Photos: Munting Nayon

On June14, 2009, the Koalisyon Para Sa Kalayaan, KPSK, a coalition of more than forty (40) religious, cultural and civic organizations in Belgium, formed in 2002 celebrated the 111^th years Araw ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas with the Philippine Embassy in Brussels and the Filipino Community in Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at the largest Park “Parc du Cinquantenaire” in the centre of Brussels, Belgium.


Since 1965 and in the succeeding years, the Philippine Embassy, Brussels was a valuable component in the Independence Day Celebration especially in the reading of the Message of the President of the Philippines. Once again the Philippine Embassy in Brussels headed by Her Excellency Ambassador Cristina Ortega, Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and to the European Union, together with the Embassy officers and staff and the Commercial section extended its full support to the 111^th year celebration of the Philippine Independence Day hosted by the Koalisyon Para Sa Kalayaan.


More than three thousand Filipinos, Filipino-Belgian Families and friends attended the colourful celebration of the Araw Ng Kalayaan (PIC). The organizations which participated in the said event are as follows: Filipino Sports Club Germany, Filipino Sports Association France, Filipino Community in Luxembourg and the Philippine Sports Community Belgium, Filipino Catholic Community Brussels headed by Rev. Fr. Raymund Gaspar, Filipino Catholic Community Antwerp headed by Fr. Jorgedy Bago, the Filipino Community in London, headed by Fr. Apolo de Guzman, Antwerp Filipino Catholic Community Choir, headed by Cadene Jurado, Filipino Sports Club Antwerp headed by Pres. George Redondo, Isang Lahi Antwerp headed by Chairman Jimmy Conde, Silayan International Flanders “Assened”, Silayan International “Brugge, Gent Pagibig Filipino Community Choir,Filipino Sports Club Gent,, Gent Mega Bowlers Club,, Gent Filipino Sunrise Club, Sampaguita BCF, Limburg, Filipino Community,, Liege Filipino Community, Amitié Belgo-Philippine Charleroi, Filipino Sports Club Charleroi, Filipino Nurses Charleroi, Filipino Catholic Community Molenbeek, Philippine Guardian Incorporated, Association of Pangasinan headed by Pres. Nilo Gapasin, Brussels Driver’s association headed by chairman Mario Fajardo, Kababaihang Rizalista Brussels headed by Pres. Nina Fernandez, Family in the Holy Spirit ‘FAITH’ headed by chairman Jhonny Villa, OKR Rizal Brussels chapter headed by chapter commander Sir Edmund Rojas & RBC adviser Sir Cesar Alcoba, OKR Aalst Chapter headed by Sir Albert Arevalo, KCR, OKR Charleroi Chapter headed by Sir Jean-Claude Hermans, KCR and Sir Willy Cruz, KOR, OKR Diamond Chapter headed by Sir Dominiek Segaert, KCR, Regional Commander Sir Tony Guansing, KGOR and Special assistant to the Supreme Commander Sir Peter van Bogaert, KGOR, COFB headed by Ms. Dhel Lulu, Brussels Taytay Filipino Community Asbl headed by Pres. Willy Cruz, Association of Hinunangan Brussels, Philippine Sports Community of Brussels headed by Vice Pres. Dirk Vanimschoot, Operasyon Tulong Brussels, Grand Kapisanan Sa Europa headed by Pres. Bien de Leon, Grand Ilocandia Brussels, Association of Libmanan Brussels, Legion of Mary Brussels headed by Sis. Ning Gooris, El Shaddai Brussels, Christian Youth Center Brussels, Children Ministry of Brussels, Samahan Brussels, Association of Pangasinan Group headed by Sir Nilo Gapasin, Association of Northern Samarian Brussels, Association of Mindanao, Filipino Community of Erps Kwerps, Vilvoorde Association, Filipino Community Zaventem, Belga Cultura Filipina headed by Haydee Holliday and Non Filipino organization.


The celebration started as the sun rose for installation of tents, exhibits, booths for food and drinks. The thanksgiving Mass was presided over by Reverend Fr. Raymund Gaspar, head of the Filipino Chaplaincy, Brussels with co-celebrants: Fr. Jorgedy Bago of Catholic Filipino Community, Antwerp, Fr. Apolo de Guzman of London, Fr. Goudin, Msgr. Jean-Pierre Demeulder, Dean of Molenbeek-St Jean Deaneary, who loves and always supports the Filipino Community in Brussels.

Mass coordinator was Mr. Cipriano Reyes, and the beautiful and lively choir songs in the mass was through the partnership of Unifil, CFC, and El Shaddai. There was special participation of ecumenical prayers from different religious group in Belgium


Invited guests were: Former Belgian Ambassador to the Philippine H.E. Christian Tanghe with his wife, Mayor of Brussels, Police Commissioner of Brussels, Chief of IBGE and Park Preservation of Environmental, OKR Regional Commander for Europe Sir Tony Guansing, Special Assistant to the Supreme Commander Sir Peter Van Bogaert, Munting Nayon Editor Mr. Eddy Flores and Ms. Flores from the Netherlands, ABS/CBN correspondent Netherlands, ABS/CBN correspondent Ms. Raquel Crisostomo, Friends from Paris and Luxembourg, the Belgian Families and International Friends of Filipinos all joined in the Fiesta Filipino celebration. The guests and participants are offered with a glass of champagne after the speech of Ambassador Cristina Ortega, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and to the European Union, courtesy of the Order of the Knights of Rizal headed by Sir Rudy Nollas, KGOR, and Area Commander for Belgium.

The traditional Independence Parade was held after the thanksgiving mass under a shower of rain led by the Regional Commander for Europe Sir Tony Guansing, Sir Peter Van Bogaert, special assistant to the Supreme Commander, Area Commander for Belgium Sir Rudy Nollas, KGOR, Knights of Rizal, Brussels, Knights of Rizal Aalst, Knights of Rizal Charleroi, Knights of Rizal Diamond Antwerp and its European Division, and the Ladies of Rizal followed by individual organization proudly bearing and flying the Philippine Flag that brought the community from the Arc of the Cinquantenaire to the centre of the beautiful Parc of the City of Brussels, marching to the music of Parada Pilipino. Tents with colourful banderitas surrounded the park. Bushy trees around the park helped give shade against the shower of rain. Music and dancing of Philippine Culture and youth of today’s modern hip-hop was a great hit and enjoyed by all.


Koalisyon Para Sa Kalayaan (KPSK) Pilipino Hospitality Tent displayed array of Filipino cuisines and delicacies including Lechon, skilfully roasted by our Filipino friend. Nilo Gapasin supervised the hospitality tent. The inviting aroma of smoke floating in the air thrilled our appetite for the sizzling Pinoy Barbecue. “The Lechons were offered by Koalisyon Para Sa Kalayaan, (KPSK), Filipino Catholic Community Antwerp, Rizal Brussels Chapter and the Ladies of Rizal donated fifty (50) roasted chickens.

So much food to share with everyone and free drinks “Red Wine, White Wine, Beers, Soft-drinks, Water, Champagne” all round to the finish. The 120-cm by 85-cm and a double layer chocolate cake especially made for the Kalayaan 2009 celebration made the festivity a very memorable and historical event of the year. The hospitality Bar was supervised by Dirk Vanimschoot, Philippine Sports Community of Brussels. The drinks donor are: Philippine Embassy, Cris Pinki-an, Tony Sienes, Edmund Rojas, Dirk & Ana Babalo, Order of the Knights of Rizal and the Ladies for Rizal.

Solicitation of prizes was headed by Sir Dominiek Segaert, while Emer Magpantay handled the Parlour Games, the Raffle Draw handled by Sis Ning Gooris and Sis Mas Gallo. Thanks to our generous donor Antipodes, Western Union, LCC, ING, AJA Trading and others. Then the event concluded at 8:00 o’clock in the evening in an orderly manner, under the security supervision of Brussels Guardian Incorporated, KPSK Elders, the Working Committee and the Emergency work force on duty “red cross” headed by Ms. Linda Quintos, Ms. Nida Fajardo and Ms. Elvie Luna.


The Chairman of the 111^th years celebration of the Araw ng Kalayaan (PIC) Mr. Jhonny Villa, delivered the opening remarks. Mr. Lino Paras KPSK Council of Elders and over-all coordinator gave the closing remarks thanking all participants, government authorities, donors, guest and the Koalisyon Para Sa Kalayaan (KPSK) committee for a job well done.

A special announcement was made that the Koalisyon Para Sa Kalayaan will continue to celebrate the annual event in the coming year.

See also:

FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN BELGIUM and LUXEMBOURG CELEBRATE 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
by MS. DHEL C. LULU, Chairman, PIC 2008


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