Filipinos for Filipinos

The Philippine Embassy in The Hague commended Filipino community organizations for their humanitarian assistance programs for their fellow Filipinos experiencing difficulties in this pandemic. The commendations were made during a picnic organized by the embassy for Filipino community leaders early this month, Sept. 7, at the Zuiderpark, The Hague.

Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya handed plaques of commendation to the Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Europe for their “Ayuda sa Amsterdam,” where they extend food, medical, and cash assistance to vulnerable Filipinos in Amsterdam. This program distributes every first Friday of the month grocery food vouchers from Albert Heijn groceries and Red Cross Netherlands. It also conducts Zorgbus (Medical Mission Bus), in partnership with Dokters van de Wereld, every first Friday of the month, from 4:30-7:30 p.m., which provides free medical consultation, free vitamins or medicines, and free counselling service.

Also commended were the Serve, Act, Respond as One Community (SARO), Media Correspondent, and Volunteer Organization (MCVO) and the Filipino Migrants in Solidarity (FilMiS) for their “Tulong Kabayan Netherlands” that also provided food and cash assistance to affected Filipinos in The Hague.

“The Filipino LGBT Europe, SARO, MCVO, and FilMis deserve our collective appreciation as their proactive programs best exemplify our tradition of Bayanihan community self-help,” Ambassador Malaya said.

The Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Europe has been recognized for their ‘Ayuda sa Amsterdam,’ where they extend food, medical, and cash assistance to vulnerable Filipinos in Amsterdam.

The embassy also presented certificates of appreciation to community members for their contributions to the Philippine Embassy’s cultural programs, particularly their participation in the commemoration of the 123rd Independence Day of the Philippines and the Fiesta Filipinas kit vlogging.

During a brief program, Embassy officials provided updates on the conduct of overseas voting registration, preparations for the webinar “Philippines-Netherlands Connection at 70: Reconstructing History and Forging Ahead” from Nov. 9 to 11 2021, being organized in partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University and the Netherlands Embassy in Manila, and the ongoing renovation project of the chancery.

The embassy made available overseas voters’ registration during the event.

There were some 70 Filipino community leaders and Embassy staff members who took part in the event and enjoyed the games, potluck lunch and fellowship.

https://www.thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph or  https://www.facebook.com/PHinTheNetherlands/