A history on the making— On the 31st of October, Stichting Bayanihan, in cooperation with the Ecumenical Ministry for Filipinos Abroad (EMFA), has successfully organized and launched the very first get together and information day for all Filipino seniors (male and female) in the Netherlands.
“Though aging comes with gray hairs, stones in our kidneys, iron in our feet and gases in our stomach, now is the time to look back and be grateful of the rich experience and wisdom that seniors like us have accumulated. And today marks the day when we commit ourselves to continually integrate in the society and take the chances to systematically pass all the great values and wisdom that we’ve learned in the past 6 decades or so to the next generation,” says EMFA head Rev. Cesar Taguba in his welcoming remarks.
The other importance of having the seniors information day, according to Stichting Bayanihan chairperson Diana Oosterbeek-Latoza, is to address the possibility of utilizing numerous healthcare programs that the Netherlands has instored for the seniors in the country.
Further enlightening the participants with practical information on Gezondheidszorg (healthcare) in the Netherlands was Anafel Miggelenbrink-Soriano. She lives in the Netherlands for about 24 years now and currently works as a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) coach and verzorgende at the Individueel Gezondheidszorg Pyschogeriatrics division of Stichting Innoforte in Velp, province of Gelderland. After her talk was a live discussion on specific issues that majority of the participants are facing, including that of insurance-related policies.
No Filipino event ends without fun, entertainment or salu-salo. So to spice up the gathering, the Bayanihan Seniors Group led the singing of Filipino folk songs and community dancing. Add to that the joy of sharing traditional Filipino snacks, while enjoying each other’s company.
The first Filipino Seniors Information Day was a huge success. It’s a history in the making, and therefore, will take place again next year with the seniors in Utrecht hosting the event. To get updates of the 2016 Seniors Information day, join us at Stichting Bayanihan Facebook group or drop your message at info@bayanihan.nl.
Group picture of all participants at the Seniors Information Day Launching held on October 31, 2015 at DrieGeneratie Centrum in Utrecht.
