show you how addicted I am to bookstores. I LOVE BOOKSTORES! See? Obsessed. Passionate. Hyperventilating. About Book Stores. Yes. IKR.

Last week, I realized I've been to one bookstore three times within four days. So I decided to write about this bookstore because it serves as one of my oasis in this desert. Whenever I'm inside Jarir Bookstore, I'm happy. Sometimes disappointed and exasperated too when I can't find the specific gadget or the book I want. But almost all the time, I'm simply happy in Jarir. Being in Jarir again last week reminded me how the book "The Rescue" bought in Jarir on my first week in Riyadh saved me from initial bouts of boredom and nostalgia. And my first experience of salat and sandstorm happened when I was visiting the Jarir Bookstore in Exit 5. That experience even inspired an article I wrote for a magazine in the Philippines about living in the Kingdom. Jarir Bookstore is definitely not just a bookstore. Especially for me. It's my "happy place."

Jarir Bookstore is the leading bookstore chain in the Kingdom. Jarir is named after the street in Malaz where the first branch was built in 1979. Think of Jarir as Saudi Arabia's National Bookstore where you'll find office supplies, school supplies, I.T. products, computers, phones, and books. It doesn't carry as many products as NB but they have the basics and the essentials ensconced in an air-conditioned, carpeted, and well-lit branches. If I have my way, I would sit in a corner of the books section and read like there's no tomorrow. The branches I've been to have enough space to accommodate voracious readers in their books section. But there are chairs so might as well sit there. :P

[You see, I'm so distracted whenever I'm in Jarir, I didn't even get a single photo of the place! I will have to take photos of Jarir soon. I can't even find good (and large enough) photos in the Net!]

The computer and gadget sections tend to get crowded but most of the salesmen, when they see you looking around, ask if they may be of help. The office and school supplies are stocked adequately but some items are more expensive than what you might have budgeted for. Their crafts section features a lot of materials for artists, painters, DIY moms, and scrapbookers. Again, with the expensive, imported stuff. Their brochures and catalogs (in both English and Arabic) are great tools in accelerating the decision process. (I still have a hard time deciding though because I'm fickle-minded. :P)

Of course what I most love about Jarir is the books section. Though I can't find every book I want, most of them are there. I tend to be the girl who's always asking the salesman if they have this book or that. And then I go and browse and then come back again to ask another title. Yes, I'm persistent. Lol. I even call sometimes and I sign up for books that are out of stock. (Sinong makulit?!) Nowadays, most books are available online and I don't have to bother checking in Jarir but see, I am an old soul. I love reading books the old-fashioned way. I like the texture of the covers and pages. I like the smell of newly-opened books. I like scouring books in bargain bins. I like seeing photos in print. Books, not the digital ones, appeal to me greatly. I feel for the authors, maybe because I want to be one myself.

What I came home with.

What I want to buy next.

This too. I am into Middle Eastern novels.

If I have a wish list, I'm sure most of the items will be found in Jarir. I'm sure you have one thing in your house bought in Jarir. Some products in Jarir are more affordable somewhere else but with Jarir, you don't have to look that far. Shopping here is convenient and easy. Are you a Jarir Discount Card holder? Most Filipinos are. I should be too but I didn't get around to signing up because I heard the cards don't arrive anyway. Hmn, maybe I should try again. After all, I have a book collection to fill.

If you're not doing anything this weekend, Jarir is the place to be. Baka mapagastos ka nga lang. :)

Which branch is nearest to you? Check here. The other ladies frequent the Olaya and Panorama branches but I mostly go to the North Ring Road showroom with the family.

At the comment box, share what your best finds in Jarir! :)

§undrenched

Q&A Portion 11

It's time for another Q&A, ladies and gents! Yes, we just did one (a post below) but we have to because we're saving a bunch of new entries for a "change" that will come to The Pink Tarha, so let us get your questions out of the way first before delving into other "feature" posts.

1. Hi, I would like to ask if you happen to know any sale in any malls this month? And where can I buy affordable jewelries aside from Batha? Thanks! :)

Unfortunately, there are no big sale signs hanging in the malls this month. There are a few shops that might still have sale racks but the on sale items are not that worth your money. We heard Centrepoint was on sale last week but we're not sure if they extended to April. As for jewelries, are you pertaining to gold? Batha has the lowest prices for gold but there's a gold souk in Dirah (also spelled Deira by others). You can also try Shola Shopping Center, a few streets away from the Batha area. There's also a famous gold souk call Al Majd in Exit 15 but it's too far. Here's a link that we think can help you further: Jewelries and Watches in Riyadh. These are a list of gold stores and where you can find them. When going to the souks, don't forget to haggle! :)

2. Hi guys... gusto ko lang sanang malaman yung exact location ng shop ng kikay camels na pinost n'yo. Thanks! (Hi guys, I want to know the exact location of the shop where you bought the kikay camels you posted.)

Hi, we bought the kikay camels for SR15 each at a stall in a mini bazaar in a hospital's employee center. However, the bazaar (and employee center) is no longer there. Try looking for souvenir items at the Dirah and Kuwaiti souks.

3. Hi gals! I'd like to know where I can buy Missha Perfect Cover BB cream here in Riyadh? Hope you can help me. Thanks a bunch!

The BB cream phenomenon has not yet reached the desert of Saudi Arabia that's why it's hard to find the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream here. Like for all the other products that are not easily found and available here in the Kingdom, we suggest you buy it in Ebay. There are a lot of sellers who will ship items for free. You have to wait for a few days but tried and tested products that work for you are always worth the wait. :)

4. Ladies, can you suggest a way to contact the Filipino community in Riyadh? We're looking for male employees (furniture upholsterer, artist, and designer) for a company dealing in interior, exterior designing and furniture. Thank you!

You can probably post an ad sign in Batha. There's a bulletin board outside the Pinoy Supermarket and it might help you in announcing your ad for prospective employees. You can also advertise in the Expat-Blog (KSA forum). And we hope posting your question here in The Pink Tarha will bring you leads to interested parties.

5. Hi there! I just wanna ask if the nurses in Riyadh should wear tarha (veil) while on duty... coz I saw a pic of ladies wearing white uniform (I supposed they are nurses) without the tarha. Thanks! I'm a newly hired nurse bound to Riyadh. More power to your blog!!! <3

Wearing the veil on duty depends on what hospital you'll be working for. Most hospitals (like King Khaled University Hospital and other private hospitals/clinics) require nurses to wear white veils on duty. There are a few who don't like the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Of course, Filipino Muslim nurses wear their veils regardless of the hospital's policy. Good luck on your work here in Riyadh! Ahlan Wasahlan!

6. Hi Pink Tarha!I would like to know how to get a visitor visa? I would like to visit my sister in Riyadh. I'm from UK, thank you!

Your sister should get a visa for you through the sponsorship of her company. It's rather strict though. Most of those who gets visas for their family are fathers with good income. Visit visas are usually given to wives and children. It will be difficult to get visas for siblings but your sister can try and ask her company for the right procedure and documents.

Dear readers, if you have more questions, ask away! Email us at thepinktarha@gmail.com or comment in our FB page or use the form in our sidebar. If you want to send some love on our way, you can absolutely do that too.

Hugs and kisses,
The Pink Tarha Ladies