Written and delivered by Agnes van de Beek-Pavia during the 3rd year anniversary and Christmas celebration of MABIKAs Foundation held on 7 December 2019.
Good afternoon everyone. First and foremost I’d like to thank you all for this very warm welcome. I actually came here to fulfill a promise to a friend – a promise I failed to do when she turned 40 this year. I thought I could just drop by and see her big family. This community is her big family!! But here I am doing more than I thought I should do! Speaking not just to a very dear friend – but to you all!!!
Let me share to you one of my favorite lines from Helen Keller. She says “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much”. This very line has been my powerful inspiration when I came to the Netherlands 15 years ago. I was new in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. Though I came to be reunited with my husband and his family, somehow there was this little piece missing. We all came to this country fully equipped- with high education and work experiences; but how come that it doesn’t seem to be enough. Just like any of you here, I searched far and near for that missing piece.
It was only when I found this community of Filipinos in The Hague that paved way to a more interesting discovery that I could be even happier living in a foreign country. That there is more to life than just being a wife to my Dutch husband or a mother to my Filipino-Dutch child. I began to feel my worth as I have been embraced by a bigger community who became my home away from home. I wasn’t alone at all and I wasn’t doing little. I now belong to a community with a purpose; where everyone can share his talent and time for the good of the community. Everyone is nurtured spiritually and socially. I guess this is precisely what you as members of this community have experienced- searching for your self-worth, for your purpose which you cannot do if you are alone.
Now, you are a part of a bigger community. You don’t just gather to gather. But you come together for a definite purpose, much bigger than yourselves. And today, is indeed a very significant moment to celebrate – 3 years of selfless service and passionate commitment to your mission. And what is so significant about this celebration is that you all are celebrating as a group – with one voice, one choice : that is empowering indigenous goals & ideals. This is everyone’s success which is being cheered and celebrated today. Everyone takes home a memento that is theirs to keep forever. This is a celebration of one body, one soul.
This is very timely as well that we are celebrating the season of advent. You don’t just celebrate today because you turned 3 or because it’s almost Christmas. Yes, the most wonderful time of the year, when there’s much food, lots of gifts, lots of partying. No, it is more than that. This is a celebration of gratitude. Today you celebrate because you all know you have something to be grateful for. This is the rightful moment to be paying tribute to three amazing years and wonderful relationships. This is the moment to give back to God what He has given us- everything that emanates from Him which empowers you as a community. Together you have achieved more. Together you have discovered the talents of your members which are significantly important to your community’s success!
As one flock, God gathers His lambs in His arms today. And in His presence we celebrate this wonderful gift of community kindness, love & generosity. We can never deny that it is God’s grace that empowers us to do well and to be good. He deserves our gratitude.
In closing I’d like to wish you and this wonderful community to continue to be shepherds of love and hope. Each passing day you will meet people looking for a place to belong to – I hope that you never cease opening your doors and give someone the chance to be one with you in redefining their self-worth! Inspire them to devote their time and talent to acts of love and good works. Continue to be united as one community. Hold on to that strong community spirit in your struggle because your fight is not only up to indigenous people but for all of humanity! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!
