1st Igorot Community in the Netherlands is Now a Legal Entity

 
By Myra Colis,
Founding Chairperson-MABIKAs Foundation
The Netherlands
October 19, 2018
 


Leiden, South Holland, October 18, 2018 - After two years of formation and formulation, MABIKAs Foundation (The Philippine Cordillera Connection in the Netherlands) has finally reached one of its most awaited milestones on its journey towards a world without prejudice against indigenous people.



On October 17, 2018, this newly emerged community of indigenous people from Northern Philippines (a.k.a. Igorots or Cordillerans) who are now living in the Netherlands, has completed its first phase of establishment by signing the deed of incorporation at a civil notary and registration at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel or KvK). MABIKAs Foundation now carries its official designation as a ‘stichting’ (Dutch word for foundation) with KvK #72855924.

 

“The making of MABIKAs Foundation is not only to bring the Igorots in the Netherlands together, but it is also about building a legacy that each and every single individual at MABIKAs can leave behind for the next generations to come,” says Myra Colis, Founding Chairperson of Stichting MABIKAs. “In the past two years, we’ve been working hard on defining and testing our WHATs, WHYs and HOWs. Time is one valuable and very limited resource, so we asked ourselves what is MABIKAs for, why is the mission to preserve one’s indigenous knowledge and culture matter, how does it impact the lives of people in the community, and how exactly are we going to make our vision of a world without prejudice against the indigenous people a reality? It took us two years to clearly define and be certain of our cause. Completing our registration at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce on October 17th is also our official declaration that MABIKAs Foundation has come and we are here with a mission!”



The first group of Filipinos in the Netherlands came more than 50 years ago, and the first Igorots or Filipinos from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in the Philippines came about 30 or 40 years ago. Hence, on October 16, 2018, when MABIKAs Founding Chairperson Myra Colis signed the deed of incorporation at the Bakker & Neve Notarissen in Leiderdorp, the rest of the MABIKAs pioneers who went with Colis for the signing have witnessed a history in the making for the community of Igorots in the Netherlands and for the global societies of indigenous people as well.

 The Board serves as the governing body of the foundation, which is currently consisting of six members. Registered founder, Myra Colis, sits as chairperson, Yvonne Belen as secretary, Renijune Abaya as treasurer, and Tessie Gayao, Romelita Gumatic, and Cesar Taguba as board members. Nine MABIKAs constituents, including four of the six Board Members, three other pioneers, and two members of the young generation, were present to represent the rest of the 30 active volunteers and more than 60 constituents of MABIKAs Foundation in the Netherlands.The signing of the deed of incorporation at a civil notary and the registration of MABIKAs as a foundation at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce signifies that MABIKAs Foundation has now obtained legal rights and can, therefore, push through its vision, mission and goals with more responsibilities and accountability.

To celebrate this history in the making for the foundation and indigenous groups in general, the nine constituents concluded the day with a sumptuous dinner at a Thai restaurant in Leiden Central.