Filipino Community in Brugge Celebrates PH Independence, Raises Funds for Classrooms in Basilan
Ambassador de Vega thanks COFAF President, Ms. Minabelle Siason, for their group”s pledge of donation of Php 450,000 for the construction of two (2) classrooms in Basilan. (Brussels PE photo)
BRUSSELS 07 June 2018 — The Philippine Embassy in Brussels kicked off festivities to mark the 120th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence as it joined the Filipino Community in Brussels for their national day event on 03 June.
The whole-day event, organized by the Council of Filipino Associations in Flanders (COFAF), featured food stalls selling Filipino delicacies and other products, and booths of various organizations and entrepreneurs. Filipinos, Belgians and other foreign guests from all over the Flemish region and neighboring cities in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands joined in the celebration. Members of the Filipino community regaled visitors with their talent for singing and dancing in a series of traditional Filipino performances and modern numbers.
As part of its continuing community outreach efforts, the Philippine Embassy opened an information desk to respond to queries from the public on its consular services and to distribute Philippine tourism information materials.
During the program, Ambassador Eduardo José A. de Vega was presented with a signed pledge from COFAF President Minabelle Siason to donate PhP450,000.00 to build two (2) classrooms in Basilan. Since 2006, COFAF has been organizing events, such as the Philippine Independence celebration and Pasko sa Brugge, to raise funds for their annual classroom project in support of the Philippine government’s Build a Classroom Program. In 2013, COFAF diverted their funds normally earmarked for their classroom project to the Philippine Red Cross for conflict-affected Zamboanga City, earthquake-hit Bohol and Cebu, and Tacloban and Busuanga, which were ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda.
Ambassador de Vega thanked COFAF and the Filipino Community for their generous contribution to help achieve enduring peace and progress in Mindanao. END
For more information, visit www.brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBelgium.
Ambassador Eduardo Jose A. de Vega with his staff at the Embassy’s Information Desk (Brussels PE photo)