From Saudi with love

It’s the kind of show that should have been put up long ago. Better late than never.

I’m referring to Balitang Middle East, a weekly news magazine which will premier tomorrow (Nov. 8), 1:45 p.m. on The Filipino Channel (TFC, beamed to almost every corner of the world where there are Filipino communities) and on Saturday, Nov. 9, 8:30 p.m. on the ANC Channel. Don’t miss it!

Hosted by pretty and charming Marieton Pacheco (familiar on ABS-CBN newscasts as field reporter), Balitang Middle East is divided into the following segments:

• Correspondents’ Whip Around, consisting of reports from all over the Middle East by the show’s almost two dozen reporters based there;

• Mga Kuwentong Disyerto (special reports and investigative features on the lives of OFWs by ABS-CBN Middle East Bureau Chief Danny Buenafe);

• Serbisyong Pinoy (a listing of job openings and bulletin board for the OFWs ongoing activities and projects); and

• Kumustahan sa Gitnang Silangan (phone patch between OFWs long estranged from their loved ones back home; also enables OFWs to air their problems to government agencies concerned).

Maybe more than other OFWs in other parts of the world, Pinoy workers in the Middle East have to cope not only with overwhelming homesickness (common to all workers on foreign soil) but also with cultural differences.

Not many people know that in the Middle East, there are several cases of "runaways," workers who run away from their employers and can’t come home because their passports are held by their employers, forcing the "runaways" to beg for survival from kababayans). This and other problems will be sufficiently tackled in Balitang Middle East, so you better stay tuned.

Funfare congratulates the people behind this noteworthy show, including ANC VP/Managing Director Jake Maderazo, ABS-CBN Global AVP Olivia Finina de Jesus, supervising producers Ned Legaspi and Joel Saracho, executive producer Ofelia Biso, headwriter Lawrence Ledesma, associate producers Ferlina Mungcal and Melody Casinto, and director Allan Asuncion.

Annabelle feeling lighter now

As Funfare reported a few issues ago, the theme of Annabelle Rama’s 50th birthday party last Oct. 30 (at Country Waffles in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City) was "peace and reconciliation," that’s why the Birthday Girl invited not only her friends but also people with whom she had differences with, including Korina Sanchez whose tiff with Annabelle was known to everybody because it was discussed not only in print but also on the air.

Knowing that reconciliation and burying the hatchet has a healing effect (negative feelings can lead to certain illnesses, or didn’t you know?), Korina showed up with a big smile, closing the gap between her and Annabelle with an embrace (no more mention about what-have-beens).

"I feel lighter now," said Annabelle. "At 50, ayoko na ng may kagalit o kaaway. I want a peaceful life."

Among Annabelle’s other well-wishers were Jean Saburit and daughter Nicole, Susan Roces and nephew Joey, Rudy Fernandez, Karla Estrada, Nadia Montenegro, Gretchen Barretto, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza, Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz, Ara Mina, Mahal, Ricky Reyes, Joyce Jimenez, Bert and Carol Nievera, Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Snooky Serna, TAPE, Inc.’s Malou Fagar and GMA executives Wilma Galvante, Redgie Magno, Lilybeth Rosanable, Gigi Santiago and Marivin Arayata.

On hand to help Annabelle entertain guests were husband Eddie Gutierrez and children Ruffa, Richard, Elvis, Ritchie Pual and Rocky, plus their half-brothers Tonton Gutierrez and Ramon Christopher.

Oasis refund

Ticket refunds for the cancelled Oasis Live In Manila! concert originally scheduled last Oct. 23 are now being released daily, 12 noon to 8 p.m., at the Ticketnet office of the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Release of the refunds started last Nov. 4. The local organizers advise refund claimants to bring their admission tickets with them since all claims will be processed on a "no-ticket no-refund" basis.