Fil-Dutch group celebrates silver jubilee

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 11/10/2011 11:39 PM | Updated as of 11/10/2011 11:40 PM

THE NETHERLANDS - The silver jubilee of the United Filipino Dutch Association became a celebration of unity and solidarity of the Filipinos in Holland.

The supposedly sit-down formal event became a standing room only as the NH Schiphol Hotel became jampacked as early as 2 hours before the start of the party.

The maximum capacity was 300 but more than 500 guests came from the different parts of Holland, Belgium and Germany.

But despite the crowded venue, nobody expressed anger for not being able to go inside, with some Pinoys setting up seats outside the venue and toasting the milestone.

To celebrate the big event, UFDA prepared a long musical program that also showed the 3 generations of members.

For the first time, there was a cotillion of former presidents of UFDA, a feat which was impossible in the past.

"Nagkaron ng parang reconciliation ang mga nakaraang mga presidente na nawawalan ng time ngayon. Ginawan namin ng paraan para magkasama sama sila at nabuhay ang dati, yung mas matatag na samahan, binuhay ulit namin yon," UFDA president Boy Balmaceda said.

The successful event did not fail to impress the new Philippine ambassador to the Netherlands.

They are capable of getting together, working together, helping each other and I see that it is a good community. I haven't encountered anything which would speak of issues amongst associations, so for this association to have been able to bring together a lot of Filipinos from different groupings in the Netherlands, that is very laudable," Ambassador Lourdes Morales said.

Even comedienne Giselle Sanchez was blown away by UFDA's pull among the Pinoys.

"Napansin ko tong UFDA naibukod nila at ginawa niyang solid ang mga Pilipino. So hindi na masyadong watak-watak ang mga Pilipino sa Amsterdam kundi isang buo na. Nagsasaya," Sanchez said.

Officers of UFDA thanked all their kababayans who came to return the camaraderie that they have given in more than 2 decades.

Balmaceda said that in the last 25 years, UFDA has established a solid and deep friendship with different Pinoys and organizations in Europe.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/11/10/11/fil-dutch-group-celebrates-silver-jubilee