Arroyo pays tribute to Pinoys in UK

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday feted the Filipino community in the United Kingdom for making the nation proud with their hard work and dedication. Mrs. Arroyo met with members of the Filipino community while in London before moving to the third leg of a three-nation swing. "Saan man kayo naglilingkod, humahanga ang United Kingdom sa inyong dedikasyon, talino at kakayahan (Wherever you work, the UK respects you for your dedication and hard work)," she said during a meeting with members of the Filipino community at the Intercontinental Park Lane hotel. There are some 250,000 Filipino migrant workers in London. Mrs. Arroyo voiced elation over the recent recognition of Filipino migrant worker, Natividad de la Cruz, 39, as "Caregiver of the Year" by the UK's Amazing Awards. De la Cruz went to London in 2004 to work as a caregiver in a nursing home for the elderly. She said she felt surprised she won the award, the first time a Filipino did so. "I feel very honored and proud as a Filipino. Natural lang naman kasi sa atin ang pagiging masipag (It is natural for Filipinos to be hardworking)," a Palace statement quoted her as saying. While in the UK, Mrs. Arroyo also witnessed the signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and Extradition Treaty between the Philippines and the host country. The MLAT is a bilateral agreement which allows both countries to help each other in the investigation, prosecutorial, and judicial processes related to criminal matters. It is used against transnational crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, and exploitation of women and children. The Extradition Treaty, on the other hand, allows either country to gain custody of criminal offenders who have sought refuge in the other's territory. Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo arrived in Saudi Arabia Sunday for the last leg of her three-nation trip that started in Turkey last Wednesday. She departed for the eastern province of Dammam on Sunday morning after attending mass at the Church of the Immaculate Concepcion in London. While in Saudi Arabia, the President will meet with King Abdullah to discuss the welfare of the more than a million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working in the said country. She is expected to ask for pardon for some jailed Filipinos, in accordance with the tradition during Ramadan. Mrs. Arroyo is also expected to meet with the Filipino communities in Jeddah and Riyadh. - GMANews.TV