Who are these men in blue overalls sweating and enduring the gnawing and scorching heat of the sun? At the break of dawn they are up and about, rigged with tin pails and shovel or with enormous suction machine needed to clear up the sewers in the city of Al Ain. You can see them sometimes in an isolated alley feasting with their baon. A thristy gulp from the long bottle of Masafi, a contented burp and a benign sigh are an obvious claim “ayos na ang buto-buto” and their lives are just okay.

The Baladiya Boys are the more than 300 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Sanitary Drainage Department of Al Ain Municipality. They are just another circle of overseas workers who left their loved ones behind to accomplish the great quest of dollars and glittering gold, believing that good fortune lies beneath the shimmering sun of the middle eastern countries. Most them leaving their glamorous but low-paid careers from their native land but they carry a lot of determination for the future of their families.

For the Baladiya Boys, the year 1995 was considered momentous for having constituted a unified organization rooted from sublime ideas. For their own purpose they named the group as SNPMBM which stands for Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipinong Manggagawa sa Baladiya-Majari. These workers have joined willingly and have made this option out of their enthusiasm and commitment to help and succeed in the most difficult task of all -- helping themselves and those in need.

The Samahan as they often called it, was a long-held vision of Rommel L. Ignacio, hailed from Los Banos, Laguna and a UP graduate of Bachelor of Science in Inland Fisheries. He works as a laboratory technician in the same department and acts as president of the said organization. It is also sustained by elected vice president, Orlan M. Santos and other officers. The Samahan revolves around three general objectives: Savings, Sports and Charity. However, aside from these three, the Samahan also endeavors to provide leadership, to establish unity, to serve as role models to fellow overseas Filipino workers, to provide a chance for personal and social development and to promote the Filipino heritage. The officers hold monthly meetings and general meetings at which the members are encouraged to contribute and comment on various issues, especially work and financial matters.

Prior to the inception of the SNPMBM, the Samahan already staged a series of friendly games. The first Pagalingan '94, a tournament of basketball and volleyball, fostered not only brotherhood but also demonstrated the significance of having a strong mind through sports. This transpired the Samahan to organize the same kind of activity every year.

Community involvement is one of the strengths of SNPMBM aside from the exclusive activities of members being held within the premises of their hostel. Through SNPMBM, members develop and execute programs which build the foundation of the organization as well as participate in various activities such as community outreach, cultural, fund raising, mentorship and other special events. It is in the interest of their future why the Samahan created a Savings Program. True that overseas placement is only a temporary venture. One of the objectives of the Samahan is to encourage the members to save through monthly contribution. The accumulated funds, in turn, is invested to income generating projects such as bingo and raffle draws whose proceeds are saved and deposited in the bank. Those members in dire need of financial assistance is offered a loan to repaid according to the SNPMBM guidelines. This program effected favorably to the members especially in times of emergency such as pre-mature termination of working contract, accident, court litigation and others.

The SNPMBM continue to explore a variety of programs wherein the members can contribute their time and effort towards helping reach their objectives. This group of Filipinos has been able to share their blessings with their more unfortunate kababayans. The Samahan donates primary necessities such as food, soap, toothpaste etc., to Pinoys jailed in Al Ain Central prison as well as offers sevice and monetary assistance to those burdened with court cases and to those whose loved ones in the Philippines passed away.

The SNPMBM is not only involved in serious activities. They also find time to sit and relax with the company of their peers. There is nothing more consoling after that ardous work of clearing up the sewers than sharing fun and meeting new friends. For them, one comforting shoulder of co-OFW is one surefire therapy to battle boredom and homesickness.

Through the years, the Samahan evolved and has grown in strength. Now on its ninth year, SNPMBM aims to continue the challenge and to raise their goals for humanitarian achievement by working together with highly-motivated, results-oriented and dynamic members.©