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Grounded by Loss, Lifted by Grit: A True Story of Reinvention Abroad (Saudi Arabia)

🌅 My Last Day, A Life-Changing Goodbye

It was a hectic Thursday—June 24, 2021—my final day at work. As I handed over my responsibilities to my Filipino replacement and prepared to close a chapter of my life, I received a message that shattered my world. My sister reached out via Facebook: our father had passed away. 😢

I was paralyzed with grief. I turned to a close Filipino friend and shared the news; word spread quickly, and the room softened in sympathy. The Chief Executive and General Manager both offered their heartfelt condolences before departing. 🤝✨ When I arrived back at my rented room in Al-Khobar, the tears came rushing. I wept uncontrollably—my father’s memory flooding my heart. ❤️

✅ My Final Settlement and Exit Visa

Despite the emotional turmoil, the exit process went smoothly. I received my final settlement 💰 and exit visa ✈️, followed by a confirmed flight scheduled for July 25, 2021. The closure I expected was now within reach—until new obstacles emerged.

🛂 Urgent Visit to the Philippine Embassy

An unexpected twist came via email from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh 🇵🇭: my passport was flagged as damaged 🚫 due to a small tear ✂️. I was instructed to appear in person for a replacement travel document 📅. Without hesitation, I booked a Green Taxi 🚖 from Al-Khobar and rushed to Riyadh.

Sadly, the Embassy had closed early due to a COVID-19 outbreak 😷. It wouldn't reopen until July 25—the exact date of my scheduled departure.

❌ Flight PR5683 Canceled: A New COVID Wave Strikes

That same week, the Delta variant swept through Southeast Asia 🌍. Manila entered Enhanced Community Quarantine, prompting the Philippine government to suspend inbound flights. My PR5683 flight was canceled—along with many others from Dammam and Riyadh.

Airports filled with stranded OFWs, their dreams on hold. Mine, too.

🔄 Returning to the Company: A Strategic Pivot

Left with few options, I made the tough decision to rejoin my former company. With bills piling up and travel hopes dimmed, I reached out to a friend for help. That same day, I landed an interview in Dammam. I packed, traveled, and walked back into the office I had only just left.

Within minutes of our conversation, I was rehired. 🎉 No long procedures. We agreed on everything—start date, terms—and I was set to resume. 🚀

💼 Fast-Paced Grind, and a New Opportunity in Yanbu

The work was intense. The commute long. The risks real. But I kept going 💪. Two weeks in, a new door opened: a major refining company in Yanbu Industrial City 🌊 invited me to interview.

After a competitive phone screening with four other Filipino candidates 🇵🇭, I got the call: I was chosen.

🧳 Ready for Takeoff: A New Beginning in Yanbu

With bags packed and hopes renewed, I boarded a flight to Yanbu on August 21, 2021 ✈️. The two-hour journey landed me in a surprisingly familiar climate ☀️—warm like the Philippines, yet quieter and more peaceful than my decade in Al-Khobar or Jubail. 🌿

And just like that, a painful farewell turned into a fresh start.


By Runel Sumagang – A True OFW Experience of Loss, Resilience, and Renewal

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