Ugnayang Bayan Newsletter
10 September 2008
Editor—Rudy Guacena
Special Contributors: Philippine Independence Day Celebrations in June 2008
• Consul General
Jones Mahilum-
West The 110th Philippines Inde-
pendence Day (PID) cele-
• Joseph Sycip of
GFPC brations in June started
with a ‘big bang!’ with
• Jocelyn Hirt-Vargas Bern’s “Salu-salo para sa
of Phil. Musical
Kalayaan mula Bruder
Ensemble
Klaus hanggang Rathaus!”
• Jocelyn Gumban of on June 1, 2008.
FCCG
• Tess Baarde, UB
Chairman This was a Phil. Embassy-
led activity starting with a
• Dr. Rody de
Guzman Catholic Mass, followed by
potluck lunch and cultural
program competition. UB
Inside this issue:
organized a 50 seater tourist
bus which transported many
IP Rondalla 2 ship and various talents
delegates and performers
(Lica de Guzman and danc-
Phil. Catholic Mis- 3 ers from the Filipino Catholic
sion, Switzerland Community of Geneva
[FCCG] and Tropang Pinoy)
CFC-FFL 3 from Geneva to this event.
Close to 20 dancers from
FCCG and Tropang Pinoy
Ina, Anak, Pamilya 3 performed the famous Sing-
kil dance which won them
the 2nd prize for the Best
Filcom with Con- 3 Cultural Presentation. They
gressional —— also danced the popular
Philippine National Dance –
UPAA and UPSA 4 Tinikling - which won them
the 1st prize in the Cultural
Barrio Fiesta 5 Presentation:
Phil. Coast Guard 5
Auxiliary
IT Training 5
Lica de Guzman-wows ‘em
Songs by Jocelyn 6
Hirt-Vargas
Purpose of the UB 6
Geneva’s Singkil took the
2nd Prize
1st Prize-Tinikling from
Geneva
12 June at Palais des Na-
tions-
UN Director General Sergei Ord-
zhonikidze provided the honour to
the Philippine Independence day
celebrations.
Ambassador Teehankee wel-
comed the diplomatic corps
Filipiniana collection from the
community.
Ambassador Basilio hosted
the event last 12 June at Salle
XIX, Palais des Nations
No. 2 Vol.3
14 June at CEPTA
June 14 marked the big
PID Celebration in Ge-
neva, led by Ugnayang
Bayan under the theme
“One Nation, One Commu-
nity, One Spirit”. The event
started at 10am with an Eu-
camenical Prayer Ceremony
attended by representatives
from the various Filipino
groups in Geneva as well as
dignitaries from the Philip-
pine Mission (Ambassador
Basilio) and the Philippine
Embassy (Ambassador Fal-
con). This was followed by
a showcase of Filipino cul-
ture, music, entrepreneur-
coming from the different
Filipino member associa-
tions/groups based in Ge-
neva and in Lausanne. This
complemented very well the
“kermesse” style stalls sell-
ing native food and Filipino
delicacies! A highly memo-
rable and successful event!
Lausanne’s FILSVA
The Swiss participation was
most welcome.

Where is Boracay Island?
Boracay is an island in the Wes-
tern Visayas Region or Region
6. It is the most western island
in the Western Visayas and can
be found in the province of
Aklan. It has borders to the
north with the island province of
Romblon and Mindoro to the
North West. Boracay island
itself lies off the north west tip
of the island of Panay. Source:
http://www.philippines-travel-
guide.com
Ugnayang Bayan Page 2
Newsletter
ble one about “Festivals of the Philip-
pines” where the Rondalla gave a 16
musical rendition from the famous
“Pamulinawen” to “Ang Pasko as Su-
mapit”. The 2nd part was about “The
Music of Our Lives” where they again
gave a 16 musical rendition which in-
cluded Swiss folksongs. All were sim-
ply awed by the music and impressed
by the talents of the Boston Rondalla
group! Ambassador Basilio honored
them with a Certificate of Appreciation
for such an outstanding performance
at the end of their concert. On July 20,
they made also impressive memorable
appearances in two major churches.
We hope to see them again soon! We
take this opportunity to also thank all
the host families who welcomed the
IP Rondalla of Boston Comes to Ge- Rondalla to their homes during their
neva!!!! stay in Geneva!
For the first time ever, the Iskwelahang For further info, you may wish to
Pilipino (IP) Rondalla of Boston (in co- browse the IP Rondalla website http://
ordination with Ugnayang Bayan) came www.ipbahay.org/rondalla.html. By
to Geneva on July 19-20, 2008 as part of Tess Baarde.
their musical “Mga Larawan ng Ating
Musika” Tour of Europe. The IP Ron-
dalla of Boston is a very special group
of young people in IP who are residents
in America and are of Filipino-American
descent, who work hard towards the
preservation and promotion of the Filipino
culture and arts, particularly that of the
rondalla. Their performances are ac-
claimed everywhere they go. They have
performed before distinguished Philippine
Government officials that included former
Philippine Presidents Corazon Aquino
and Fidel Ramos; made a musical tour of
Europe in 1994, and has also recorded
two CDs entitled "Crossing Over" and
"Pasko Sa Amerika" (Christmas in Amer-
ica). On July 19-20, 2008, the IP Ron-
dalla of Boston came to Geneva bring an
unforgettable modern rendition of tradi-
tional and contemporary Filipino music
using rondalla instruments (e.g., bandur-
ria, ukulele, guitarra). They were a total
of 33 people (i.e., 19 Rondalla perform-
ers, 3 IP staff and rest parents who came
to assist). Their official show on July 19
at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints (Mormon Church) was well
attended with close to 300 people from
various nationalities. It was a two part
show (broken only by a 15min intermis-
sion) with each part having almost an
hour of non-stop music, with the group
constantly changing in various costumes.
The 1st part of the show was a memora-
 No. 2 Vol.3
Upcoming Events:
The Philippine Catholic Mis-
sion of Switzerland has
announced the Second
Filipino Pastoral Assembly
this coming 19-21 Septem-
ber 2008. It will be held in
Schweizer Jugend und
Bildungszentrum, Ein-
siedeln. This assembly
aims to strengthen the Mis-
sion-Vision formulated dur-
ing the First Filipino Assem-
bly last 8-10 October in
Montet, Fribourg. For fur-
ther details, please contact
Fr. Johan Dumandan at
johanduman-
dan@hispeed.ch; mobile
0794430749 or Sr. Merlyn
Arsolon, mobile
0797910803.
Filcom meeting with congressional delegation
Representative Magtang-
gol T. Gunigundo I
headed the Philippine
congressional delegation
to the 97th Session of the
International Labor Con-
ference in Geneva in May
2008. The other members
of the high-level mission
were Reps. Marina P.
Clarete, Mar-len Abigail
S. Binay, Renila G. Nico-
las, Maria Milagros H.
Magsaysay and Cinchona
Cruz-Gonzales. While in
Geneva, the delegation
also met with the Ug-
nayang Bayan and other
leaders and members of
the Filipino community in
Geneva and Vaud at the
Philippine Mission on 30
May 2008. Ambassador
Page 3
An invitation from 14 September 2008, 1400
Community Couples hours at the Balexert. Ihi-
For Christ Foundation nahandog ng Ugnayang
for Family and Life Bayan at nina Benjie at
Susan Quinto ng The Fili-
(CFC-FFL): The group
pino Channel (TFC). The
will be having their first
objectives of the film are
Christian Life Seminar as follows: 1. To provide
(CLS) from 14 Septem- an avenue in rediscove-
ber till 12 October ring the essential concepts
2008. This will be a five of family togetherness
(5) consecutive Sundays despite the distance
to be held at the Pope brought about by migra-
John XXIII Parish in tion; 2. To promote the
Petit Saconnex. The ti- concept of savings and
me is from 1330-1700 wise spending, the impor-
tance of hard work, and
hours. This invitation is
value of education; 3. To
open to all as advised provide information on
by the couple organi- migration realities and
zing the seminar, Rey concerns, and at the same
and Emma Marcelo. time, preserve the positive
http:// values of the Filipino fa-
ww.cfcffleurope.org is mily. From Joseph Sycip
the international site of of GFPC.
the group.
Erlinda F. Basilio and the
Labor Attache’s office led
the Mission personnel in
organizing the dialogue.
The lively and frank dis-
cussion that followed cov-
ered the many concerns of
Filipinos working abroad
such as protection and
promotion of their rights
and interests, the funda-
mental importance of gen-
erating more socio-
economic progress that
would result in more jobs
back home, and the over-
all efforts of government
to address the concerns of
OFWs and other Filipinos
abroad. Article and photos
submitted by ConGen.
Jones Mahilum West.
 Page 4

Kudos to the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Geneva for bringing the UP Singing Am-
bassadors. The present officers are: Dr. Manuel Dayrit-President, Ruben Edejar-VP, Johannes Bernabe-
Secretary, Diwata Olalia Hunziker-Treasurer, and Dr. Rody de Guzman-Auditor. Photo Credit-Congen Jo-
nes M. West.
 No. 2 Vol.3 Page 5

The Barrio
Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary
Fiesta is an annual fund Ambassador Erlinda F. Basilio congratulated the officers and
raising campaign of FCCG members of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) of the
(Filipino Catholic Commu- Philippine Mission in Geneva led by Captain Gary Domingo,
nity of Geneva). It includes Commander Junever Mahilum-West and Commander Miguel R.
Filipino food sales contrib- Bautista. The
uted by members and gen- PCGA chapter
erous donors and also, reli- in Geneva
gious items and handicrafts The crowd, food stall, and spearheaded a
fund-raising for
made by the WCW Sisters volunteers of the 2008 Bar-
the victims of
from the Philippines. The rio Fiesta!
typhoon
proceeds went to the “Frank”, with
1.many projects of the the funds raised
WCW Religious Congrega- (50,000 pesos)
tion, 2. Pope John XXIII par- personally
ish, 3. honorarium for the handed over to
priests, and 4. for the oper- the Philippine
ating expenses of the or- National Red
Cross by Cap-
ganization. We would like to
tain Domingo
thank all the donors and
in Manila last
supporters of the Barrio
August. Pho-
Fiesta for making
tos and article
the event a grand
by Congen
success. Article sub-
Jones M. West
mitted by Jocelyn
Gumban

Continous IT Training
The staff of the Philippine Mission and WTO undertook a six session seminar
on « Basics of HTML » from 25 March to 29 April 2008. The result is a mi-
lestone, the activation of the Philippine Mission website. Please visit http://
mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Philippines/

The proud graduates with their certificates given by the seminar consultant
Rudy T. Guacena.
 No. 2 Vol.3 Page 6

* Ugnayang Bayan was formed to serve as an independent alliance, or a central

body uniting the various Filipino groups, formal organizations, and individuals in the
cantons of Geneva and Vaud, Switzerland.
-It will be an assembly for consultation, advice or discussion of the various Filipino interests in the community.

- It will provide coordination among Filipino groups to foster better, harmonious, mutually respective, and unifying relationships
between them.

- It will be provide a forum to address issues affecting the Filipino nationals in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud.

- It will encourage support for one Filipino member group from the other member groups to promote openness and camaraderie
among groups.

- It will assist Filipino groups with meritorious goals, programs for the disadvantaged, or the poor for non-profit funding campaigns.

- It will promote Flipino cultural heritage by launching projects aimed to re-orient Filipinos here with the Filipino culture.

- It will promote the local culture immersion for resident Filipinos by sponsoring local language and culture education.

- It will sponsor projects and collaborate with Filipino groups in the achievement of its purpose.

Ugayang Bayan was formed in accordance with, and subject to, Articles 60 and following, of the Swiss Civil Code. (Art.I Sec.1-2
UB Statutes).

Ugnayang Bayan is located at c/o Philippine Mission, 47 Ave. Blanc, 1202 Geneva

Email: ubgevd@gmail.com . Websites: http://ubgevd.tripod.com and http://ubgevd.zoomshare.com

Original songs from the heart by Jocelyn Hirt-Vargas of Philippine Musical Ensemble

ANG KALIKASAN Bagama't ito ang kapalaran,

Naririnig mo ba ang hampas ng alon? 'di nalimutan ang pinagmulan

Naririnig mo ba ang awit ng ibon? Kayraming bago sa 'king buhay,

Nadarama mo ba ang dampi ng hangin? Magmula ng dito mamuhay

Naiisip mo bang ang lahat ng ito'y atin? Bagama't ito ang kapalaran,

Ang kagandahan ng kapaligiran 'di nalimutan ang kinagisnan

Nasa ating palad ang kinabukasan Ako'y Pilipina pa rin, ugaliy Maria Clara mandin

Ang kalikasan, ating tulungan Nabago man ang kilos ko ng panahon

Sa ibutod ng puso ko'y gaya nuon

Ang bawat labis ngayon bukas ay aapaw

Kahit na nakamit ang bawat gusto

Ang kalikasan, gaganda lamang
Kahit na lahat ng bagay sa mundo
Kung ang lahat ng ito'y ating pahahalagahan.

PILIPINA PA RIN Kahit na ibang kultura'y natutuo

Naglakbay ng malayo 'di lilimutin ang kahapon ko

Napadpad sa ibayong pulo Pagkat Pilipina pa rin ako.