Archive for the Category »Filipino Community «

Oct

A memorable All Souls Day 2009

burningcandles
This year all souls day will be very painful for me and the rest of my family last year blog about remembering our dead not knowing just a few days my grandmother will past away on the 4h of November and later this june her son my father folowwed her. My father even went home to the Philippines to attend the funeral service of my grandmother and just as he came back in Madrid he was diagnosed with head tumor. It’s too much to take in just 7 months.

I did not saw my grandfather my on my father’s side but I can clearly remember we used to visit his grave every November 1 in the cemetery just beside the beach. That’s only the time to see my father’s relative and that’s the only time for us young ones to get to know them since they leave in other cities. We waited until the big dragon candles my uncle used to bring form Manila the one you can buy in the Chinatown. Before November 1 I barely can remeber that there are padasal or prayers by our parish priest who go around and ask for the names of the dead family members and sometime a group of elders who prayed in latin well I don’t know it anybody still can pray in latin on our place.

Now it my time to light a candle for tatay, my inang, my amang , my lolo on my mother’s side , all my relatives and all the victims of the recent typhoons and at the same say a prayer that their soul may rest in peace.

inang-copy Tataypadasal-1024x801

Category: Being Filipino, Customs Traditions Tags: all souls day, araw ng mga patay Leave a Comment

Oct

Typhoon Ondoy’s Donation Advisory

Filipinamom

During calamity people from all walks of life are willing to offer their help by any means but there also heartless people who lured people for financial help but it doesn’t go to the victims but to their own pocket. So very careful to send money check it out first especially when it is thru money transfer. Even legitimateorganizations and foundations became victims of these scams like the GMA Kapuso foundation where a woman from the Philippines unsuccessful money transfer to the legitimate bank account received an email telling her to send it to another account which afterwards she found out it was a bogus. You can watch the imbestigador at GMA 7 investigates deceits and fraud in this area.

But deceits in bank transfer doesn’t happens only in the Philippines but a big problem around the world so be very careful like my bank always reminds of fishing of personal information which we constantly receives in our mail asking us to send information about our account. NEVER answer or click the links they send to you even if it looks like credible source always check from your bank.

I several emails from the embassies regarding donation advisory which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out to different embassies worldwide.

NDCC Donated Funds

Current Account (Philippine Peso) #0-00149-435-3
(Swift Code: DBPHPHMM Account #36002016)
Development Bank of the Philippines
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Branch
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Philippines

NDCC updates can be accessed click here

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Top

DSWD

Contact Persons: Imee Rose Castillo / Rey Martija
00632 9318101 loc. 506-507 / 9517119

US Dollar
DSWD Foreign Donations
Account Number: 3124-0055-81
ZIP Address: TLBPPHMMXXX
LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Philippine Peso
Account Number: 3122-1011-84
LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Philippine National Red Cross

For donations to be acknowledged, please fax bank transaction slips to (632) 5255654 or (632) 4040979 with donor’s name, address and contact numbers.

US Dollar
The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 151-2-151-00218-2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
Metrobank Port Area Branch
Anda Circle, Port Area, Manila

The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 81140030-94
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
BPI United Nations Branch
Ermita, Manila

Philippine Peso
The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 151-3-041-63122-8-MBTC
Metrobank Port Area Branch
Anda Circle, Port Area, Manila

The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 4991-0010-99
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
BPI United Nations Branch
Ermita, Manila

Other Queries and Donations

NDCC (Relief Goods / Rehabilitation Equipment)

Maj. General Glenn J. Rabonza
NDCC Administrator
Attn: Engr. Florentino Sison
Deputy Chief, Operations Division
Tel: (632) 9125979, (632) 9122665
Fax: (632) 9111873, (632) 9111406, (632) 9125668, (632) 9120984

Department of Health (Medicines and /or Medical and Humanitarian Missions)

Dr. Virginia Ala
Chief, Bureau of International Health Cooperation
Department of Health
Attn: Ms. Noni Balbino
Chief, Technical Division
Tel: (632) 7812843
Fax: (632) 7818843

DSWD (Relief Goods)

DSWD Donation Drop Off Points

Pasay Area
National Resource Operation Centre
Chapel Road, Pasay City
Attn: Mrs. Francia Fabian
Tel: (632) 8528081 / (63) 9189302356

Quezon City Area
Disaster Resource Operations Monitoring and Information Centre (DROMIC)
DSWD Central Office
Attn: Rey Martiga or Imee Rose Castillo
Tel: (632) 9517119 / (632) 9517435
or Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera
Tel: (63) 9189345625

Manila Area
DSWD-NCR
San Rafael corner Legarda Street
Quiapo, Manila
Attn: Director Delia Bawan
Tel: (632) 7348622 / ((632) 7348642

The Philippine embassy in Sweden accepts donations for the Typhoon Ondoy victims which they will send to the DSWD that Dept. of Social Welfare and Development they are also asking for medicines etc., visit their website for details. Embassy in Sweden jurisdiction are Sweden,Latvia, Estonia & Finland.

While the embassy in Norway jurisdiction are Denmark, Norway and Iceland their website is www. philembassy.no

The Philippine Embassy in London also accepts donations contact them or visit their website http://philembassy-uk.org/news_advisory.html#page12 for details.

You can check the Philippine embassies in your area for more information. Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs homepage to check your local embassy’s information at http://dfa.gov.ph/?page_id=74.

Category: Filipino Community, Philippines Tags: donation advisory for typhoon ondoy, filipinamom, flood victims, help for typhoon victims Ondoy, philippine embassy in london, philippine embassy in norway, philippine embassy in sweden, Philippine National Red Cross 5 Comments

Sep

Babaylan Denmark Fundrasing for the victims of the typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana in the Philippines

Filipinamom

Dear Friends:

Babaylan is calling for your generous help and support for the victims of typhoon Ondoy (international code name: Ketsana), which recently hit vast areas of Central Luzon, Philippines, specifically, Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces..

A victim of floodings is rescued in Pasig City , east of Manila.

The typhoon has caused massive flooding, resulting in the death of over 200 people (a growing number), with many others injured or missing. The floods have also destroyed houses and other properties, forcing thousands of families to evacuate their homes.

The situation in the affected areas is desperate. Some people are still stranded on roofs of houses, without food and drinking water. Many others are living in evacuation centers and are dependent on the help extended to them by generous individuals. The victims need immediate help – cash donations, food supplies, clothing, blankets, medicine, etc.

Your support is badly needed and will be highly appreciated.

Please send your donation directly to any of the the following:

Babaylan-Denmark – Accepting cash donations through its Denmark Bank Account: EIK BANK – 6610 2494890.You may also send your donation to any member of Babaylan Denmark.

UNICEF – Accepting cash donations through its Metrobank (Philippines) account: UNICEF C/A 066-7-06631209-3 in response to the victims of tropical storm Ondoy.

You may also call the UNICEF hotlines at tel. nos.:

+632 758-1000 and
+632 758-1442

to find out more ways to send your donations.

CAMILLIAN FATHERS – They are directly involved with the evacuees in Marikina City and Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines:

Tel nos.:

+632 4260031,
+632 4260031 or
+6324260032

There are many other institutions and non government organizations (NGOs) in the Philippines that are helping the victims. The above are just the nearer contacts. Please feel free to get in touch with any other institution or NGO, if deemed easier.

Your assistance will go a long way.

Thank you for your generosity.

Sincerely,

Babaylan Denmark

Category: Being Filipino One Comment

Sep

Let pray for the victims of the typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)

Filipinamom

I’m terribly saddened by the flooding of almost 80% of Metro Manila and nearby provinces even I experienced more than a dozen of almost 2 meters floods during the 28 years of my life in the Philippines but nothing can compares to the devastation of typhoon Ondoy.

The Filipinos are resilient just like the bamboo tree and you can still see they smile in the midst of their life’s tragedy but at the end of the day they will realize they lose their homes and love on ones it’s really tragic. But we can help them to help them to stand on their feet but donating to authorized agencies but if we can’t help them financially we can help by reciting this prayer from Fr. Stephen Cuyos.

I know most Pinoy bloggers have already posted about the typhoon but I want to make this prayer as a tag to reach out as much as possible. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t catholic just revise the prayer according to your faith.

You just copy the prayer and tag your friends as many as you want and just mention where you got the tag from and then inform your friend that you tag them.

Fr. Stephen Cuyos of Happy Faith started this prayer and I also post it to my Facebook wall. I will tag the following Marlene, Mom for a Cause, Maricris, Amor,Bing Sitoy, Mel, Rolly & Mathie Banaga

Prayer for the victims of the typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)

Loving Father, you are our shelter and our hope. We come to you with hearts full of trust in your love and mercy.

We pray for the victims of tropical storm Ondoy. May those who have lost homes and properties find shelter, enough food and clean water. Comfort those who are traumatized and those who are grieving for the loss of their families, neighbors and friends. Bless those who are sick and those who are injured that their health may be restored and their wounds cured. May you lead all who are stranded or lost back to those who love them. Guide the hands of the rescuers, the doctors and nurses and other volunteers and give them strength as they serve others with joy.

May this calamity bring people closer together, to help each other and to care for the environment. Give us the faith, the hope and the love to carry on. This we ask through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Category: Filipino Community, General, Global news, Philippines Tags: Prayer tag for the typhoon victims, Typhoon Ondoy 8 Comments

Aug

Thank you Cory Aquino- The greatest Filipinamom

filipinamom

Farewell and Thank you Cory

: Former Philippines President: Corazon Cojuangco Aquino (1933-2009) Photo

, a mother and the President of the Philippines

Cory Aquino was the president of my youth. During the my last year in high school, the People power revolution broke out and classes were dismissed and we stayed home for several days, confused and uncertain about the future of our country while my father used to listen to the radio to keep abreast of what was happening in Manila. We keep on asking him when we have to go back in school but he just said that he don’t know we have to pray for miracle. And miracle did happened, Marcos fled the country and Cory became the first woman president not only in the Philippines but in Asia.

She was the president during my college days and what I can remember was the hope and the excitement of finally tasting the freedom from all the years of oppression. If was also turbulent period because her goverment underwent many coup d’etat but she survived it all. Not only man made disasters but the unforgetable natural disasters happened during her presidency like the July 19, 1990 Cabanatuan-Baguio earthquake which hometown, Dagupan City was devastated, the MT. Pinatubo volcano eruption in 1991 and the typhoon Uring which caused the massive flooding in Ormoc which killed thousands of people. Just imagined what she has been through but until the end she still thinks of the Philippines and the future of the Filipino people.

She is not only a mother of Kris Aquino and her siblings but the Filipino nation as well because if not for her courage we will be free from the dictatorship and who knows what will happen to the Philippines if she just keep silent and mind her own business. But even in her sufferings of losing her beloved husband, she also helped the Filipino nation to stand up and say “Tama Na Sobra na” (Stop and that’s Enough).

She is not perfect as a president as I heard several what if’s but like a mother she didn’t abandoned her family despite all the pressures left and right. But she left us hope and faith which will keep the Filipinos united. Despite her popularity she lived a normal life after her term and experienced every ordianary mother will experience family problems. Life is not perfect even her daughter Kris who was her constant companion being the youngest had been through a lot of problems who’s family is not perfect we all made mistakes Cory being truly a filipinamom showed that she wasn not happy of what was happening but she still did support and accepts her with open arms when she asked for forgiveness.

Cory Aquino in the eyes of the world

A Screen shot from the program in DR1

In international telivision she was interviewed by several networks but I can not forget that I happened to watched a program in the Danish national telivision DR1 “De skrev historie” meaning “They wrote history” a series of interview of people who changed the history of the world the likes of Bishop Desmond Tutu, Madeleine Albright, Lech Walesa, Benazir Bhutto, etc. and I felt proud as a Filipina because we had started this trend of bloodless revolution and was led by a Filipina. It was also the way she told her story smiling a lot , even when she told about her husband murder she still glows maybe yellow really suites her. You can watched archived of the program here but I’m not so sure if you can watched it outside Denmark.

In witten media she was also the darling of the press one of them is the Times Magazine. If you browse the Times Magazine homepage , you can find the following

1.Cory’s life in picture gallery .

2. She was cited as the Time Magazine’s Woman of year in 1987, you can read the article here.

santan2 copy

My heartfelt condolence to the family that was left behind by the former President of the Philippines, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. I just lost my father so I know how hard to loss one’s parent especially Cory who served as mother and a father to her 5 children since 1989 when her husband, Benigno Aquino was assasinated.

May Cory’s example be the source strenght of millions of Filipinamoms all over the world during this time of financial crisis and to those who are working away from their families the OFW and other migrant families that they should not lose hope and faith.

Thank you Cory and may your soul rest in peace.

Category: Filipino Community, General Tags: Cory Aquino, cory aquino the greatest filipinamom, Death of cory aquino, kris aquino, Time magazines woman of the year 9 Comments

Jul

Thanks for the condolences

filipinamom

Now I’m back on line and in Denmark after almost a month from Spain, finally I can now write about the death of my father. For those who visited this site and leave their sincere condolences and their prayers, thank you and I appreciate your thoughtfulness and to my relatives, friends and acquintances who were presents during the Requiem Mass for my father which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Joe Toms C.s.s.R, the priest for the Filipinos in Copenhagen. Thank you for sharing our family’s grief and for offering prayers for my father’s soul.

His death took us by surprised because he almost recovered from his first operation and we chatted on the net 1 month before he died. He even cut my mother’s hair which means that everything was what it was supposed to be, but what supposed to be just a simple operation went wrong which my mother became really sad. They just celebrated their 40 years wedding anniversary 5 days before he died. I haven’t seen him for 5 months and even during his burial or cremation I wasn’t able to attend instead I arranged a requiem mass for him and I’m really grateful to Filipino community in Denmark they are always ready to offer prayers and contributions even though they don’t know my father personally.

padasl4 copy padasl3 padasal2 copy bouquet1 copy

The Filipino Tradition of “Pakikiramay” condolence. The Requiem mass, Group Pictures and food. It just show we’re really compassionate and happy people and not to forget we love food and group pictures even in time of mourning.

Filipinos in Denmark did not lost their Filipino traditions of compassion or ” pakikiramay “. They attend the the 9 days prayer or “padasal” ( in the Catholic tradition they hold 9 days of prayer or “novena”and another mass in the 4oth day and of course after the praying there is food and people talk about what they can remember of the deceased usually funny and good things he/she had done.

Being a migrant it is hard to experience death of a loved one, our family is scattered around the globe and my father’s sisters and brothers are living in the Philippines so we have to accept the harsh reality of life not being there to cry together and hold wake . It was funny though I spoke to my brother who was in the Philippines at that time and I cried and chat with my relatives, my father’s aunts, brother, and sister on the net and watch each other’s grief on the webcamera.

My father always wanted to go back to the Philippines his motherland so we decided that his remains be cremated which happened on his 2nd day (it was supposed to be the 1st day) then one day maybe next year all of us can go give him a proper burial to be buried together with his parent’s grave. Dying in Spain is not that cheap my family has to shield 3000+ Euros just for the cremation. My mother chose to keep the jar of his remains at their flat until we will take him back to the Philippines. I did not expect that I will ask “abuloy” or contributions instead of flowers here in Denmark because I did helped 2 aupairs who died 2 years ago and asked for donations. Filipinos gave financial helped and even asked what they can do to helped . We sincerely thank tita Luth Abainza, her family and the rest of PUGAD , & Babaylan Denmark, Babaylan Europe for the prayers, Josie of Amager Bloomster for the boquet,St. Anne’s prayer group who prayed in the 9th day, Lemy and the rest of Copenhgen Community Church, Fr. Joe Toms, Fr. Benny and all family friends, my classmates.

Since I started blogging about my fathers head tumor removal operation 7 months ago and his almost succesful recovery, a lot blogger friends offered comforting words and prayers and I’m glad I was vocal about my grief even in my facebook , friendster and talk about to friends and I’m glad I did it although it is so personal but it helps to ease the pain of losing a loved one and somehow I felt I’m not alone in my grief. Thank you!!!

I found this quotation in the net (sadly missed.com) which reflects what I feel. Thank you my loving Tatay for everything. We miss you and we love you. We will cherish all the sacrifices and the memories you left behind.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steals”. From a tombstone in Ireland

Tataypadasal

Category: Filipino Community Tags: death of migrant, filipino burial tradition, filipino mourning, loss of a father, pakikiramay 2 Comments

Jul

Consular Outreach Mission in Denmark- Passport Renewal and Overseas Absentee Voting Registration

filipinamom

For the second time the Philippines Embassy in Norway will conduct an Consular Outreach program in Denmark so for those Filipino passport holders in Denmark who still hold a green passport now it’s your time to renew or submit your applications without going to Norway since renewal of the new machine readable passport requires your personal appearance in the embassy. Philippine passports copy

Here’s the announcement from the embassy:

CONSULAR OUTREACH MISSION IN DENMARK (July 3-4, 2009)

The Philippine Embassy will be conducting mobile Machine Readable Passporting Services and manual Overseas Absentee Voting Registration in Copenhagen, Denmark from July 3 to 4 (Friday to Saturday) at the following venue with the following schedules:

VENUE:

STORSAL, SKT. ANNÆ KIRKE (ST. ANN CHURCH)
Hans Bogbinders Allé 2, 2300 Copenhagen S
by public transportation – take bus 5A and get-off at Tycho Brahes Allé)
SCHEDULE:

July 3 & 4: 9 AM-12 NN, 1 PM – 6 PM
Kindly refer to the Philippine Embassy in Norway website for the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) application requirements and make sure to bring COMPLETE requirements. Please make sure to include a photocopy of the data page of your old passport and its amendments page if any change have been made to your details in your passport. Application forms may be downloaded from the website.

Meanwhile, all Filipino citizens 18 years old and above who are eligible to vote are encouraged to to register. All interested registrants should bring three (3) passport size ID pictures and their valid Philippine passports.

For more information about the Machine Readable Passport, Overseas Absentee Voting as well as the registration process, kindly visit:

http://www.philembassy.no/consular/mrp2.html
http://www.philembassy.no/filcom/oavreg.html
http://www.philembassy.se/annments/oav/page1.htm
CONTACT PEOPLE:

Sister Myrna: +45 5290 0184 or +45 5354 3214
Ms. Rosemarie Christensen: +45 6013 6764
Philippine Embassy: +47 9500 1072

Category: Filipino Community 6 Comments

May

Please Vote for Einer Lyduch for European Parliament

filipinamom

From June 4-7 , the 26 European countries will go out vote for MEP or member of the European Parliament for the term 2009-2014 on June 4-7. Each country has a fix number of MEP’s which depends on the number of inhabitants for example in Denmark their are 14 MEP’s representing different political parties.

Denmark’s turn to go tot he polls is on June 7 and it’s 7th time they will vote for EU Parliament.
I will take this opportunity to ask for Filipinos in Denmark to support Einer Lyduch of the Social Democratic Party.

Who is Einer Lyduch?

Einer is one of the first Dane I knew and talked with when I was newcomer in Denmark and we as far as I can remember we talked about a lot of things mostly politics and social problems. He was well verse with the Philippines politics because he is married for I think 30 years to one of my mentors in our women’s organization, Amelia Abainza Lyduch who has turned 60 this year. They are blessed with 2 children Naomi and Richard plus their only grandchild Denzel.

Amelia Lyduch, a filipinamom

He is presently working in Neils Brocks Business College as study assistant Professor. He has MA in history, danish and English. For 20 years he was the union representative for Secondary School Teachers Union. He together with his wife spearheaded a NGO, Pugad who helps marginalized people in developing countries.

His political standpoint-

We share the fate of the EU, and have the same challenges: Always fighting for jobs, giving each citizen opportunities to combat social exclusion and poverty, to reconcile material growth with environmental sustainability and responsibility for future generations. Therefore, the vision of the EU to unite Europe so we can better solve our common problems and make a meaningful effort in relation to poor countries.

The Socialist objective is to promote human rights, social justice and peace. The EU should serve as a platform in the fight for human development, and we must work for the EU to take a social leadership in globalization. Responses to globalization is political acumen, where the market is balanced by political solutions. And it requires a full showdown with the EU’s agricultural tariff barriers and protectionism.

Don’t forget get out and vote on June 7, 2009 and Vote for Einer Lyduch personally. Filipinamoms in Denmark and the rest of the Filipinos let us unite and Support Einer. Send email to you danish friends and colleagues to vote for him and join him in Facebook. Let us plurk, tweet, shout at friendster and other social networking sites.

To know more about him and his party visit their website at www.socialdemokraterne.dk and also pay a visit to the EU Parliament website and learn about the importance of having your voices be heard in EU.

Category: Filipino Community, Global news Tags: 2007, Einer Lyduch, get out and vote your EU's MEP, June 7, Social Democrats in Denmark, Support Einer Lyduch 2 Comments

May

Babaylan Denmark offering Financial Literacy Training on 30th May 2009

filipinamom

AI have a friend a Filipina au pair who called her father just before christmas just to greet them and tell them about her plans to get married to non Filipino guy and I was shocked to overhear their conversation which goes like

Daughter: Hello, How are you there?

Father:…?

Daughter: No, I don’t have money. I’m not marrying a rich guy…..

I asked her what was it all about and she told me that her father wa asking money from her because they want to move to Manila from her province and will rent an apartment in Manila. I’m felt sad for her because instead of greeting her Merry Christmas they ask her to send money right away.

My parents send us money for more than 20 years and although we did all finished college and able to buy properties but we if we knew better we could have invested those remittances in worthwhile investment. When I came home for the first time and they know I’m married to a Dane I got a lot offers to invest in properties and a lot more but I said no. That’s the dilemma of an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker), are always bombarded by financial request from family and relatives and get a lot offers to buy properties and engaged in business without even basic knowledge of running a business. Sometimes they thought that an OFW has a lot of money and they are just picked up from the streets.

Unmarried Filipinos especially the girls are dutiful daughters who work so hard just to send money to help their families. Sometimes they forget to save for themselves for their future and makes their families depend on them most of the times even when you tell them that’s a hard earned money from cleaning etc. if they are au pairs or house helper their families don’t know how hard it is unless they themselves will become OFW.

Therefore Babaylan-Denmark is offering this one of a lifetime training on how to mange your finances on 30th of May 2009. This is limited for 30 participants only so Please Register now.

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