Bayanihan is a Filipino word symbolised by a group of people carrying a nipa hut helping a family to move to a different location. This act evokes the spirit of cooperation among members of the community. ENFiD on its 5th year of existence has been trying to do just that, lifting the Filipino identity, promoting the spirit of nationhood and maintaining cultural heritage in our adopted countries in Europe: together in the spirit of bayanihan.
Moving forward with its goals, YENFiD, Young ENFiD, for the youth with Filipino heritage, was launched during the ENFiD conference in Essen, Germany held September 30-October 1 attended by 111 Filipino leaders and guests from various sectors. In line with the strengthening of the Euro-Filipino youth as Development Leaders, the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) presented it’s Lakbay Aral cultural immersion program for second generation Filipinos.
In this issue, we share with you the outcome of the Essen Conference as worded in the Conference Statement and the experiences of the participants and the YENFiD leaders.
Some of our leaders have made community work their lifetime vocation often contributing to communities in the Philippines in different ways like Ms. Leila Rispens-Noel and her organization who is featured in our Who’s who in the Euro-Pinoy Community section.
Often we hear stories of second-generation Pinoys who go to the Philippines in awe and come back to Europe vowing to support projects at a distance. But Carl Hansen does it hands on by putting up a surfing business in Siargao.
Let me take this opportunity to introduce Michelle Marquez of ENFiD Czech Republic who is our Acting editor-in-chief for this issue. In this article, you’ll get to know her better.
Happy reading,
Rohlee de Guzman