“BERGHAUS GIRLS” : On FLIGHT MH17 CRASH VICTIMS

A LETTER OF SYMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE NETHERLANDS

By Dolly Magbitang
Toronto-Canada
July 25, 2014



July 24, 2014
His Excellency Mark Rutte
Prime Minister, The Netherlands
Het Torentje, Binnenhof
The Hague, The Netherlands

Your Excellency,

We are grieving with the people of The Netherlands.

Since we heard about the tragic fate of Malaysian Flight MH17 that departed from Schiphol Airport  to Kuala Lumpur last July 17^th, we have been anxiously following daily news.

This horrific act of violence to civilians, mostly from The Netherlands, including the famous Aids Researcher Dr. Joep Lange, on his way to attend Aids Convention in Melbourne Australia, a Dutch Senator, athletes, so many children and people from all walks of life from different country is so atrocious.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of The Netherlands, specially the families of the victims.

The 2 hour televised CNN coverage last Wednesday, July 23^rd, when the first plane carrying some of the remains of the victims arrived at Eindhoven Military Airbase, met by King Willem- Alexander, Queen Maxima, Your Excellency and other government officials, and thousands of bereaved relatives of the 193 victims was truly heartbreaking.

The CNN coverage showing flags of the 17 nations that lost citizens in the crash flew half mast at the airport, while uniformed Dutch military personnel solemnly hoisting 40 wooden coffins from two planes and placing them in individual hearses at Eindhoven military airbase in a powerfully somber ceremony as a trumpeter played the Last Post, gave the victims the honor and respect that they truly deserve.

The CNN coverage also showed the motorways along the 100-kilometre route from Eindhoven to Hilversum, were the process of identifying the victims will be performed before returning them to their relatives, were closed for the long convoy to pass, with crowds gathered on bridges overhead to throw flowers at the hearses, and crowds gathered as well on both sides of the highway.

A minute of silence was observed nationwide, during which no flights landed or took off at Amsterdam Schiphol airport from where the Malaysian MH17 took off on July 17^th..

These well planned ceremony and motorcade demonstrates a united people of The Netherlands in mourning the victims

The CNN coverage also showed famous windmills in The Netherlands, at “stand still” to honour the victims. We are hoping and praying that this sight will never be seen again

So many girls from the Philippines were employed by the Berghaus B.V. in Amsterdam, Gemeente Gendringen and Wehl from the late 1960’s to late 1970’s

My group of 72 girls worked in Ulft Berghaus B.V. and Wehl Berghaus B.V. from 1971-1974 before migrating to Canada.

The Netherlands is our second home. We share your grief and sorrow.

We are praying that the rest of the efforts in securing the crash site and retrieving the rest of the remains of the victims, as outlined by Your Excellency during an interview with CNN will be successful.

On behalf of The Berghaus Girls, please accept our sincerest sympathy

Ms. Dolly I. Magbitang
Social Worker of
Kwartellaan 2 and Wehl Group – Berghaus
Year 1971-1974

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Cc: Munting Nayon News Magazine (for posting in muntingnayon.com)