‘Heartfelt condolences to Royal Family’

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 30: Filipinos in Kuwait were deeply saddened on the passing of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on Tuesday as outpouring messages of condolences to the Royal Family and messages of gratitude to the late Amir flooded various social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait led by Charge d’ Affaires Charleson Hermosura lowered the Philippine flag to half-mast shortly after the official announcement of the death of HH the Amir.

“On behalf of my country The Philippines and its people especially the Filipino community here in Kuwait, we at the Philippine Embassy wish to express our deepest condolences to Kuwait and its people on the passing of the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. His leadership of Kuwait and its efforts to promote peace and stability in the region along with its ongoing humanitarian interventions will always be his greatest legacy. We join the entire Kuwaiti nation in mourning the passing of the Amir. May the Almighty have mercy upon his soul,” conveyed Hermosura.

The late Amir HH Sheikh Sabah, a global humanitarian leader and a peace advocate was well revered by Filipinos in Kuwait. “In my 10 years in Kuwait, I have seen and experienced how Sheikh Sabah has cared not only for Kuwaiti citizens but also for us, expatriate workers,” stated Liza Mate, a waitress at Joy Cocina in Old Souq, Salmiya.

The late Amir is also well loved by the Filipino media in Kuwait for espousing religious tolerance, interfaith dialogue and press freedom, making Kuwait the “freest press” among the GCC countries according to the 2020 World Press Freedom Index by the Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporter without Borders).

Filipinos have a soft spot in the late Amir’s heart who helped countless others that included Demos Arienda who have been working at the Bayan Palace for almost three decades now. “My family and I as well as my colleagues at the Bayan Palace would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. He was the one who helped me when I was diagnosed with Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma in 2015. He supported me financially till I became cancer free. I owe him my life, thank you for all his kindness,” stated Arienda.

The late Amir has also saved a number of Filipinos on the death row by granting them Amiri pardon namely Mae Vecina, Marilou Ranario, Minerva Tayag, Joseph Urbiztondo and just recently Bienvenido Espino Jr. “Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. We are deeply saddened about the passing of Kuwait’s Amir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. We express our sympathy to the Royal family and to all the Kuwaiti people, Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhiraji’un. The late Amir has done a lot of good deeds for the Filipinos as well as the expats. Just like the amnesty he gave this year, thousands of Filipinos have gone back home with free tickets and no penalty. May he rest in peace and may Allah Subhan Wa Ta’ala have mercy on his soul,” shared Violeta Sara Maulana Yousef, the Founder/Kuwait Filipino Mothers Organization.

Filipino leaders of various organisations expressed their deepest gratitude to the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah. “His kind of leadership has created a big impact on migrant workers. During his rule, he declared amnesty for residence violators several times, giving migrant workers a chance to a new life. We thank HH the Amir for his great love for the migrant workers,” stated Mary Ann Abunda, Founder of Sandigan Kuwait Domestic Workers Association.

Some Filipino-Kuwaitis have also expressed their grief as they wish the new Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah all the best as he takes on the reins left by the late Amir Sheikh Sabah. “Assalamu’alaikum. We have lost our father today, our leader. Me as a half Filipino-half Kuwaiti, I’m aware and I’m sure there will be a lot of changes in the next few months in the country. It could be some negative changes. It could be some positive changes. It could be some new system to be applied but we never know. We just have to wish and pray for the best as we have lost our leader who has led us for the past 14 years. Hope everyone will pray for his soul,” stated Mahdie Al-Subaie.

By Michelle Fe Santiago Arab Times Staff