“Zichtbaarheid” van Filippijnse Vrouwen in Nederland –
The “visibility”of the Filipinas in the Netherlands

By: Diana Oosterbeek-Latoza, social cultural worker, Bayanihan

Pilipinas in Nederland: Maak je zichtbaar!
Zorg dat je kwaliteiten benut en erkend worden, dan tel je mee!
Pilipina sa Netherlands: Be visible!
Make sure your qualities are utilized and recognized, then you matter!

Forty five Filipinas came on a radiant sunny day to attend the International Women’s Day last March 10 to answer this challenge. One Dutch husband (the only thorn among the roses!), two Dutch women friends and one free lance journalist were also present. We appreciate also the presence of Mrs. Citadel Cruz, spouse of Consul Adrian Cruz, Attache and consular assistant Mila Monje and Attache and administrative officer Majet Syquema of the Philippine Embassy. Mrs. Cruz gave a short welcome greetings on behalf of the Philippine Embassy. The Filipinas shared their experiences and discussed how they made themselves “visible” while integrating and participating in the Dutch society.

So are we  “visible” as Filipinas in the Netherlands as we tread the paths of integration and participation. Or do we stay as “invisible”as ever? What are the obstacles that hinder us to make use of our qualities in order to be recognised In order to be seen. If we are visible what makes us one? Through our social involvement. Through our interest to take part in many issues that do not only involve our personal but also our political life?  In what form do we manifest our being present? What can we do to promote being visible as a mother, worker, student and as a migrant woman at the same time in this multicultural society? The answers to these questions were gradually answered during the sharing sessions and  discussions.

Three speakers shared their experiences how they made themselves visible in their own right. Before a captive audience they told their inspiring, impressive and heartwarming stories which were very much recognizable to many. They were Cora Dee, Ruby Langeveld – Cumba and Irma Galias.

Cora finished Ph.D. in Development Studies. At present she is connected with the  Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) Erasmus University. She is married to a Dutch national and has two grown up children from her first marriage in the Philippines. She has now two grandchildren. She shared with us her life as a migrant becoming visible in the Netherlands. Her guidelines were the famous quotations of Eleanor Roosevelt whom she deeply admires as a successfully empowered woman. Cora, “She continuously emulates my continued quest as well as those of other women to be aware of the fences and walls surrounding our lives and break them for a better society here in our chosen country of residence – the Netherlands.”  Her sharing was divided into five parts namely realization, growth, challenges, difficult decision and happy outcome and gift of strong character. She is an active member of several foundations here in the Netherlands. She is the chairperson of Stichting ERCMOVE, a non-government organisation that she co-founded based here in the Netherlands with linked projects in developing countries of origin using microfinance as a strategy for local economic development. She is also a member of the De Derde Kamer or the Third Chamber. The Third Chamber is a shadow parliament in the Netherlands for 120 Dutch nationals and 30 representatives from developing countries. The members work on proposals to improve international cooperation and they discuss with Dutch politicians. Cora believes Eleanor Roosevelt when she said, “People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built”. Cora has encountered problems, frustrations but also achievements. She believes she has met life honestly and courageously. She called on the women present during the IWD to inspire each other by sharing their stories. “Let’s continue to strengthen our character and make the world a place for all of us no matter what class, color, creed or gender.”

Ruby is married to a Dutch national, has been living in the Netherlands for 34 years and is a mother of two grown up boys. She is at present a member of the Bayanihan board as a treasurer, member of the board of the Vereniging Haarlemmermeer Cebu (VHC) and in her own words ” In my free time I am an operating room nurse at Slotervaart Ziekenhuis in Amsterdam.” How does she make herself visible to the community?  Her answer is: “By actively participating in different activities in the community. Both Filipino & Dutch.” She became the president of UFDA in the early 90’s. This is an example of her being visible in the Filipino community. Ruby, “It was my first step to gain recognition and visibility as part of a minority group in a multicultural society.” Later she became involved as a volunteer in community work . It all started when she heard that the city of Haarlemmermeer initiated friendship ties with the city of Cebu and that the dance troupe members from Cebu were visiting Haarlemmermeer for the annual Volkerendag. So the gemeente needed host families. She offered herself to be one of the host families. Today she is a proud member of the board of VHC.

She is involved in different important projects like the Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF). In this project doctors and paramedics from Cebu were first trained in the Netherlands. Later they trained doctors and paramedics from Southeast Asian countries.  Ruby stressed the importance of volunteer work as a form of “visibility”. “Learning is perhaps the most valuable gift  that volunteering can give you. I gained practical skills, got the chance to meet other people in different levels of society. I become empowered through the simple action of wanting to help, to become a part of things, to change, to see things in a bigger picture. It allows us to connect with other individuals who share our values and interests. We learn that together and so great things can be accomplished.”

Irma is a music graduate of St. Paul’s College, Manila. She came here in 1967, has lived in different places like Peru, Manila, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and New York. She has one grown up daughter. Irma, “Music is my first love and as the song goes it will be my last.” She was an active volunteer in many Filipino organisations like Bayanihan and Diwa. At the moment she plays and accompanies several Dutch choral groups in Leiden, Voorschoten and Wassenaar. At the same time she conducts also a Filipino choir in Rotterdam.

Here are her advices:

• Try to learn the Dutch language as quickly as possible. Practice a lot and ask your partner to correct your grammar and pronunciation. Listen to the Dutch news, read Dutch newspapers, children’s books and consult a dictionary if you don’t know the meaning of certain words.
• Cultivate friends not only with Filipinos but also with Dutch and other nationals. In so doing you broaden your outlook and get a better understanding of each other’s culture and values, thereby learning to appreciate each other’s cultural differences.
• By developing the habit of reading local newspapers, you will know what activities are going on in your neighbourhood, the advertisements on what jobs are being offered, what your local officials are planning concerning community developments. Be an active member of your community.

During the quiz show facilitated by quiz masters Malu Padilla and Virgie Tonogan, participants were divided into 4 groups based on the colour codes they got when registering. The women were inspired by the speakers . Questions were asked to find out how visible they were. Majority of the women answered “YES” when asked if they were “zichtbaar”. Two women answered “ NO”.  Reasons: One prefers to be in the background as support and the other has difficulty in her work that’s why she is not visible. There was a lively discussion. Many know different political parties and what they stand for. Many voted too last “provinciaal verkiezing”. Some are even members of political parties. Most of the women are up dated with the issues which have been in the news lately. Double nationality seemed to be a “hot” issue . Most of the conclusions correspond to the tips made by the speakers.

Everybody agreed that it is important  to be visible. Reasons mentioned were:  In order to improve one’s position in the Dutch society, for self development, to keep ones identity; for cultural and political awareness,  to politically participate ( representative in the “tweede kamer”) to be recognized as a minority group, to integrate in the Dutch society to make ones life pleasant, to be productive and to be a part of the Dutch society , then we can say “we count”, we matter!

The IWD was organised by Stichting Bayanihan, Philippines Women’s Centre in the Netherlands and Diwang Pilipina (Diwa)-Babaylan Netherlands. The speeches of Cora, Ruby and Irma will be posted in the website of Bayanihan www.bayanihan.tk. 

Announcement: The website of Babaylan - Philippine Women’s Network in Europe is now on line. To know more about Babaylan, please visit www.babaylan-europe.org.