From abroad to the ballot
- The International
- Nov 16
- 5 min read
Sudaay Tat Haznedar introduces one of the international representatives of Venstre (Danmarks Liberale Parti). Maricel Frandsen is standing as a candidate for Lolland Municipality.
Photographs: Maricel Frandsen
Text: Sudaay Tat Haznedar
“Expect the unexpected,” a quote credited to Oscar Wilde, perfectly captures Maricel’s story. She never imagined living in Denmark, marrying here, or entering politics, yet all became part of her story.
While living in Singapore, a friend told her about Denmark’s au pair program. Maricel applied and arrived in Humlebæk in 2005, and started her journey as an au pair. Originally from the Philippines, she was excited for a new adventure and began life with a Danish family.
That same year, she met her future husband, Palle Nevad Frandsen, and in 2006, they married and built a life together in Lolland, a small island in southern Denmark near the German border. Before she married, she had already begun learning Danish in Helsingør. “I managed to finish two modules before I moved to Lolland,” she recalls.
Life in Denmark brought happiness, but her professional path was far from simple. “When I came to Denmark, I didn’t have a degree. I built my life here from the ground up, my family, my home, and my career,” Maricel shares. After language school, she enrolled in business school and completed the Sundhedsservicesekretær (Health Care Secretary) education while searching for an internship.
She graduated in 2013, found an internship at a clinic, worked as a substitute, and eventually became a permanent employee. Today, she has been a medical secretary in Rødby since 2016.
Her story is a powerful reminder of how networking and determination can open different doors in Denmark. “It’s so important to keep trying and to talk to people. The right connection can change everything,” she says.
Outside of work and family, Maricel spends time in her community. “I co-founded the Filipino Association Lolland-Falster (FALF), and I’m a board secretary in Inner Wheel Maribo, part of the international women’s organization Inner Wheel International,” she explains. She also volunteers as secretary at the Catholic Church, St. Joseph Parish, and when she has free time, she enjoys playing golf at Maribo Golf Club.
Entering politics
Maricel never wanted to be a politician, and it was not her plan. When she was first proposed to run for a local office, she rejected the idea. “I said no at first because I wasn’t interested, and politics felt far from my world,” she admits.
But Maricel has always cared deeply about her community. She was actively involved in supporting the growing Filipino population in Lolland, helping organize activities and events through the Filipino Association. Friends and fellow community members started asking why she wouldn’t consider becoming a candidate if she was already so engaged.
Encouraged by her community, Maricel began to think about what it would mean to have a Filipino voice on the council, someone who understands the challenges of moving to Denmark, learning the language, and finding work. “I realized I could make a difference if I were elected,” she says.
Today, Maricel is candidate number 7 on the Venstre party’s list for the upcoming local election. If she is elected, one of her focuses is clear: she wants to help the Filipino community navigate life in Denmark, such as the areas of education, employment, and integration.
“I don’t have much experience in politics, but I want to help,” she says, a simple statement that perfectly captures the heart of her campaign.
Maricel’s campaign
“The road to success isn’t easy, especially for foreigners like me,” Maricel reflects. “We face challenges like language barriers, cultural differences, and sometimes even doubts about our place in society. Everyone handles these challenges differently, and that’s why it’s so important to have support and understanding along the way.”
It was the belief that led her to run in the 2025 municipal election. “My profile is about foreigners,” she says. “That’s why I talk about helping newcomers settle down in Denmark, especially here in Lolland, where I live. I want to work for better integration and help build a community where everyone can feel at home.”
Maricel has a long list of her ideas that she hopes to put into action if she is elected, but one of her top priorities is improving opportunities for foreign professionals, especially nurses, who often have a hard time when trying to work in Denmark.
“They face so many barriers: language, paperwork, recognition of their degrees,” she explains. Maricel wants to support better access to education and create faster pathways into the workforce so skilled professionals can use their skills instead of starting over from scratch.
Integration is a priority for her as well. She believes that social participation is key to feeling at home in Denmark, and she wants to encourage newcomers to get involved in their communities. “Join local clubs, go to events, even try dancing or church if you like, just connect with people. It helps so much,” she advises.
For Maricel, having a positive view is an essential thing here, no matter how challenging life as a foreigner can be. These values are education, integration, perseverance, and positivity, which form the heart of her campaign.
“We must build a Lolland where foreigners feel at home, a place where people can build careers, families, and a future,” she says. “I hope my story can inspire others: from nothing to something is possible.”
She also highlights the importance of citizen participation and encourages everyone to vote. “It doesn’t matter who you vote for; what matters is using your voice,” she says, pointing to the upcoming November 18 election.
Final thoughts
Maricel’s message to others is simple but powerful:
“Be open to opportunities. Take every chance as a stepping stone to your dreams. We all have to start somewhere, and we learn more along the way. Don’t give up because it’s getting harder; instead, use it as a challenge — a challenge that you will overcome.”
Before the election, Maricel will attend an information meeting for international candidates on November 11, organized by the International Community Lolland-Falster. She hopes this event will encourage more foreigners to learn about local politics and see how they can take part in shaping their communities.
Maricel remains hopeful that her candidacy can inspire others in the immigrant community to get involved, whether through politics, joining clubs, volunteering, or simply participating in the everyday life of their towns. She warmly invites everyone to attend the meeting. “Networking is not just for business,” she says with a smile. “It’s for building a life.”
