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PHL EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS CELEBRATES WOMEN’S MONTH WITH FILIPINO LEGISLATORS, AWARDS OUTSTANDING WOMEN COMMUNITY LEADERS

11 May 2015 - Three Filipino congresswomen graced the Philippine Embassy in Brussels’ International Women’s Month celebration last March 23, igniting the interest of women community leaders in Belgium to continue the struggle for gender equality. 

Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union Victoria S. Bataclan hosted Deputy Speaker Henedina R. Abad of Batanes, Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba of Bukidnon and Arlene ‘Kaka’ J. Bag-ao of Dinagat during the first Filipino community leaders’ meeting for 2015 at the Embassy. On the same occasion, the Ambassador honored some women community leaders who consistently support various activities and programmes of the Embassy.  Rep. Jose Christopher ‘Kit’ Belmonte of Quezon City also attended the event.

The legislators extolled the role of Filipino women in history and their various achievements as outstanding members of society.  While highlighting the fact that the Philippines tops the gender equality ranking in Asia and is on the top 10 most gender-equal countries in the world according to the Global Gender Gap 2014 Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the lawmakers acknowledged that much remains to be done in closing the gap on gender equality in areas like economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival.  The legislators shared with the audience important strides in the move to amend some provisions the Family Code of the Philippines which are perceived as anti-women.

On the outstanding Filipino women in Belgium and Luxembourg, Ambassador Bataclan said the awardees are honored “in recognition of their role as women leaders who have passionately led and continue to advance women’s advocacies for peace, development and human solidarity.” 

The awardees were the following:

1.       Haydee Alipalo-Holliday, head of Belga-Cultura Filipina and the Filipino Catholic Community in Leuven.  One of her recent achievements was the mobilization of manpower and resources to aid victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

2.       Aileen Corloncito-De Craene, head of Kaangayan Vriendenkring Inc. which spearheads the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Ghent and the Multicultural show in December 2014.   It also organizes Tagalog tutorial classes for Belgian husbands of Filipina women and orients Filipino newcomers in Ghent.   In the Philippines, Kaangayan supports “Halad Ugma” Kids Playhouse for children from 2 to 5 yrs old.

3.       Cecille Capacete – President of Philippine Luxembourg Society (PLS) who is responsible for the annual participation of the Philippines at the International Bazaar of Luxembourg.   Her organization provides schooling for children from a disadvantaged social background and was instrumental in delivering relief aid to victims of Typhoon Ondoy, Bopha and Haiyan.  PLS has supported more than 100 students over the past 26 years. It also funded the reconstruction of a new roof for the Aklan Hospital in Caticlan, a Day Care School in Antique, school toilets and libraries to other schools in the Philippines, and donated to Special Education (SPED) programs to help children with educational disabilities. On several occasions, the PLS has also organized emergency humanitarian support in the wake of natural disasters to local communities in need.

4.       Consorcia De Leon-Scholtz, head of World Mission for Peace and Development and organized various activities in Brugges including Pasko sa Brugge and Kalayaan Festivities.   Ms. De Leon’s organization also supports the World Missionary of the Poor.

5.       Remy Pontillo-Devos, head of Pilipinas Poverty Peace Education of Luxembourg, an organization is involved in poverty alleviation and hunger eradication in Bislig, Surigao del Sur and supporting children at risk in Jandayan Island, Bohol.

6.       Juliet Regidor-Frisnedi, head of Filipiniana-Europa vzw which actively coordinates and co-organizes various undertakings with the local government of Leuven.  Ms. Frisnedi is a Presidential Awardee for 2014.

7.       Flor Panes, head of Ilonggo Association and Philippine Belgian Women’s Club.

8.       Minabelle Siason-Vanantwerpen, head of the Council of Filipino Associations in Flanders (COFAF), organizes the Philippine Independence celebration in Brugge and Pasko sa Brugge to raise funds for its annual project.  It has supported the Donate-A-Classroom project, as follows: twin classrooms to Villa Milagrosa High School in Pitogo, Bohol (2008); Gusawan Elementary School in Siay-Zamboanga Sibugay (2009); Mulu-Muluan Elementary School in Mercedes-Zamboanga City (2010); and Tominjao Elementary School in Tuburan-Cebu (2011).  In 2013, COFAF donated to the Philippine Red Cross for war-ravaged Zamboanga City; earthquake-hit Bohol and Cebu; Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)-hit Tacloban and Busuanga.  COFAF will donate twin-classrooms for New Mabuhay Elementary School in New Mabuhay-General Santos (2012) and Talairon Central Elementary School in Oroquieta City (2014).

9.       Therese Anne Villanueva, founder and organizer of Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Program in Brussels.  LSE aims to empower Filipino overseas workers and provide them with skills to reach financial freedom, establish a better means of livelihood, and to contribute to his/her community as a servant leader.

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PHL EMBASSY INITIATES DIALOGUE BETWEEN LIBERAL LAWMAKERS AND FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG

11 May 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Brussels organized the first assembly of Filipino community (Filcom) leaders in Belgium and Luxembourg last March, with four representatives from the Liberal Party in attendance.

Deputy Speaker and Batanes Representative Henedina R. Abad, Representatives Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba (Bukidnon), Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao (Dinagat) and Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte (6^th District, Quezon City) discussed with the Filipino community leaders updates on the current issues in the Philippines.  For their part, the Filipino community leaders provided the lawmakers with a ‘peek’ into the real ‘feel’ of the Filipinos vis-à-vis recent controversial events in the country.

Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Victoria S. Bataclan extolled the Filipino community leaders to actively participate in political decision-making for the country by, among others, taking part in the overseas absentee voting processes.

The guest lawmakers expressed their support for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as it is all about self-governance for the Moros in Mindanao. Congresswoman Bag-ao said that the BBL should not be held hostage to recent unfortunate events and that the stakeholders eagerly wait for its enactment. Congressman Belmonte cautioned the Assembly about most negative news from the Philippine media because certain sectors exploit situations to put forward their own agenda. The lawmakers appealed for cooperation of Filipino community leaders in Belgium and Luxembourg in supporting peace and development efforts.

The Filipino community event also celebrated the International Women’s Day and the Philippine National Women’s Month.  In this regard, Congresswoman Abad proclaimed that the Philippines is ‘gender-proud’, it being one of the top 10 most gender-equal countries in the world. Congresswoman Alba paid tribute to Filipino women for their contribution to society and stressed the critical role being undertaken by Filipino women in peace-making and rebuilding communities in Mindanao.