Berghaus Girls

Wehl Revisited: Forty four years later

By Bernadette Yusi-Santos
The Netherlands-August 9, 2011
Tue 9th August 2011



In 1967 to 1970, fifty-nine girls from the Philippines travelled to the Netherlands to become the second batch of Berghaus girls. There we lived in the Dutch town of Wehl, worked in Berghaus,  and experienced the life of a Filipino migrant worker in the 60s.



With Author Bernadette (3^rd left) At the station where we used to wait for the trains that would bring us to our different European adventures.


After forty-four years, seven ladies from this original batch of “Berghaus Wehl girls” came together again in Wehl last July 29, 2011.



Gathering around the wife and daughter of the former Mayor: Mama Pouw and Margot. (Top: left to right) Mellie van Vulpen, Irma Galias, Margot, Bernadette Santos, Gilda Knaven-Sumalbag, Rosie Ocampo-Rapanot, Pat Ilada (Bottom) Mama Pouw, Lolit



In true Filipino fashion, we exchanged stories over rice, pancit, adobo, caldereta, sinigang and softdrinks with Lolit Goorman-Togonon as our host.



Visiting an old dear friend, Fr. Van Dooren, our spiritual director



.. . the street where we used to live (with life partners: Carlito Santos, Ton van Vulpen and Adolf Mabini)



Prinses Christinastraat …



Our old house is now for sale. . .  but the memories here are priceless.



Berghaus, the factory that changed our lives,. . . now a furniture store.



As we walked down memory lane, I thought “Those were the days my friend. We thought they’d never end…



… and they haven’t”!!

 



Berghaus Girls..... 44 years younger....

 

It was a day of fun, food and friendship as we recalled our 3-year stay in the Netherlands.