Dutchman honored to be part of Brillante Mendoza's 'Prey'

photo by Mell T. Navarro

By Dheza Marie Aguilar, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 02/26/2011 12:47 PM | Updated as of 03/01/2011 10:47 AM

NETHERLANDS – Pieter van Overbeeke initially thought that Palme d'Or Best Director Brillante Mendoza was talking in jest when he said that he needed a white guy to play in his upcoming movie.

But two months after they met at the showing of his films in Amsterdam, Overbeeke, popularly known as “Pedro” in the Filipino community in Holland, flew to Manila to shoot for "Prey".

"Prey" is a French/Filipino produced film based on the life of Gracia Burnham, one of the survivors in the Dos Palmas kidnapping in 2001, and the kidnapping situation in Mindanao.

Overbeeke found it a challenge to work with such a large group of actors especially because it was his first movie stint. He was cast as one of the foreigners beheaded during the kidnapping. Since most of the scenes were shot in the jungle, Overbeeke also had his share of encounters with Mother Nature.

"The challenging part for me was that I was afraid that I will speak Tagalog and that I will mix up Tagalog and English. The challenging part actually is the whole thing, working with all those people, running while being shot at and (running) through the mud. My legs are full of scars but having all those great actors around you really helps,” he said.

Young Pinoys learn diplomacy at Model United Nations

By Dheza Marie Aguilar, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 02/03/2011 2:22 PM | Updated as of 02/03/2011 2:22 PM

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THE NETHERLANDS - Eighteen students from the International School of Manila, majority of them Filipinos, joined this year’s The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) in Netherlands.

The annual gathering of high school students from all over the world is being organized by the The Hague International Model United Nations Foundation to instill in the young minds of the students the core values of the United Nations Organization.

Unique in its concept, the students were assigned to represent another country to be able to develop a more global approach to solving economic and social problems.

The Filipino delegation represented Albania this year. In the five-day conference, students are tasked to discuss, pass resolutions, negotiate, debate and understand deeper various global issues like human rights violations, youth and refugees, environmental problems, economic development, war and peace, among others.

This year has been extra special for the Filipino delegation because they have the most number of students from non-Dutch school selected for chairmanship and officer positions.

Among the delegates are Michelle Ferreol, Economic and Social Council Deputy President, Ayesha Dayaram International Court of Justice President, Kimberly Rodriguez, Advisory Panel President, Anthony Gokianluy who became MUNITY Newspaper Editor, and Leandro Leviste, son of Senator Loren Legarda, who chaired the controversial Human Rights Commission.

“We really need to listen to representatives from different countries about what they can say on the issues that are great importance to the youth. In that, you get to realize how much energy the young people have nowadays, how committed they are on making a difference especially in this commission, we have in human rights. It was inspiring to find out how opinionated young people can be on issues of great importance,” said Leviste of his experience.

Influenced by her mother to be concerned, especially with issues of human rights, Leviste said that one of the most widespread human rights violations happening in every part of the world has to do with children.

Philippine consulate opens in Rotterdam

By Dheza Marie Aguilar, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Posted at 01/25/2011 1:35 PM | Updated as of 01/25/2011 1:35 PM

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ROTTERDAM - In order to attract more investments and tourism from Rotterdam and its neighboring cities, the Philippine embassy in the Netherlands opened its consular office in Rotterdam.

Primarily opened to assist Filipino and Dutch nationals, the consular office in Rotterdam will accept visa processing, authentication of documents by the Honorary Consul General and will also serve as an information center for Dutch nationals who want to do business or simply visit the Philippines.

“Having a consular office operational already in Rotterdam, hopefully we will see more Dutch tourists go to the country. And those businessmen in Rotterdam and neighboring cities don’t have to go to Den Hague or Amsterdam in order to get their visa,” said Minister Frank Cimafranca, Charge d' Affaire of the Philippine embassy in Den Hague.

Another main function that the consular in Rotterdam will focus on is assistance to Filipino seafarers who are in transit in Rotterdam. Hundreds of Filipino seafarers dock everyday in Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe.

“If there will be problems encountered by our seafarers while they are here in Rotterdam, then the Philippine consulate here will able to respond to their needs,” added Cimafranca.

The new Philippine consulate is located in the STC-Group building in Lloydstraat in Rotterdam. It started receiving applications since January 14.

Student protesters in Holland clash with policemen

By Dheza Marie Aguilar, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 01/29/2011 5:27 PM | Updated as of 01/29/2011 5:27 PM

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THE NETHERLANDS - In what was said to be the biggest student demonstration in the Netherlands since 1988, an estimated 15,000 students gathered in The Hague on Friday afternoon to protest against the planned budget cut for higher education.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of professors from different universities in the Netherlands also walked around the parliament dressed in their togas to support the budget cut protest.

But what started as a peaceful demonstration in Malieveld Park ended in a scuffle against the demolition police when about 500 students marched in front of the Ministry of Education where they were met with trucks and policemen on horseback. Volunteers also formed a barricade outside the building to prevent the protesters from storming in.

The situation worsened when protesters began hurling beer cans, bicycles, eggs and fireworks at the policemen. The police retaliated by chasing the rioters and hitting some with batons.

Twenty-five protesters were arrested, some of which, the police claimed, were part of radical groups. Before the Friday rally, the police announced that anti-fascist and radical groups are planning to distort the demonstration prompting them to increase security deployment.