Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas
(Rochita Loenen-Ruiz)


Christmas is perhaps one of the toughest seasons for the expatriate. It's a time when we think of our families back home-a season when we remember past get-togethers with friends and loved ones who are not with us in The Netherlands. We remember visits to lolo's and lola's, festive spreads and traditional dishes that are so hard to come by in a foreign country, and we even think of the off-key carols sung by street children outside our door at Christmas time.

This year, Stichting Bayanihan invited friends, supporters, volunteers and family to join in a Christmas party celebrating Christmas in Filipino style. About ninety people attended the party on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at Stichting Boeg in Utrecht.

Coordinated by Stichting Bayanihan volunteers: Tess Selibio, Jaclyn Misagal, Lana Jelenjev and Karen Schiet-Juarez, the evening was filled with fun, games, Christmas carols, exchange gifts, and traditional festive fare.

More than the food and the games and the gifts, was the feeling of warmth that abounded in the gathering. We are kababayans, members of the same family of expatriate Filipinos, and celebrations like these help us feel just a little bit closer to home at the time when we most need it.

Diana Oosterbeek-Latoza , Bayanihan Social Cultural Worker and Coordinator, giving the opening remarks for the evening.

Families lining up for the “salu-salo”.

The hall filled with Bayanihan volunteers, their families and supporters.

Coordinators Karen Juarez and  Jaclyn Misagal spearheaded the raffle.  A lot of prizes were given away  and the proceeds went to Stichting Bayanihan to fund further projects.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without the traditional Christmas carols which were sung in different languages.

Even our Dutch partners sang some Christmas carols.

The coordinators Tess de Man-Selibio, Lana Jelenjev, Karen Juarez and Jaclyn Misagal.