WHEN the local NHS trust recruited a number of overseas doctors and nurses ten years ago to work at hospitals across Gwent, many of the Filipino intake set up a self help organisation to help their transition in the British way of life.

But after a decade of an informal arrangement amongst themselves, the Filipino community have now turned it an official organisation known as the Abergavenny Filipino British Association and held their inaugural meeting to coincide with the Philippines Independence Day on June 12.

This was the date in 1898 when the Filipinos proclaimed sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the 333-year colonial rule by Spain.

Councillor Douglas Edwards, Abergavenny's deputy mayor and fellow Town Councillor James George were invited to the formal ceremony held at Abergavenny Leisure Centre.

Councillor Edwards said: "The town council had agreed that until the fledgling association has fulfilled its legal requirements that we would pay for the hire of the leisure centre for the day and put our relationship on a more formal footing in the future.

"This is a prime example of where immigrants have come into Wales and made a life for themselves by integrating themselves into the local community.

"Many of the Filipinos have been here for 10 years now and while they had an informal ad hoc association, this is the first time it has been put on a formal footing. I am pleased to be part of this occasion and this is a great step forward and allows the association to fully integrate with the Abergavenny and wider community."

The association's executive officers were sworn into the association using a combination of British and Filipino protocols and the officers would be known as councillors.

"Its obvious that the Filipinos want a local support network, added Councillor Edwards. "But by setting up the association they can explore bigger opportunities.

"It was a very interesting experience to be asked to be chairman of the inaugural meeting and see the ceremony take place. It was added pleasure to see some traditional filipino dancing being performed by the children."

While the weather outside resembled a typical day from the Filipino rainy season, activities resorted to being held inside the town's leisure centre, where a number of activities were taking place to celebrate the formation of the Association and Independence day.

A basketball tournament and a volleyball tournament was held against teams from similar associations across South Wales. In Britain football is the predominant sport played on any available space, but its basketball that dominates in the Philippines with basketball nets and backboards positioned on street corners.

Wafting from a makeshift kitchen, a rich aroma of smells filled the air with special Asian dishes being prepared using all types of meat with an assortment of spices and the essential ingredient to any Filipino dish a large helping of rice.

Councillor George said: "A vast number of the Filipinos live in the ward I represent, the Lansdown Ward and this even is a great opportunity to see them socially and to get an insight into their way of life.

"I've even been volunteered to play in their basketball team. Its been years since I last played."