(MENAFN- Gulf Times) For former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and now businesswoman Layla Bernal, Qatari men are among the most responsible heads of families in the world.
Besides being a good provider, she told Gulf Times that her husband Abdul Majeed al-Lenjawi, a Qatari, spends quality time with her and their four children.
"They value the weekends so much. We all gather at the house together with family and sisters," said Layla, who is married to al-Lenjawi for 11 years now. They are blessed with four children: Mishary, 10; Mohamed, 9; Zahra, 7; and five-year old Zainab.
She said her husband treated her with respect and was a true gentleman. A university graduate (holding two bachelor degrees) from the US, al-Lenjawi now works at Aspire Foundation.
The couple met sometime in 2002 at a company where Layla was then working. At that time, she already had a keen interest in Islam, reading some of the stories about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
During her free time, she visited the Fanar Qatar Islamic Cultural Centre, formerly known as Qatar Centre for Presentation of Islam, in her pursuit of truth. After carefully studying the teachings of the holy Qur'an , she converted and fell in love with Islam.
She said her sister who came to Doha to work as an OFW also did the same.
When they were just starting to build a family in 2004, Layla said she always wanted to please her husband. She started to clean the house, wash and iron clothes, and cook dishes.
"When my husband saw me doing all these things, he told me why am I doing these things?" He told me: 'I did not marry you just to make you a housemaid. The following day, a housemaid came."
She said the situation is totally different in the Philippines. Filipino wives are expected to serve their husbands by doing the household chores.
Even for many well-off Filipino women, cooking from breakfast to dinner for the whole family is one of the duties of a housewife.
But in a society like Qatar, Layla said "it is totally different" because Qataris value their wives so much, "treating them almost like queens".
Layla noted that her husband also fully supported her endeavours without
any hesitation.
She now manages two companies, La Diva De Quafeir Beauty Center (salon) at Muntazah, which is now in its fifth year of operation, and Eve House of Catering and Events, running for one year now at Matar Qadeem.
Given the opportunity, Layla plans to invest more and expand the two companies to other places.
Asked about her social life after converting to Islam and marrying a Qatari, she said she meets her Muslim friends every Tuesday.
"We eat, we laugh and we dance," she said. "I also have time to learn more about my religion; every Saturday, I have my Islamic lesson and memorisation of Qur'an. Every morning, I go to Aspire for my regular workout.
"Sometimes other people think we do not have time for socialisation
because of our religion but that is not the case."
The former OFW also finds some similarities between Qatari and Filipino cultures such as close family ties and love for parents.
She observed that Qataris take good care of their elders. "Home for the aged does not exist here," she noted. "They will not leave their parents even when they have their own families."
During their 17-day vacation in the Philippines last year, Layla said she was happy to see her husband and children enjoying the company of her parents and relatives.
Language has been no barrier as both can speak English well.
Touring the malls and different places in Quezon City along with the family, al-Lenjawi found Filipinos in the Philippines as very friendly people. He was fond of Filipino food such as Tamarind Broth popularly known as "Sinigang" and "Tinolang Manok" (chicken stewed with green papaya).
"My family loves both worlds and cultures and hopes to travel more often to see our beautiful country," she added.
Asked where she wants to raise her children, she said she prefers "Qatar because it is one of the safest and most peaceful places on earth."
"I want them to have the same positive values of their father: responsible, loving, hardworking, honest and true to his words," she stressed.
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