2018 KFFN Philippine Independence Day Picnic Celebration in Amsterdam (Spaarnwoude) attracts colossal crowd!!!

By Angel Axinto
Amsterdam(Spaarnwoude)
The Netherlands
June 16, 2018




Amsterdam (Spaarnwoude-Houtrak) – June 9:  Araw ng Kalayaan (Freedom day ) was celebrated like never before in the Netherlands!
The crowd was enormous!…the entertainment so electrifying! ….and the fun, non-stop!!!

[cap]120 years ago, Philippine declared it’s Independence against the Spanish rule. Freedom at last!!![/cap]
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But the price was high, lives were sacrificed, families turn apart and the nation devastated. But despite of it’s ruins and hardships, the Filipinos survived, rebuilt and vowed to keep this hard fought freedom for all the generations to come. Our forefathers fought and died for the freedom that we now enjoy. We therefore must thank, salute and pay tribute to our countrymen who unselfishly gave their lives up for our country’s Independence. They are our heroes. We owe them this luxury of being free….we owe to honor and remember their sacrifices as we rejoice our Kalayaan.

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[cap]Filipinos from all over Holland and the neighboring countries came in with their families and friends to jointly celebrate this very memorable day in the Philippine History.[/cap]

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The day of our Independence should be celebrated by all Filipinos wherever they may be. And in Holland, organized by Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation in the Netherlands (KFFN), the celebration is the crème a la crème.

Last June 9  Spaarnwoude Houtrak in Amsterdam was again swarmed by Filipinos all over Holland as well as neighboring Belgium, Germany, Antwerpen , Luxemburg and even as far as Spain. This is the biggest gathering of Filipinos in Europe, united in celebrating our Day of Kalayaan ( Freedom Day).

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[cap]The Pinoy Merkado (market) offers everything from fresh fruits and vegetable, freshly baked pandesal (bread),  the unmisbaar halo-halo (crushed ice, milk and a mixture of tropical fruits , native hats and bags to luxurious facial massage .[/cap]

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People started coming as early as 5:00 oçlock dawn to get a better place. At around 12:00 noon folks gathered before the stage to watch the much awaited live entertainment. The Philippine National Anthem led by singer and make-up artist Mabel Regasa signals the start of the program proper. After the short prayer, the Honorable Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands, His Excellency Jaime Ledda delivered a short but very powerful speech and received a thunderous applaus.

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[cap](L-R) MABIKAS FOUNDATION-The Netherlands Cordillera Connection-TNNC dancing to the native Cordilleran beat; Jessica Manalo sang like a nightingale; VALRIVIA BAND keeping the momentum high.[/cap]

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[cap]FILMIS ( Filipino Migrants In Solitarity) performing Maskara Festival (top photos left and middle); while the young DUTCH BARKADS showed their dynamic dance moves (right photo)[/cap]

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[cap]ZUMBA DANCE EXTREME WORKOUT by Mylene, Kay, Mark, Rhiza, Maan,Caroline, Charmelle, Vangie and Kim (top photos left & middle) with enthusiastic public participation; (right photo)  Marinus and Raimunda a father & daughter team fascinated the public.[/cap]

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[cap]( L-R) A mother and son duet, Mabel and Kim Regaza;  Katrina; and The Luxemburg dancers took the stage and charmed the audience.[/cap]

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[cap](L-R) Regine Velasquez impersonator and commedian Ate Reg; Hollands Shirley Bassey Ruth Galura with her impromtu background dancers during her disco medley ; El Shaddai singers[/cap]

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KFFN took pride in presenting the very famous, Janno Gibbs as this years guest as we celebrate our  120^th Independence Day.  Known for his hit songs ‘Binibini’, ‘Ipagpatawad Mo’, Pinakamagandang Lalaki’ and more, this singer song-writer is also a known actor, commedian and TV host. Together with his actress wife, Bing Loyzaga and their daughter Gabriella they took the stage and entertained the massive crowd .

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[cap]Main guests Janno Gibbs, his wife Bing Loyzaga and daughter made a quick snapshot with KFFNs hosts and organizers before climbing up on stage as the massive crowd eagerly waits for their beloved idol.[/cap]

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[cap]Acclaimed singer, song-writer, actor, TV host and commedian Janno Gibbs performing before an immense crowd. His wife Bing Loyzaga, a famous actress and singer herself and their daughter Gabriella joined him on stage. A triple treat to the public.[/cap]

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A great line up of guests took turns in entertaining the public. The MABIKAS FOUNDATION in their beautif multi-colored native attire performed a native dance; FILMIS bouncing to the Maskara Festival music; Luxemburg Dancers gracefully charmed the audience; Dutch Barkads performed the modern dances; the famous and everybody’s favorite Ruth Galura ( Shirley Bassey of the Netherlands) once again showed her versatility and vigor as she rocked the stage with her non-stop high energy disco medley. Zumba Dance Extreme workout made everybody sweat as they performed twice to everybodys delight. And oh yes, everybody’s adrenaline just sky rocketed.

Songs were rendered by Mabel Regasa, a certified make-up artist and singer together with her son Kim who was known for being a finalist in Hollands Got Talent, Junior Songfestival and Voice Kids; Jessica Manalo; Katrina; Marinus and Raimunda (father and daughter); and the El-Shaddai group singing uplifting  medley.

VALRIVIA Band  gave such an exhilarating performance followed by the equally intoxicating ‘6 DEGREES Band’. The audience just cannot get enough of them. What a remarkable way to end the stage entertainment.

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[cap](L-R) Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor Badillo Ledda cuts the ribbon during the launching of ‘My Little Philippines’ & ‘Vivo Bonito’ an interprise by Rowena Zuidwijk- Mange (middle photo) who again for the 4^th year in a row won the First Prize of the Best Booth category.[/cap]

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[cap](L-R) Two year old birthday celebrant Ylo enjoying his specially made cake on mommy Rose Ann’s lap; foreign teenagers enjoying the Filipino hospitality ; members of Bisayang Dako sa Nederland’ dancing in the streets ‘til the sun went down.[/cap]

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[cap](Left- right) Special guests from Manila: Ate Reg, Janno Gibbs, Bing Loyzaga, Gabriella Loyzaga Gibbs with  Sunshine Gracia and Pedro Pinduko of KFFN;  Edith Brenner of Stichting Badtasan Elementary School, this year’s  beneficiary; KFFN Independence Day Picnic hosts Vannessa Wortman, Angel Axinto, Pedro Pinduko and JV Vlasville Roblom.[/cap]

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It was a celebration like never before. Filipinos showed their unity and ardent desire to celebrate this extra ordinary day in a very extra ordinary way.

Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation in the Netherlands has done another great job in making our Freedom Day celebration a day to remember. Having said that, in behalf of KFFN let me extend my great appreciation to the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands for their all out support, our special guests Janno and family, all the performers, sponsors, DJ Lawrence Agapa, the security and most of all to all my beloved Kababayan´s and friends who joined and enjoyed with us.

Once again, we have showed how united we are, how we love our country, our fellowmen and our Freedom.

Together we stand! …and together we shout out loud “MABUHAY ANG PILIPINO!!!!!”

See you all again next year….

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Photo’s courtesy of: Rowena Zuidwijk – Mange, Beth de Groot, Sunshine Gracia, Anna Bracamonte, Meneer JV Vlasville Roblom, Hbf Bayan Ko Buhat Ko, Kathlyn Theresa Bezema Criste, Faith N Christ and the official KFFN photographer  Mr. Bob Geiling (www.bobgeilings.nl)