As part of its social responsibility, the Filipino community in Al-Khobar launched a massive cleanup drive Friday at Al-Khobar Beachside under the banner of All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (ASFCSCOM) and in cooperation with Al-Khobar Municipality and the city mayor›s office. [caption id="attachment_123985" align="alignright" width="300"] Members of the Filipino community under the banner of All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (ASFCSCOM) after participating in the cleaning drive at Al-Khobar Beach on Friday. — Courtesy photo[/caption] According to Florante Catanus, AFCSCOM vice president for sports affairs, the cleanup drive was part of their project to keep the beaches of the Eastern Province clean and safe and protect the marine life of the Arabian Gulf. He told Saudi Gazette that the commission and its affiliates in the past also had taken up similar drives in other parts of the region, including Jubail, Qatif and Dammam. Since 7 a.m. Friday, Filipino families with dozens and dozens of trash bag and other cleaning materials gathered at Al-Khobar Corniche. The organizers under the theme "Clean and Green" set up several teams of its members and assigned them areas. After two hours trucks provided by Khobar Municipality drove away with the collected trash. Within two hours all the trash bags were filled with lots of plastic bags and cellophane, plastic water bottles, soft drink cans and chunks of wood. In no time the seafront wore a look of a model beach. Their endeavor was appreciated by several Saudi nationals who come to the vicinity for morning workout and jogging. Some of them were seen giving a helping hand to the drive. "It is so very moving to see that our Filipino brothers feel such commitment toward the Kingdom. This sense of loyalty will cement our relations and fill the gap between natives and expatriates," said Ali Al-Anzi, a regular visitor at the beach. He hoped that joint drives with the participation of Saudis and other nationalities will enhance communication and strengthen the bonding. Catanus said AFCSCOM was committed to help the local authorities in cleaning up the venue because "Saudi Arabia is our second home and Corniche is the most visited place where Filipinos with their families spent their leisure time. It is our way of saying thank you to the host country," he said. AFCSCOM is an umbrella organization of more than 60 Filipino civic, regional, professional and institutional organizations/clubs and associations in the Eastern Province.
