Members of Partidong Pandaigdigang Pilipino (PPP), a newly formed political party of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia went back to the drawing board after realizing their chances of participation in the 2010 elections were nil. In a tripartite meeting, the group shifted gear and mapped routes to 2013 elections. OFWs from the Western Region, Central Region and Eastern Region gathered at Al-Mutlaq Hotel here recently to strengthen their membership. “We are appealing to OFWs around the world to show unity,” said Faisal Sarque who is seeking the vice mayoral seat in Navotas, Rizal. “If we want to have our voices heard, then we must be united globally,” he added. Alex Veloso Bello, PPP board chairman and president of OFW Congress-Riyadh, said the group needed to have a back-to-basics membership campaign immediately after the 2010 elections are over. In order to register, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) requires a party to have at least a skeletal staff needed to operate in the barangay, municipal, city, and provincial chapters. Engr. Rudy Dianalan, whose senatorial bid was turned down by the Comelec and who acted as moderator at the meeting, the different back home has to be represented. “It's a good thing that we are very much represented. We have members coming from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” he said. Engr. Francis “Jun” Aguilar, an ex-OFW who flew from Manila to attend the meeting, said the party needs at least P500,000 to get off to a good start. William R. Jao, a businessman running for mayor in Tubigon, Bohol, pledged P100,000. Other members followed. A total of P 570,000 had been pledged. Earlier, Aguilar sought the group's approval to endorse Susan “Toots” Ople, the daughter of former labor secretary Blas F. Ople, as the group's common senatorial candidate. Another candidates endorsed by the group was Brig Gen Danilo Lim also for senator. Dr. Lito Astillero presided the meeting which was emceed by Bong Amora.
