January 19, 2010 is a memorable night for 37 members of MFBA. This is the night when we, Mitcham British-Pinoys meet MP Siobhain McDonagh in the Houses of Parliament. The group was asked to meet at Porticullis House at Westminster to have our pictures taken and the usual security checks before meeting our MP. Gradually, MFBA members started filling up the reception. Everyone was glad to see each other. This is, by the way, the first big group activity for 2010.
Soon as MP Siobhain McDonagh arrived to meet us on the lobby, she welcomed us and gave us booklets of her working team for each area of Mitcham. Then, we were led to a passage leading to the Houses of Parliament where 650 MPs, their staff, families, visitors, the Houses’ regular staff and security staff pass through 24 hours a day.
We gathered at the room where it says on the door “Public Entrance” and held a short but informative question and answer time for the group and our Labour MP. We asked her about the security and safety programs in Mitcham. She discussed current issues like the landfill site on Church Road, gave advice on seeking funding support for our group’s future projects and various things like a contingency plan for Mitcham residents if a Haiti-like earthquake happens. She patiently answered all our queries in true MP fashion, responsibly and honestly.
Then, as if she was not tired of walking in and out of the two buildings, the group was then divided into two and was led for a tour of the Houses of Parliament. There are two houses in the parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. We, as visitors were only allowed a few areas and we’re suppose to stay mostly on the House of Commons’ side indicated by the green carpet. The red carpet is designated places for the House of Lords. We started at the Central Lobby and listened to a short explanation as to why the particular saint is painted on the doorway to each entrance and about the fire that destroyed the Palace, original buildings and decorations and that the current decorations were as a result of a contest won by Charles Barry. We were fortunate, too, to meet the Secretary of State for Health Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP who was there at that time for a session about the NHS. He explicitly expressed his gratitude to us Pinoys who are in the health service. He thinks we have done so much to help. Need I say more? We also saw the Westminster Hall where they held most of the great state occasions, coronation banquets, and most famous trials in British history like those of Guy Fawkes and King Charles I. It was also customary for monarchs to lie in state here after their deaths, and occasionally Prime Ministers like Winston Churchill. We’ve seen the commemorative brass plaques set on the floor of the hall. Last but not the least, we saw St. Stephen’s Hall which sat on the site of St. Stephen’s Chapel where monarchs and their families worshipped when staying in the Palace. The Chapel was converted to a Debating chamber for the House of Commons in 1550 and currently have been used by lobbyists to express their sentiments.
Most of us decided to stay for a little while to watch a live debate on the Chamber as our gracious hostess thanked each one of us as we in turn thanked her for sharing her time and energy with us. She gradually exited herself and disappeared. Some went home right away, others took the opportunity and explored the city, others got hungry and ate at a nearby pizza restaurant but I’m pretty sure that we all went home with a new view of our government. Most of us will still be at awe for the great expanse and importance of the things discussed and happening in the two most powerful houses in the UK. The question is will this experience influence us in any way on how we see our government or on how we want our government to be in the future? We’ll wait and see.
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