By Christina Moncado
The sound of the Cordillera gongs has reached the Netherlands and it has stayed for a year now and counting! Its magical, purifying, mysterious and unfathomable sound has steered the coming and forming of MABIKAs Foundation, a new and thriving organization that has recently celebrated its 1st anniversary on September 2, 2017 in The Hague.
From the eight pioneers who met up on the 3rd of September 2016 to about 30 Igorots who came together on the 2nd of September 2017, it is apparent that this newly formed community of indigenous people from the Philippine Cordillera region has come a long way. Not to mention, there hasn’t been a single group of Igorots or Cordillerans in the Netherlands for more or less three decades or since the diaspora of Filipinos in the Netherlands… not until a year ago.
Prior to the 1st year anniversary celebration day, active constituents of MABIKAs Foundation assembled on the 6th of August 2017 in Apeldoorn to plan for the day’s activities, which includes sightseeing at Lange Voorhout where the Embassy Festival was and a grand picnic on a hill nearby the Scheveningen beach.
The plan was executed successfully, starting off with the meetup at The Hague Central Station, where the early birds enjoyed a 10-minute walk to Lange Voorhout. Those who made it there get to see the different exhibits, performances and food showcased by different countries all over the world.
After the sightseeing at the street of the old center of The Hague, the group head to Renijune Abaya’s residence, which is just few minutes walk from the Scheveningen beach. The weather wasn’t that suitable for a beach walk, so the team had an hour of bonding time over cups of coffee and cakes at Renijune’s place, while preparing all the food and drinks for the picnic.
MABIKAs Founding Chairperson Myra Colis has expressed high hopes that what has been started now will indeed thrive for many more years to come.
“When I set my foot in the Netherlands by the end of 2012 to start anew, I knew no one but my husband. In search for connections, I was told there are many Filipinos in the Netherlands but very few Igorots if none. For some reasons, I didn’t believe so. There must be other fellow indigenous people from the Philippine Cordillera region living here in NL,” said Colis in a comment. “Fortunately, I wasn’t wrong because there we all are. We finally found each other, and it’s humbling to see that from my 1st to 2nd and 3rd encounters came the 8th, the 20th and now the 30th and more. Mabi-mabikas tayo ngarud kuma amin nga mangitultuloy ti anyaman nga narugian.”
As the group look forward to a prosperous 2018, active MABIKAs constituents have also expressed their well wishes and hopes that MABIKAs shall continue to be more unified, focused and culture-oriented.
MABIKAs Foundation envisions a world without prejudice against indigenous people. To make that vision a reality, us MABIKAs constituents have committed ourselves to educating and strengthening our knowledge of our cultural heritage and identity.
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