A ‘close affinity’ with Mandela, in struggle for freedom, democracy

I wish to commend Day Desk chief Juliet Labog-Javellana for her detailed description of the life story of former South African President Nelson Mandela (Front Page, 12/7/13). Personally I was touched by the story because it was  my countrymen, the Dutch, who colonized South Africa and started the apartheid regime there in the early years of the 20th century. Apartheid is a Dutch word which means separation. There are many other Dutch words, like boers (farmers) war, Afrikaner which means African people, and the family names of the white African presidents, De Klerk and Verwoerd.

I had not been aware of the fierce rebellion Mandela fought in his own homeland. I myself experienced World War II in Holland during my childhood years when Adolf Hitler violently occupied our country and the underground rebellion against Hitler was organized by many Dutch people.

When I came to the Philippines in 1961 I got involved in the labor movement in Iligan City and then President Marcos deported me for that. After a long struggle I was able to come back to the Philippines and I joined the underground movement to oust Marcos. I feel a close affinity with Mandela because of his heroic struggle for freedom and democracy. Mandela is my idol.

—ARNOLD VAN VUGT, 

O. Carm associate,

Cagayan de Oro City,

nolvanvugt@gmail.com