Babaylan-Denmark held its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, April 18, 2010. The meeting began with a short presentation by our Chairperson, Judy Jover. The topic s included an update on who we are as an organization, a discussion and overview of the past year’s programs and achievements. The meeting provoked new thoughts while strengtening existing knowledge and concepts relevant to the organization. With Filipinos and Au Pairs being increasingly recognised in Denmark, Babaylan will continue providing a forum intended to help our Filipina kababayans in Denmark to voice out issues and challenges related to women and gender as they tangent migration, development and cross-cultures.
The assembly elected several coordinators to handle different target groups in which Babaylan-Denmark is challenged to organize. Lakambini “Bing” Sitoy, Sylvia Jensen and Hedelyn Reyes were picked as the Cultural Coordinators. Sheila Santos will continue as the Youth Coordinator to be assisted byJennifer Racca Soliman, while Rozvi Alberto and Tefanee Sevilla Bonafe will be the new Au Pair Coordinators . Furthermore, Jun Bermoy and Erika Nielsen were elected as PROs for Babaylan events and activities. The newly elected set of young people are with resources which will help promote the goals of the organization through cultural activities, networking and social awareness.
TARGET GROUP EVENTS
The members also exchanged ideas, insights on Babaylan’s vision, strategies and priorities regarding the upcoming events for the year 2010. These include the Au Pair Orientations to be held during the months of May and June, Movie Night sometime in June, reaching out projects in the regions of Syddanmard and Sjælland; the 112th Commemoration of the Philippine Independence, on June 12, 2010; Teaching Filipino Language*, Copenhagen International Day on the 28th of August, FOA and Au Pair Networks Event on the 4th of September, Babaylan Conference in Switzerland on September 24 to 26, Masquerade Party*and Christmas Party*.
In July, Babaylan-Denmark, together with Dr. Marga Congreso will conduct a medical mission with the help of our Au Pairs who are also nurses and midwife. Also this September, Baba San Jose will conduct an orientation on the acquisition of properties in the Philippines.
FUTURE PLANS
What makes Babaylan-Denmark one of the most respectable and competent organization in Denmark is that we have specific expertise and competence gathered to commit, to create and deliver good results in all projects and activities we focused to handle.
The arrival of young target groups will create a fresh and an all-encompassing environment in which they can learn from each other and cultivate their talents. We will continue to help our members, sponsors and society as a whole by producing events meant to discover and showcase the talents and skills of all our members and at the same time to promote women’s empowerment.
Once again, we thank our members and guests for their participation, especially Ces Nymann , our newly elected Treasurer, for providing the venue, and Jadha, Ana, Hedelyn and Jennifer for the food and refreshments.
About our newly elected officers:
Marga Congreso – a member of Babaylan since October of 2009. She also participated in the cultural event in Silkeborg. Marga was a student from Medizinische Hochschule Hannover and Medizinische Fakultät Heidelberg in Germany where she took up Medicine. And followed by her doctoral research at Medizinische Fakultät in Bonn. Currently residing in Copenhagen, she just recently got her danish medical license from the Sundhedsstyrelsen.
Milagros ‘Baba’ San Jose – a Corporate Lawyer in the Philippines, Baba has been with Babaylan for 2 years now. A regular volunteer every Wednesday at KVINDERÅDET’s counseling project, and has partipated in many of Babaylan’s events such as the Au Pair Conference in Oslo, Norway last November and modelled one of Dita Sandico Ong’s latest collection of Banana wraps.
Erika Nielsen – the latest addition to Babaylan Family. Erika used to work in a society/lifestyle magazine called Philippine Tatler and was a Boutique Manager/Assistant Designer for Jun Escario’s Atelier in Greenbelt 5. Until she finds her dream job in Denmark she will be active for Babaylan and help promote the organization.
Jun-Jun Bermoy – A marketing graduate from Pamantasan ng Makati, and is now active in different events formed by Babaylan. Good hearted, smart and jolly person by nature–for sure he will bring new ideas and laughter in each one of us.
Lakambini “Bing” Sitoy – has been with Babaylan for many years. Bing is a multi-awarded writer. She earned her “Bachelor of Science degree in Biology” from Silliman University and her “Master of Arts in Creative Writing” from the University of the Philippines. Now residing in Denmark, she is working on a postgraduate degree at Roskilde University in Denmark.
Sylvia Tabamo Jensen – Sylvia was a teacher in the Philippines and now studying here in Denmark as a Pædagog. She will help to establish the Filipino Language Project organized by Babaylan.
Ces Nymann – Currently with UNDP HR Department, Ces has been supporting Babaylan –Denmark’s events and activities for many years. Now elected as Babaylan’s treasurer, Ces would have to squeeze her busy work schedule to accommodate Babaylan.
*to be announced
For updates please visit our website www.babaylan.dk and our Facebook page. You can also follow us on Twitter.
You can be a Babaylan by being a member fees are 200 DKK per annum for Danish residents and 100 DKK for Au Pairs.
Article written by: Erika Credo Nielsen
INweb