British-Pinoy duo reaches finals of Dutch tennis tourney

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Posted at 08/05/2011 7:23 PM | Updated as of 08/05/2011 7:23 PM

THE HAGUE -- A tennis tandem composed of a British and a Filipino reached the doubles finals of the recently concluded Thor de Bataaf Tennis Open in The Hague.

The duo, however, failed in their bid to win the title as they bowed to their Dutch opponents.

Despite the 6-3 6-3 scoreline, the Dutch champions said it was not an easy fight.

“I don’t find it was easy at all. It was pretty hard. They played very good,” Bas Schenk said.

“They were tough opponents so we played very good for us. Somehow we managed to break them in the first set,” added Jochem Wiersma.

For the only Filipino in the tournament of the Dutch-dominated tennis club, reaching the finals is already a big honor.

“They have the height advantage and we have to compensate for that one in terms of speed perhaps and because of their length and height they've got wider coverage at the net. It's like hitting through a wall when playing them, otherwise everything is equal,” Rommel Loveranes, a Pinoy expat said.

His British partner, also an expat, commended the Pinoy’s style in tennis.

“He is really fast, one of the quickest players I’ve played with across the net. Excellent volleys, excellent smash, excellent forehand, the only thing is only his backhand…but that's not exactly a weakness per se,” David Flaherty said.

The tandem of Loveranes and Flaherty has already moved on.

This time, they hope to make it to the finals and win the championship at the Mets Tennis Open.


SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/ofw/08/05/11/british-pinoy-duo-reaches-finals-dutch-tennis-tourney

Dutch eyes potato opportunities in PH

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 08/04/2011 5:17 PM | Updated as of 08/04/2011 5:17 PM

THE NETHERLANDS - Many Dutch businessmen are starting to show an interest in agriculture in the Philippines.

This sudden interest marks the success of the Philippine Netherlands Business Council or PNBC’s working luncheon where it showcased the richness or potential wealth from agriculture in the Philippines.

Together with the Philippine Embassy and East West Seeds, EU Agricultural Attache Pit Laquian highlighted the investment opportunities in agriculture.

Laquian said agriculture is a highly productive business in the Philippines, particularly in potatoes.

According to Laquian, the Philippines imports potatoes 100% because of the high consumption of French fries and chips of Filipinos.

He said Pinoys have the capability to plant, sow and harvest the same volume of potatoes that the Philippines imports every month, but the only problem is lack of capital.
Laquian said that if there will be sufficient investment in the planting of potatoes, the Philippines can easily save around $200 million per year.

Many Dutch businessmen showed interest in the concept. Even the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture sent a representative to learn about agriculture in the Philippines.

"Now the Philippines as a tropical country has a very different agricultural business than the Netherlands. Nevertheless, we think the Dutch people could assist in developing agricultural business in the Philippines,” John Lintjer, PNBC chairman said.

In fact, a trade mission has now been set to go to the Philippines to check the agri-food and food processing there.

"We know from personal experience the Philippines from many years ago as an interesting country, a growing country. It became more stable in a political way, it's a growing economy and we have chosen the agro, agro-industrial sector,” Steven Mulder of NCH said.

Even some Pinoys who invested in real estate are now having second thoughts.

“Na-inspire lang ako na after ko narinig yung presentation... yung binili naming lupa sa Pampanga is to convert na lang to agriculture land," Pinay Olive van Dijck said.

Individuals interested in the trade mission to the Philippines may contact Vice Consul Cynthia Pelayo at the Philippine Embassy, multilateral@philembassy.nl.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/08/04/11/dutch-eyes-potato-opportunities-ph

Small town in Holland helps Pinoys big time

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 07/20/2011 4:21 PM | Updated as of 07/20/2011 4:21 PM

HOLLAND - For more than two decades now, a small community of elderly Dutch has been collecting donations from all over Holland and sending them to the rural areas in the Philippines.

Everyday, big heavy boxes of donations for the Philippines are dropped in a warehouse in Heeten, a tiny community here in Holland of mostly elderly Dutch citizens.

The warehouse will be filled up with boxes of mainly medical supplies and hospital equipment until the day the boxes are loaded for shipment. Every loading day, many elderly Dutch go out of their respective homes in order to assist preparing the crates and filling a 16-wheeler truck.

The huge truck will bring the crates to a shipping company in Rotterdam which will deliver the goods to the Philippines.

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau was invited to witness the loading process. Also present were Vice Mayor Roger de Groot and several staff from the Philippine Embassy led by Charge d’Affaires Frank Cimafranca.

After the last crate was successfully squeezed into the truck, the door was closed and locked.

But the last step is always symbolic. De Groot and Cimafranca jointly put the lock on the door of the truck, signifying the solid ties that remain between the Dutch and Filipinos.

This was the scene, for more than two decades now, at the Foundation Center Relief Supplies Heeten Philippines or HHCP.

HHCP is headed by couple Jo and Truus Schoorlemeer, who initially set up a group that collects goods for the depressed areas in the Philippines to help Jo’s now-deceased brother, who was a missionary in Philippines in the 90s.

“Exactly on the 16 of August this year, we'll be 21 [years] because we started in 1990 with the earthquake in Baguio. That’s the way we started collecting goods for the Philippines,” Jo said.

In fact, the couple just recently received medals from Queen Beatrix for their continued charity work for the Philippines.

The couple received the Knight of the Order of Queen Orange of Nassau, which is the highest award bestowed on a civilian.

Their hard work also did not go unnoticed in the Philippines as they received a medal from former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2008.

HHCP has already extended its gigantic help to many provinces in the Philippines, particularly in the hospitals in Camiguin, Bicol and Batanes.

As a token of gratitude on the day of the loading, a group of Pinays who are married to Dutch nationals and who are living close to Heeten, came over to serenade the elderly Dutch during their break from loading the crates.

“They're here to also, you know, to give thanks to the foundation here in Heeten that is helping our countrymen back home. It's really a very, very, significant event for all of us,” Cimafranca said.

Even de Groot cannot help but marvel at the magnanimity of the work and the volume of goods during loading.

He was impressed at the Dutch Pinays’ musical number but was more in awe of his fellow countrymen’s dedication and hard work for the Philippines.

“I am very impressed and I love the songs from the Philippine women and it was very good. It’s very good what the volunteers are doing for the Philippines,” de Groot said.

Jo and Truus are not getting any younger, yet they still do not plan to retire from running the foundation because they said that they have left, a long time ago, their hearts in the Philippines.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/07/20/11/small-town-holland-helps-pinoys-big-time

Exclusive: Kiko visits NDF in Utrecht

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 07/08/2011 10:14 PM | Updated as of 07/08/2011 10:16 PM



THE NETHERLANDS - His visit to the National Democratic Front Panel (NDFP) headquarters in Utrecht, Netherlands brought a larger-than-life hope for Filipinos that unity is soon going to be a reality in the Philippines.

At the NDFP office, where ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau was exclusively invited, there was so much laughter and talks sounded light and not serious at the meeting between Senator Francisco Pangilinan and NDFP's Jose Maria Sison and Louie Jalandoni.

Pangilinan, who just arrived from the Inter-Parliamentary Union event in Geneva, exuded a unique charisma as he sat face to face with Sison, Jalandoni and Sison's wife, Juliet.

The senator came in his capacity as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and Committee on Social Justice and Rural Development.

Pangilinan brought with him the promise that as a party mate of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, he will bring to the President the conditions laid down by NDFP, in the name of peace and unity.

"Well, ang relationship ko sa NDF, ilang dekada na rin. I was a student activist in the 80s during the Marcos dictatorship so I fully understand the causes that they are fighting for," Pangilinan told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau in an exclusive interview.

"We should focus on how we can unite, on what common ground we can go to, rather than look at our differences, on what divide us. And there is more that will unite us. There is more reason for us to unite in terms of moving forward and bringing prosperity to a nation than there is reason for us to be divided," Pangilinan said.

Roots of armed conflict

In fact, Pangilinan presented his proposals to the NDFP, particularly in helping push the peace talks and modernization of agriculture in order to solve poverty which he says is the root of the armed conflict in the Philippines.

"Obviously, if you look at the Philippine situation, sitwasyon ng ibang bansa, walang bansa na naging progresibo at talagang naging matagumpay at talagang gumanda ang buhay ng mga citizens nila na mayroong armed conflict na hinarap. So the roots of the armed conflict is really poverty and injustice so we're really gonna have to push for peace and I want to see it in my lifetime," Pangilinan said.

"Hindi biro itong insurgency na hinaharap ng bansa. It has been around for over four decades. Social unrest, even more so. The challenge is really how do we achieve a just and honorable peace so that the full potential of the nation in terms of the resources, in terms of its talent, its skill in terms of the economy can really be achieved," Pangilinan added.

The NDFP, for its part, trusts the senator's capability and sincerity.

"Sinabi naman sa kanya ni Louie [Jalandoni] na pag-aaralan ng NDF 'yong mga proposed solutions at mga dahilan kung bakit dapat isipin nating lahat na may pag-asa ang Pilipinas," Sison said.

"Umaasa kami na maipapaabot kay President Aquino 'yong mga pinag-usapan. Kasi bandang GPH (government panel) sa side ng Philippine government, si P-Noy naman ang pinakamapagpasya. Siya ang magpapasya tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay sa panig na 'yon kaya minamahalaga namin 'yong dalaw in Senator Pangilinan. (Si) Kiko kasi, nakakausap niya ang Presidente," the Communist Party of the Philippines chair added.

Conditions for resuming talks

Although the meeting was relaxed and cordial, the NDFP remained firm in its conditions in order for the stalled peace talks to resume.

"Sabi niya tutulong siya sa pag-push for the going forward of the peace talks through the release of the JASIG-protected (political prisoners), the NDFP consultants, as well as for the release of political prisoners. So we value very much his willingness to help and to push forward these talks which are of great importance to us," Jalandoni said.

"Right now na-postpone ang talks which was scheduled in June sa Oslo dahil wala pang nare-release kahit isa dun sa 17 NDFP consultants na dapat ma-release. At saka gusto din naming ma-release 'yong mga political prisoners in accordance with the agreement under CARHRIHL, Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, so we hope that his [Pangilinan's] push, his help together with the help of others will push forward the talks and let the talks hopefully take place in Oslo in September," the NDFP chair said.

"Simple lang naman 'yan--17 lang 'yang JASIG-protected na political prisoners. Kung mapapalaya 'yan, 'yong formal talks madaling isagawa," Sison added.

According to Sison, the relationship is good between the NDFP and the Philippine government in the sense that they are talking, and that even if the formal talks in Oslo were postponed, the door remains open on both sides.


SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/07/08/11/exclusive-kiko-visits-ndf-utrecht

Paintings evoke nationalist sentiments among Dutch Pinoys

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 06/28/2011 8:35 AM | Updated as of 06/28/2011 8:35 AM


A painting of Rigor Esguerra featuring Filipino street vendors. by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

THE NETHERLANDS – The paintings displayed at an art exhibit in The Hague, Netherlands evoked nationalist sentiment and nostalgic feelings among Filipinos in the country.

The creative canvases that hung on the wall of the Muzee Scheveningen were very colorful.

But up close, goose bumps and heavy emotions were felt by many of the Filipinos who looked at the paintings.

The paintings are part of the exhibit on "Filipinism, what makes art Filipino?" of the Philippine Embassy and the Kunst Gallery, which made a tour of several European cities.

The exhibit featured the works of 5 Filipino painters.

The paintings by Max Balatbat, Erick Dator, Ronna Manansala, Vincent Christopher Gonzales and Rigor Esguerra brought back memories of the Philippines among the Dutch Pinoys who are long-time residents of The Netherlands.

The hit of the exhibit was "Batang Baler" Esguerra, with his paintings depicting the typical life of a street vendor and street food.

"Nakakatuwa kasi... you go on a sentimental journey. Brings back memories of your childhood and that daily life in Manila. I thank this artist here," said Philippine dance diva Becky Garcia.

Esguerra explained that he wants to show the importance of Filipino cart vendors, who contribute to the good of the country in their own little way.

Esguerra said that for a few coins, the common street food will be able to feed a hungry soul who does not have enough means.

"Yung dati na nakikita nila sa Pilipinas, tulad ng pagtitinda ng chicharon, samalamig at tubig, Marlboro cigarette, then balot. Tapos dito naman yung mga cart vendor ng fish ball, banana que, mais, toknene, 'yan ang karaniwang kinakain ng mga Pinoy," said Esguerra.

For abstractionist Balatbat, his theme is deep and intense as he aimed to show the beauty of his hometown Caloocan, which has a reputation of being a haven for prostitutes and bad elements.

"Inspirasyon ko dito kagaya netong mga patterns na to. Top view ng mga shanties sa lugar namin. Yung mismong lugar ng mga puta. Pagtinignan mo para syang tela, pinagsapalsapal na tela. Kinuha ko yun sa pagsasama ng inspirasyon ko yung mga puta, pagsasama ng mga panty ng mga puta," Balatbat said.

According to Balatbat, one should not judge a place by it exterior.

One only needs to look more closely into the hearts of its residents and see the smiles on the faces of the people living there in order to see its real beauty.

Yet again, he refers to his beloved Caloocan.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/28/11/paintings-evoke-nationalist-sentiments-among-dutch-pinoys

PH Embassy in Holland holds dual Araw ng Kalayaan celebrations

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Posted at 06/22/2011 2:31 PM | Updated as of 06/22/2011 2:31 PM

HOLLAND-Not to be outdone and dwarfed by the Dutch Pinoy’s grand celebration of the 113th Independence Day, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague held two events of its own.

On Independence Day itself, the Embassy held a Filipiniana breakfast for its staff and for members of the Filipino community.

The festivity commenced with a Holy Mass officiated by Archbishop Arguelles, followed by a flag-raising ceremony and reciting of the Panatang Makabayan.

The breakfast fare of fried rice, longganisa, tocino, tapa, fried eggs and salted eggs with tomatoes certainly took the Dutch Pinoy guests back to the Philippines as they got a taste of home.

Topping the authentic Filipino breakfast was the Philippine flag cake.

And for a more stately event, the Embassy held a diplomatic reception which was attended by more than 80 members of the Diplomatic Corps, led by the U.S. Ambassador to The Netherlands.

“This is the second Independence Day that I am able to celebrate with the Filipinos and I very much admire that they have made it into such a creative and exuberant way,” Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

The regal gathering also featured the mother and son tandem of Mabel and Kim Regasa who provided the entertainment, show-casing to the foreigners the inherent talent of Filipinos in singing.

Dubbed as the mini-Michael Jackson of Holland, Dutch-Pinoy Kim rose to fame as a finalist in last year’s Holland’s Got Talent.

Special guest for the event was Dutch singer Marcel Duprix who wrote the song “Here I Am”, which he says became a hit in the Visayas.

“A friend of mine…asked me to write a song to help support a children's village. So I wrote the song and when I was back in Holland, three months later he sent me a video clip. He was in a taxi, the song was on the radio in the Philippines and they played it eight times a day so he said Marcel you have to go back to the Philippines and perform your song because people love your song,” Duprix said.

Duprix said he aims to help the needy children in the Philippines through music so that all the proceeds from the sale of the “Here I Am” single will go directly to the children’s village of Padre Burgos in Leyte.

The embassy has definitely shot two birds with one stone, that of commemorating and celebrating with the kababayans and foreigners the most important day of being a Filipino and also helping a Dutch citizen promote a charity project in the Philippines

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/22/11/ph-embassy-holland-holds-dual-araw-ng-kalayaan-celebrations

Joma Sison joins PH Independence Day rite

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 06/13/2011 7:29 PM | Updated as of 06/13/2011 10:52 PM


NETHERLANDS - The 113th celebration of Philippine Independence on Saturday became memorable for the more than 4,000 Filipinos and Dutch who were at the Spaarnwoude Park in Haarlemmermeer.

In the middle of the Independence Day musical program, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison surprisingly showed up, causing a commotion among Pinoys who scrambled to shake his hand or pose for photos with him.

It was indeed very rare for Sison to attend such a festivity, especially since it has always been held in a very big park packed with more than 6,000 people every year. However, the stormy weather dampened the attendance this year.

According to Sison, he hasn't been to the Filipino community's Independence Day celebrations since 1999 because of fear for his security.

"Me mga reports na me mga hit team na pinalakad nun ng rehimen sa Pilipinas so bilang pag-iingat kaya di ako sumisipot sa Independence Day," Sison told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

Sison said he decided to finally join the biggest gathering of Filipino communities in Holland after intelligence report showed there is no threat to his security.

"Normal na sumasama ako sa mga kasayahan ng Filipino community. Kahit na open air ito, nagustahan ko, dahil marami, me libong Pilipino ngayon at ako'y natutuwa na nakikiisa sa kanila sa kanilang pagdiriwang ng independence day," Sison said.

The Philippine Embassy staff, led by Charge d'Affaires Frank Cimafranca, was also there. Sison’s presence became the greatest show of unity among Filipinos.

"I heard that he [Sison] came but I think it's a good thing. He should join with the Filipino Community in celebration of Philippine Independence. Kasama yan sa pagkakaisa. Hopefully back home, they will try to approach the peace process positively and let's unite as a people and let's do away with violence and use of force," Cimafranca said.

Sison said he has not observed any bad blood between the 2 parties involved in the ongoing peace talks.

Sison added the second round of formal talks had only been disrupted because of the Philippine government’s opposition to free the individuals who are protected under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or JASIG. The kinks have already been smoothened out, he said.

There is a great belief among the Pinoys here that the time to be one as a nation and as a people has finally come.

SOURCE:WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3527450582355285238