Before moving to Riyadh, we were permanent residents of Pampanga. We were living in a small barangay where everyone knows each other. I have lots of friends and so did my mother. But my father has had too many years of being alone. It is time to join him. We were informed around last quarter of ’96 that we will leave our comfort zone. I was 14. It was the worst day of my life (at least that’s how it felt that time).

I remember flying to Riyadh in June 1997. I was impressed at how modern the airport was. I mean, NAIA is more modern now but still has that Hawaii airport feels somehow. You see, King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) underwent significant expansion and modernization projects throughout the 1980s and 1990s. By 1997, the airport would have had a relatively modern appearance by the standards of that time. It boasted a large terminal building with modern amenities for passengers, such as duty-free shops, restaurants, and currency exchange offices.

If you were not accustomed to such facilities at airports, just like me, it’s understandable that you would have been impressed by KKIA in 1997. Air travel was still a somehow new experience for many people in the region, and the modern facilities at KKIA would have been a significant step up from older airports. I was in awe.

From the airport, what I vividly remember is the number of motor accidents we have seen as we go to our next destination. We went to KFC. Our province life in the Philippines did not expose us to Western food chains such as KFC. We would only experience it once in a while, whenever we go to the City. I was delighted because we’re finally having a hefty meal after a long trip via Saudi Airlines, imagine being served with Arabic food for the first time on a 10-hr plane ride? We’re not exactly foodies. We knew nothing but the basic Filipino food, plus, we were all kids, I was 15, my middle sister was 10, and the youngest was 2. Mommy was not exactly old either. She was only 42. Oh my! It just occured to me, she was the same age as I am NOW. I feel so useless compared to her. I thought she was older!!!

We ordered KFC chicken meal of course and guess what? We all got freebies! Handheld projectors! We didn’t pay for it as they came with the meal. I guess I have gotten used to Jollibee toys and school supplies where items are being sold separately. We were so happy because finally, we were complete once again. I was predisposed to hating this move since I have left my school, my friends, my hobbies — things that at that time, I thought to be my life, but right at that moment, I felt that I was starting to love Saudi Arabia.

The next stop was a grocery store called Sarawat. It was one of my favorite stores, tied with Tamimi Markets (Safeway). We bought some essentials there. New clothes plus this black Arabian female wear called “abaya”. It was uncomfortable because it wasn’t exactly cold in Saudi Arabia for us to wear an additional garment on top. But noticing our surroundings, we really had to. We weren’t well-oriented about the Saudi Arabian culture but having observed carefully, we knew we had to comply. Our old abaya back then was nothing compared to how they design it now. It was longer, pure black, plus it was made to cover everything from neck down. It was designed to be bigger so that we can tie a knot in front to secure that it’s kept closed. Our current abayas are fancy, colorful and some are form-fitting . It didn’t use to be like this in Riyadh. Perhaps it all changed post-Covid because now, some women don’t wear abayas at all. Riyadh is so much different now.

Oh and after shopping in Sarawat, we’re homeward bound.

HOME SWEET HOME. It was in Alaqeeq. I saw the house, it looked posh (because the comparison was our simple bungalow in Pampanga). In Riyadh, we had three huge rooms but our folks insisted that my sister and I share a room. The other one remained for guests. We had a giant refrigerator filled with food, fruits and juices. I remember how it felt seeing the pantry full of goodies! We were not used to an abundantly stocked ref. It was heaven for kids! Our stove was fancy and huge. Everything looked expensive. For a minute there, I thought we were rich.

Alaqeeq has undergone a remarkable transformation. My childhood home, once curiously situated in the heart of a working quarry, stood in stark contrast to its surroundings. The closest company we had were the men working with my father. Today, Alaqeeq is a haven for the affluent, boasting a landscape so much different from the dusty desert I remember. We paid a visit to our old place in 2021, it was still there, a relic of the past amidst the palaces and mansions of Riyadh – super close to being an eyesore, TBH.

My family left that house near Y2K. I don’t know the precise reason but I heard it’s because we’re the only family in the building and most tenants were bachelors. That kind of situation won’t fly in the 90s I guess – even if it was late 90s.

Over the years, the change to modernization is quite apparent, some love it, some don’t. As for me, I am still enjoying the perks of this change. So asking me about it today? Yes, I love what it’s become.