The Philippine Times December 2011 edition

Transcription

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The Philippine Times
YEAR 21 DECEMBER 2011
www.philtimes.com.au
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No Philippine festival would be complete without the traditional games such as pabitin, hampas palayok (pot
hitting), sack race or palo sebo. Here two teams, Filipinos vs Aussies compete in tug of war to pull the rival team
over the borderline. The thunderous cheering of friends/family members makes this fiesta game more exciting. The
game is part of the Philippine Fiesta spearheaded by the Samahan ng mga Pilipino Australian sa Gippsland (SPAG)
held in Morwell last 11-12 November 2011. Jerry Baladjay is SPAG’s Chairman. Story on page 8.
Fiesta, fiesta, fiesta!
The 2011 Philippine Fiesta in
Victoria is the most awaited and
biggest celebration of FilipinoAustralians. It is a meaningful
and expressive way to describe
Filipinos’ splendid culture and
colourful heritage. This year’s
Philippine Fiesta, organised by
the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria, Inc., will surely be full
of laughter, food, friends and
family members, games, and
prayers. Businesses will be
busy showcasing their goods
and services, talented Filos will
give their best and organisations
and associations will reach out
to the community in stalls. To
be held on 26-27 November
2011 at the Melbourne Show
Grounds, the theme for this year
focuses on “Ambagan” meaning
to contribute or share something
for the common good. This is the
29th Fiesta celebration.
The “Ambagan” theme is a
celebration of the contributions
being given by Fiesta committee
officers, the volunteers, the
different organisations, the local
talents, the youth, the elderly,
the Mums and the Dads, the
Ates and the Kuyas, the owners
and operators of Filipinos shops
and new and old businesses
alike. These people share their
talents and resources to make
the Fiesta a successful and
memorable event.
Meeting Ambassador Anota
On the second day, the Filipino community will meet for
the first time the new Philippine
Ambassador to Australia Belen
Anota. Other special guests are:
Philippine Honorary Consul of
Victoria Gigi Kalong; Minister for
Financial Services and Superannuation and Federal Member
for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten;
Chairperson of Victorian Multi-
cultural Commission Chin Tan,
and Leader of the Opposition of
Victoria Daniel Andrew.
Fr. Loi Viovicente, Filipino
Chaplain, will hold a Mass on
Sunday at 10am.
What’s in store for everyone
Liz Honey, PRO of the Fiesta
Committee, has confirmed that
the guests during the Fiesta
would be Pekto, Kylie Padilla,
Gwen Zamora, Imelda Papin and
Jim Paredes. Aside from these
famous Filipino entertainers,
there will be local entertainers- - Sheralyn May Hill, Zabrina
Araya, Jerson Trinidad, Lynyl
Go, Pamela David, Karen Esco,
Michael Catayas, Chris Centeno,
Francesca Frivolous, Ficol AtiAtihan of Lara, among others.
During the opening, community leaders and members from
Philippine Fiesta of Victoria, Inc.
and Philippine Fiesta Beauty
Quests will lead the ribbon
cutting and flag ceremony.
There will also be an oathtaking of Filos who have acquired
dual citizenship to be led by the
Filipino-Australia Association of
Ballarat.
The two-day event will also
see the recognition and presentation of Miss Teen Philippines of
Victoria 2010, Miss Philippines
Title Holders 2009, Mrs Philippines Holders 2009 and Miss
and Mrs Philippines Fiesta
Beauty Quests 2011.
The Miss Victoria Secret glamour girls will also have a Drag
Fashion Performance.
Also in store are exhibits, food
stalls, Galing Gintong singing
contest, free kids and cultural
presentation, wrestling, and the
grand parade.
For details, visit www.philfiesta.com. (See page for 14 for
copy of the program.)
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2
www.philtimes.com.au the philippine times decemBER 2011
Jing Sosa elected FCCVI Chair
New officers and committee members of the Filipino Community Council of
Victoria Inc. (FCCVI) and
the Philippine Australia
Foundation Inc. (PAFI) were
elected last 12 November at
the FCCVI Philippine Community House.
Jing Sosa was elected
Chairperson with Neds Sarcepuedes as Vice Chaiperson. The other officers of
the FCCVI Executive Committee are: Jenny Dy Tiapco,
Secretary; Nida Schofield,
Assistant Secretary; Rolly
Ferrer, Treasurer; Luisa Rivo,
Assistant Treasurer; Jun de
la Cruz, PRO; and Claudette
Danlag, Assistant PRO.
Meanwhile, Perla Luetic
was named Executive Director of PAFI. In her team are:
Ruth Roa, Secretary; Ruby
(Dimple) Salvador, Assistant
Secretary; and Susan Rodriguez, Assistant Treasurer.
The PAFI Board of Directors are: Connie Dela Cruz,
Corazon De Ocampo, Edith
Feliciano, Eladio (Ding) Collaga, Elsie Spiteriernesto
Rivo, Patricia Gutierrez,
Rocke Serrano Jr., Sherlita
Hart, Stuart Innes and Teodora Mustapha.
Meanwhile, Norma Serrano, outgoing Chairperson
of FCCVI, expressed her
gratitude to her officers,
the Filipino community,
volunteers, the government’s
funding bodies and others
who supported FCCVI in
her four years of service.
She said she is leaving the
position with a great sense
of pride and achievement.
“As I reflect on the years of
my term, there have been so
many highlights, achievements and challenges. The
enduring thought is how
important the role of FCCVI is, not only as an aged
care provider, a support to
member organisations and
to the Filipinos in Victoria,
the staff, care workers clients
and volunteers, but also
its contribution to a better
Australian society.”
Serving FCCVI and PAFI,
she said, is indeed an honour. “Along my community
life’s journey, I have met and
worked with very special
people who have inspired
me to search for what is good
and what is right for our
organisation. They helped
me push my own limits and
discover the ways we need
to go. I have so much respect and admiration for the
members of the Executive
Committee of both FCCVI
and PAFI.”
The new management
is yet to release its future
thrusts and projects.
Jing Sosa stresses
a point
New officers take
their oath.
3
decemBER 2011 the philippine times www.philtimes.com.au
AVAVI’s young beauties and charity
If there’s one important
thing the officers of the Australian Visayan Association
Inc. (AVAVI) is teaching
the young Filo beauties, it
is using their charm to help
the disadvantaged kids back
home. The recent AVAVI’s
Ms Teen Philippines Victoria
Quest 2011 held at the Grand
Reception in Altona is a
classic example of how these
young beauties learn poise
and the art of giving.
Jennifer Diacono was
crowned Miss Teen Philippine Victoria 2011-2012.
Other winners are: Cassandra
Papre, Miss Luzon; Abigail
Besorio, Miss Visayas; Sittie
Nierva Basay, Miss Mindanao; and Jaymie Batica,
Miss Cebu.
Dr. Edgar Lagrito, who has
been President of AVAVI for
more than 20 years now, is
grateful to the candidates for
the hard work they exerted.
He also applauded the officers and members of the
Association including their
friends for the support in
their yearly event. For the
past 17 years, AVAVI has
been supporting Philippine and Australian charity
groups.
Mr. Andrew Elsbury,
MLC, Member for Western
Metropolitan Region, and
Gigi Kalong, Philippine
Honorary Consul General,
were among the special
guests during the coronation night.
Dr. Lagrito told The
Philippine Times that the
January 2012 Sinulog Festival in Clayton should
not be missed by FilipinoAustralians. This Festival
has been gathering more
attendees every year as
the generosity of the
Visayan people based in
Melbourne are warmly
felt on the day. After the
traditional mass, people
gather at the nearby park
to enjoy the food, games
and presentation. Attendees can visit every stall as
Visayans open their stalls
even to strangers as their
way of saying thank you
for the year’s blessings.
Dr. Edgar Lagrito, AVAVI
President.
Mr. Andrew Elsbury, MLC,
Member for Western
Metropolitan Region
Winners: Jennifer Diacono
(centre), Miss Teen Philippine
Victoria 2011-2012 and the
other candidates.
Photos by Cristina Kofoed
4
5
A Queer Life
Ryan Perdio
Rose-tinted lenses
My dad bought our very
first camcorder way back
in 1997. We were late to the
whole home video thing,
especially for Filipinos, but
once had, we sure made up
for the lack of timing.
Over the last few days,
I’ve been backing up all the
grainy footage shot on our
old Video-8 tapes over to
digital media. Not an easy
task considering there are
more than thirty cassettes
with each at least an hour
and a half long of recording.
That’s plenty of footage. The
consequence of which is
that I’ve watched plenty of
home movies.
My favourites are the
Christmas ones. Started the
very year we purchased our
video camera, it became a
tradition in our household.
Beginning four days before
Christmas and finishing
up just before midnight on
the day, we filmed every
year without fail. The big
highlight was always when
we gathered around the
tree in the morning to open
presents; a fun affair for
all its anticipated, hurried
craziness.
Amongst the typical
scenes of Christmas trees
and Christmas Day fare
were things I’ve observed
that invariably happened
every year: candid (and usually stolen) shots of feet and
toes, accompanied by my
sister’s behind-the-scene
commentaries and giggles;
someone being grumpy
for being woken up early
(me); waiting impatiently
for mum to get ready and
join the rest of the family
to open presents; my sister
annoyingly sing-songing,
“Who wants to go first, my
darling? Who wants to go
first?”, and screaming in-
discriminately out of excitement; my brother chucking
his opened boxes, ripped up
wraps, and recycled ribbons
at my sister; mum getting
overly excited and doing
her version of the chicken
dance; and poor dad always
ending up with the boring
presents.
They were certainly odd
antics – and quite possibly
unique only to our family – that were at times
embarrassing but often fitsof-laughter inducing.
I think what I’ve enjoyed
seeing the most is the joy
and happiness that was
present on everyone’s faces:
happy, perfect little family
vignettes.
It’s been quite a few years
now since we had done one
of these videos. A lot has
happened since then. It’s
made me wish to go back
and relive it all, enough that
So, my dear readers,
here is the lesson that
I have taken from this
exercise. It may be cliché and it may seem
obvious, but it is one
that is worth noting and
sharing: Live. Live and
cherish each moment.
And for the love of all
things Pinoy, always
have your video recorders handy!
Here’s wishing you
and your family a wonderful and memorable
Christmas with all the
joys and happiness that
it brings. Maligayang
Pasko sa inyong lahat!
I’ve gotten a real palpable
sense of desperation.
But then I realise
that yearning for those
early days and feeling
melancholy for things
that are no longer the
way they were is simply futile. And why?
Because for one, these
feelings of wistfulness
will always remain the
same regardless of how
much one reminisces.
And the other is that,
in this instance at least,
there is a chance to recreate the experience. Like
this coming Christmas,
for example.
Wanted:
6
editorial
Christmas People
The Philippines is acclaimed to have the
longest Christmas celebration in the world.
For us who grew up in the Philippines, we
could only attempt to explain the elaborate
celebration our people painstakingly
put to the most important season in our
calendar.
We start our preparations as soon as the
ber months set in. This means hearing
Christmas songs in the malls, decorating
our homes with the proverbial Christmas
tree, perching the Belen in the center of our
living room and skirting our walls with the
twinkling tear drop lights of green and red.
Puto bumbong and bibingka become our
evening treat. Tykes would start caroling
in the houses like Trick or
Treat ending their pitches
with “ang babait” or “ang
babarat ninyo, tenk you”, depending how much you gave
them for the songs. Before
climate change became a
global phenomenon, the cool
winds begin to blow, making
Christmas, literally “in the
air”. The festivity peaks with
the start of the simbang gabi
on December 16, which also
ushers the proliferation of
Christmas parties in offices
and every aggrupation possible, climaxing with the
Mass on the eve of December
24. This was followed by
the Noche Buena, a lavish
dinner served with fruit
salad, sweet spaghetti, ham,
“imported” fruits like grapes
and apples, castañas, and
wine. And as if we cannot
get enough of Christmas,
the days leading to the New
Year, are spent with children
going around houses of their “ninongs and
ninangs” for “blessings”. The festivities
would go on until the New Year’s Eve
fireworks and another sumptuous dinner
called the Media Noche. And for some they
will not throw the towel until Three Kings
which is on January 6.
Although we would have an abbreviated version here in Australia, we take the
chance to share with more people the true
meaning of Christmas, Filipino style with
an Australian twist. We recreate the Noche
Buena and the Media Noche in our homes.
Some of us may come together with other
families wearing our best cocktail dresses
and celebrating the Yuletide with fellow
Filos and some of our mates.
However, the uniqueness of our Christmas
celebration goes beyond the trimmings of
our tradition. We don’t have Christmas legends such as Scrooge, and maybe innately
inconceivable to us because as Filipinos, we
always make room for celebration, and there
is no excuse for not making Christmas happen. From the poorest to the richest, we give
Christmas its due—a gratitude for togetherness and a recognition of our connectedness,
a declaration that joy and abundance are as
powerful possibilities as misfortune, and a
deep worship for the God who came to us
as a baby and lived amongst us.
A special Christmas symbol for the
Filipinos that outshines the food, lights and
the pine tree is the Star. In our hometowns,
our windows frame the ubiquitous parol,
an effervescent image that speaks of what
Christmas means to us—Hope. And it
speaks of hope not just for ourselves but
for the rest of the world. We hang our parol
as a testament of our faith that light is more
powerful than darkness.
So, the truth is, we have a long Christmas
because we cannot get enough of it. We
believe in Christmas, and we bear its spirit
regardless of where we are and our circumstance; in effect, earning our place, as the
world’s true Christmas people.
Maligayang Pasko sa ating lahat!
The Philippine Times
23 Rendell Place Hampton Park 3976,
VIC Australia
Print Post Approved PP332726/0009
Consulate of the Philippines
Victoria
ISSN 1329-3834
publisher
and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alice Nicolas [email protected]
MANAGING EDITOR
Reby Gaw
Entertainment EDITOR
Sherilyn Ramon
CONTRIBUTORS
Manny Asuncion, Raine Cabral, Elena Clasicas,
Asther Bascuña-Creo, Mila Cichello,
Ellen Desear Espiritu,
Raul Hernandez, Estelle McNally,
Joel Magpayo, Dina Mananquil-Delfino,
Ryan Perdio, Mark Villa-Racho,
Roberto Recamunda, Yolly Rogers, Albert Sy,
Milena Torres, Benjie De Ubago,
Norminda Villanueva
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Nancy Consencino-Jung
phOTOGRAPHERS
Edwin Tuazon, Susan Rodriguez
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
George Gregorio
ADVERTISING SALES
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The opinions, views and comments expressed in this publication
are those of the writers and not necessarily of the Board and
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The Board and management accept no responsibility for the accuracy
of the statement, information or news contained in this newspaper.
Contributions, including Letters to the Editor are encouraged. Please
state your name, address and telephone number to get a response.
ONLINE EDITION
Publisher - GEORGE GREGORIO
Editor-in-Chief - ALICE NICOLAS
Advertising - [email protected]
Consular Bulletin
Greetings from the Philippine
Consulate of Victoria!
CONSULAR NEWS:
The Consulate would like
to highlight three noteworthy
events.
The first would be the Black
Nazarene Fundraising Dinner
Dance presented by the Philippine Ballroom Association in
cooperation with the Filipino
Chaplaincy, Philippine Consulate, Philippine Times and
Philippine Tours and sponsored
by Philippine Airlines. The
fundraiser was a huge success raising more than $10,000
thanks to the support of the
Filipino-Australian Communities in Victoria.
The second would be to report
that the Consul travelled to Canberra last 14 November upon
the invitation of our newly appointed Ambassador, H.E. Belen
F Anota, to personally meet all
the Consuls in the different
states of Australia in support of
the One-Country Team approach
workshop. The message the
Ambassador emphasised was
that “we are Team Philippines.
Therefore we should be on the
same page and we move Austra-
lia together in one direction.” It
was a productive meeting geared
towards promoting economic
diplomacy for the growth and
success of the Philippines and
the Filipino Communities in
Australia. The third would be Cesar
Guarin’s Globral Run- Batang
Pangarap Project wherein we
had a send off at Federation
Square last 23 October. Cesar
commenced the 5th leg of his
run around the world project
from Melbourne to Brisbane
with total running distance of
2053 km. The run under Batang
Pangarap aims to raise funds for
street children.
In other news, the 27th of October marked the Consular Corps
working luncheon which the
Consul attended at MCG. She
also attended the Pampagueno
Cup Eve Dinner Dance on
31 October. The Consul was
also invited by the Victorian
Government on Remembrance
Day at the Shrine of Remembrance last 11 November 2011.
CONSULAR INFORMATION:
Passports
Passport applicants who cannot undertake the personal appearance requirement to apply
instead for the renewal of their
green passports or travel documents (in instances of mutilated
passport). The Embassy accepts
passport renewal by mail.
For further information, please
visit: www.philembassy.org.au.
NBI Clearance
The NBI Clearance is the
Philippine police clearance
issued by the National Bureau
of Investigation.
The Consulate provides the
Fingerprint Card which serves
as the application for NBI Clearance. The Consulate does NOT
take fingerprint impressions.
You have to make an appointment with Victoria Police to
organise this.
The requirements for NBI
Clearance are:
1. Valid passport
2. One (1) passport photograph
3. Notary fee applies.
If the current name used by
the applicant has changed from
the name on the passport, the applicant must provide additional
official document(s) supporting
or effecting the change, for
example:
• Marriage Certificate
• Court Order on change of name
• Writ of Divorce
• In cases where the applicant
had a previous marriage,
divorced, and re-married,
then both writ of divorce and
new marriage certificate must
be provided
The Consulate does not
process the clearance. The applicant can send the application
to a representative in the Philippines, who can then submit the
application to an office of the
National Bureau of Investigation. Alternatively, the applicant
can send the application directly
to the NBI. Details about this
matter can be accessed at the
NBI website at www.nbi.gov.
ph under the section “Frequently
Asked Questions about the NBI
Clearance”.
The outcome of the application is the NBI Clearance
Certificate. The Australian
agencies requesting the NBI
Clearance usually require the
NBI Clearance Certificate to
bear the seal of the Philippine
Consulate and the fingerprint
of the applicant. The applicant should bring the NBI
Clearance Certificate to the
Consulate for the affixation
of the seal and fingerprint.
The Consulate will not charge
any fee for this service.
7
8
Pinoys in Gippsland hold Fiesta
Great leadership, support, camaraderie, pure fun,
and Divine intervention—
ingredients that made the
Samahan ng mga Pilipino
Australian sa Gippsland
(SPAG) Philippine Fiesta
held in Morwell last 11-12
November 2011 a success.
On Day One, five candidates vied for the Miss
Australasia Quest 2011 with
Eunice Villaluz declared as
the winner. First runner up
went to Chit Vassi; second
runner up, Divine Tooth;
third runner up, Vera Fink;
and fourth runner up, Amor
Eden. Divine Tooth received
the Miss Charity award.
Special awards went to:
Amor Eden, Miss Photogenic; Vera Fink, Miss Friendship; Divine Tooth, Miss
Charming; Eunice Villaluz,
Best in Talent; Amor Eden,
Best in Sportswear; and
Eunice Villaluz and Vera
Fink, Best in Gown.
Performers were SPAG
Dancers and the Gippsland
Boys. Alex Sy was the night’s
emcee.
Games, food and boxing
Despite a few minutes of
drizzling rain, the weather
was perfect for Day Two of
the Fiesta. The traditional
fiesta games became the
day’s highlight as kids and
even adults
were roaring
with laughter
as they joined
in the “hampas palayok”
(hit-the-pot),
“karera sa sako”
(sack race),
tug-of-war and
parlour games.
What a way to
revive our Filipino roots!
Food and business stalls
abound and people enjoyed
going back and forth the
stalls buying banana cue,
adobo with rice, siopao,
lumpia, chicharon and the
like.
Performers were Alay
Kapwa Dancer, Bayanihan
Circle Ladies of Sale and Ed
Guevara’s Ati-atihan group
in conjuction with SPAG’s
ati-atihan group.
The day was punctuated
with the Manny Pacquiao
bout which left majority
of the viewers breathless
at the start as the free live
telecast provided by TFC
(The Filipino Channel) went
kaput. It was restored around
Round 7 and the crowd was
so happy yet surprised that
Manny won the event.
SPAG (then called AFAG
for Association of Filipino
Australian in Gippsland)
was founded in 2001. It aims
to build up, aid, support and
maintain the cultural identity of the Filipino Australians and uplift the cultural
pride of Filipino-Australians.
Currents officers are: Jerry
Baladjay, Chairman; Charles
Munro, Vice Chairman; Anne
Munro, Secretary; Lydia Aland, Treasurer;
and Dolores
Northey, PRO.
Committee
members are
Nestor Penaf l o r, J u a n i t a
Penaflor, Gloria
Cannot, Leila
Baladjay, Joe
Inciong, Aries
Fernandez, Edzel de Zoller,
John Northey,
Edith Kain and
Divine Tooth.
Gippsland Boys Jerry Baladjay, Edzel de Zoller, Rodney Dezoler,
Nestor Penaflor, Jerwin Olidana, Joe Inciong and Aries Fernando
render a special number.
Miss Australasia Quest 2011
winner Eunice Villaluz also
winning Best in Talent.
The winners with judges and community leaders.
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10
Kapampangans lead Melbourne
Cup’s fashion and glamour
The Pampangueno Club of
Victoria’s Melbourne Cup Eve
dinner-dance officially kicked
off with a glittering entrance
of Roy Carbungco mimicking
the Filipino boxing legend
Manny Pacquiao. He entered
the La Mirage reception with
the candidates of the Miss
and Mrs Philippine Fiesta of
Victoria holding Philippine
and Australian flags. A mix
of Melbourne’s best fashion
and vibrant personalities
greeted them.
Held last 31 October 2011,
the Melbourne Cup Eve was
all about colour, style, glamour and faces as the top hues
and unique dress style of the
night were everywhere. “It
turned out to be what we and
everyone expected, a Night
of Fashion and Glamour,”
Roy Carbungco, the Club
President told The Philippine
Times. About 800 Filos and
guests attended.
Carbungco said he is proud
and happy that the Club
satisfied the guests to have a
good time and he admits they
received positive comments
about how it was conducted.
“Our group definitely did
set standards not only on
social events but on charitable works as well. We also
proved that Pampanguenos
are always united and supportive of each other,” he
added.
It was grueling months
of preparation regimens
up to the Cup night but it
was all worth it. “I would
like to thank everyone who
supported us through the
years. Leadership is responsibility and accountability
and I ask various associations
to work together for the good
of our community. May God
help and guide us to the
right direction and continue
helping our fellow Filipinos
back home,” added the concurrent Chairperson of the
Emergency Relief Fund for
Philippines.
Photos by George Gregorio and Elmer Espiritu
11
Beer tastes better in Sydney
Tony Meloto
A lt h o u g h I h a r d l y
drink, it was the perfect
moment for beer... lots of
it... for lots of reasons to cap
an amazing first day of the
3rd GK Global Summit at
Sydney University which
was a huge success.
Through the leadership
of GK Australia Chairman
Andrew Chalk and his indefatigable team, the Summit
raised the consciousness
of the mostly non-Filipino
crowd that GK is not only
effective in a Philippine
poverty setting but a viable
answer to the aspiration of
the marginalized in other
parts of the world including
the aboriginal communities
of wealthy Australia.
The setting for the dinner celebration was also
perfect.
We were at the top deck
of St Aloysius College with
a breathtaking view of the
Sydney harbor and the Opera
House. On hand to receive
us with warm hospitality
on this cool evening were
the present Rector, Fr Peter,
and his predecessor, Fr Ross,
the Jesuit Indiana Jones who
led many of his boys into
life-changing adventures in
the Philippines. With them,
serving and entertaining
delegates, was a big army
of young volunteers from
GK YGAT and St Aloysius
alumni who had their rite
of passage into manhood
digging toilets in some out
of the way GK villages.
I parked at the dinner
table of six grads who were
now old enough to drink and
had endless GK experiences
to tell as the beer kept flowing in the sweet nostalgia of
the moment and the nobility
of the cause.
I was surprised at my
capacity that night to imbibe
the brew. I thought I lost
the taste for what was once
my daily beverage until GK
came into my life to disrupt
old habits.
I stopped drinking 16 years
ago, not out of puritanical
abstention or health reasons
but simply to provide a good
example to the men in poor
communities who could not
afford to have vices to stop
drinking. Our strategy in
building sustainable GK villages in the Philippines is to
curb drinking and gambling
among the men and turn
drunks and gamblers into
good fathers in the home
and law abiding citizens in
the community.
This character building
strategy was particularly
appealing to the NSW
Aboriginal Land Council
CEO Geoff Scott who mentioned that alcohol was
introduced as an addiction
by the foreign settlers to
disenfranchise the original
owners of Australia and
made them weak and easy
to control.
The cumulative pain of
Tony Meloto
centuries of debasement
and dehumanization was
evident in the moving message of their Chairman Stephen Ryan. It was shocking
for me to discover - exposed
as I am to many expressions
of man’s inhumanity to
man - that the early census
of Australia did not count
the Aboriginals as human
but as part of the flora and
the fauna and that children
were separated from their
mothers by missionaries to
keep their population from
growing, short of culling
them like kangaroos.
Their pain pierced my
heart because it is similar
to our own historical conditioning that we are less
human by having darker
skin and not smart enough
to steward our land and our
destiny. It is the same with
other wounded societies,
rich and poor alike, where
only the strong feel entitled
to wealth and power and the
DNA of a slave mentality and
the pain of the oppressed are
passed on from generation
to generation like a cultural
chain, difficult to remove or
to break.
Despite billions of dollars
spent by a rich Australian
government to help their
marginalized aboriginal
minority, not much has
happened to restore their
dignity and improve their
lives, according to their
leaders like Riverbank Frank
who was quietly listening
throughout most of the sessions until he had a chance
to pour out his pain in the
Sunday session.
It was a wonder for the
best educated in this prosperous country - with the
Great Hall of Sydney University as the historic setting
- how a volunteer NGO with
limited financial resources
like Gawad Kalinga can
build 2000 empowered
communities for the most
marginalized Filipinos in an
underdeveloped economy.
Of course it was very
difficult... it still is. It took a
ragtag army of hope-builders
who decided to grow an
intelligent heart and a cando spirit to overcome the
odds.
Many other rich countries
like Australia have poured
vast resources to address the
problem of cultural woundedness with purely economic solutions but poverty
and the festering pain just
won’t go away. Money and
technology simply won’t
mend a wounded heart and
a broken spirit.
We have the same challenges with our indigenous
and Muslim communities,
who are victims of our own
version of racial, religious
GK participants listening attentively to the speaker
Photos by Noel Ramirez
and cultural discrimination
that have made them our
most marginalized, neglected and forgotten citizens,
and worst - in the case of
the some Muslims - even
our enemies.
With all the incompleteness and inadequacies of
our resources and efforts,
our indigenous and Muslim
GK villages are generally
happy and hopeful as shared
by former Muslim rebel
now GK worker Bai Linda
Eman, simply because we
overcame our fear and our
prejudice and treated them
like family and friend, equal
in worth and dignity and
opportunity to what the land
can offer.
We are far from a solution
but we have found a clear
if we were a country as
rich as Australia and more
resources were poured into
GK, we could have given
more quality to our caring
...to more people.
But tonight alcohol was
liberating as a tool for celebration after the inspiring
talks in the Summit made
our spirit soar. Besides these
young men with me in the
table were not poor nor
had a vice to deal with.
The Ryan Cayabyab singers
made the beer taste sweeter.
They were in their best form
dishing out songs of my
youth when life was not so
hard and my people were
not so poor.
What were the highlights
of my three days in Australia?
In Gawad Kalinga, the poor
taught me that it is in restoring
our humanity that we discover
what is truly divine in God's
beautiful home and family.
direction. We will stop to
bleed in conflict if we start
to sweat for hope.
From the testimony of
original GK volunteer Dale
Lugue - it is not money,
but caring, that can mend
fractured communities, and
sharing, that can help people
rise together.
Of course money is necessary to do good. Perhaps,
FIRST, is about LEADERSHIP to do the most good in
the world.
GK has gained the respect
of the global community because of its greatness of spirit
and the quality of leadership
that it fosters - transcendent,
brilliant, servant, transforming, joyful, accountable,
enlightened - down to the
last caretaker, volunteer and
village leader.
SECOND, is about
FRIENDSHIP that endures.
Friendship in GK is about
LOYALTY to the country
and to the poor.
Friendship in GK is being
HAPPY for each other in
doing good together.
Friendship is about PASSION to care without counting the cost.
THIRD, is about being
FAMILY regardless of color,
status, gender or religion.
Anyone in the planet who
passionately cares for the
less fortunate and the environment is family.
The Summit was a home
coming for me to Australia,
the beautiful land of the
Holy Spirit where I got the
inspiration to begin my
search for my soul and my
heart as a Filipino and a
citizen of the world. My
journey led to Bagong Silang
and to GK.
In Gawad Kalinga, the
poor taught me that it is in
restoring our humanity that
we discover what is truly
divine in God’s beautiful
home and family.
This is a beautiful world
and a beautiful life if we all
learn to love more. Thank
you Australia for many
beautiful memories and
lessons learned. As we toast
Sydney for a great event,
let’s look forward to the 4th
GK Global Summit on June
8-9, 2012 in Toronto.
Please hold the beer until
next year.
Editor’s note: The 4th Gawad Kalinga
Summit was held on 15-16 October
2011 in Sydney. The theme of the
Summit was “Together we can end
poverty.”
12
Australian mining aid not
really “smart”- Galicha
Prime Minister Julie Gillard’s “smart aid” of $137
million into the government’s mining development
initiative will not help the
serious environmental and
human rights problems created by the mining industry
in the Philippines. This is
according to Rodne Galicha,
Convener-coordinator of
Mining Action Philippines
in Australia during his talk
titled “Australian Mining in
the Philippines: Our Story”
held last 4 November 2011 at
the University of Melbourne
in Parkville.
The “smart aid” aims to
help more than 30 developing countries, including
the Philippines to address
mining related issues such
as the effect of mining to the
residents, environment and
governance issues. Galicha
said the initiative will not
solve the growing problems
of Philippine government’s
relax policy towards mining companies. He said the
extra-judicial killings, human rights violations, land
grabbing and environmental
destruction are some of the
serious problems that should
be solved first.
He said the Australian
government should think
twice in granting aid to a
country like the Philippines
where issues are not solved
and wrongly addressed.
“While the main aid for the
Philippines is for scholarships and trainings either in
the country or in Australia,
we cannot deny the fact that
there are lots of conflicting
mining issues and policies
which should be addressed
The audience listen to Galicha as he explains the negative
effects of too much mining activities in the Philippines.
Rodne Galicha (fifth from
right).
by both the government and
the mining industry,” he
explains.
Currently there are 11
Australian mining companies in the Philippines with
licenses to operate and explore including OceanaGold,
Xstrata, Indophil, Central
Gold Asia, Pelican Resources
and Mindoro Resources Limited. Galicha said these companies should help solve the
problems rather than add to
the problems. He did a video
presentation of the effects of
the mining activities in the
Philippines some of which
are water pollution, killings
and diseases affecting the
residents and environmental
degradation
“With the recent approval
of deploying mining militia; and emerging issues on
human rights violations,
environmental destruction, inequitable tax share
and questionable mining
licenses; is the Philippines
ready for Australia’s ‘smart
aid’? Are the Australian
people ready to share and
participate in the ongoing
history of Philippine mining?” Galicha asks.
For more information on
the campaign against mining
in the Philippines visit www.
alyansatigilmina.net.
13
Pinoy food warming our hearts
Kabayan is a term of
endearment for us Filipinos,
a familiar cat call to address
another person from the
same town or province, or
if abroad, to refer to a fellow
Filipino. It readily puts one at
ease once you’re referred as
a “kabayan”, and you easily
feel at home with that person
even if at first, you don’t
sense a tinge of recognition
or familiarity. Thus, if you
are yanked miles away from
the Philippines, don’t just
want to be with a “kabayan”
to feel a sense of home?
And what gives you that
homey good feeling but a
generous helping of kare
kare, sisig, relyenong bangus, and the fiesta staple
morcon. All these are the
crowd favourites from
among the many other
Filipino delights offered in
Kabayan Filipino Restaurant and Asian Grocery. At
first, the husband and wife
tandem of Josie and Ding
Gonzales, proprietors of a
restaurant-cum takeaway
joint and three groceries,
initially catered to Filipino
customers around the suburbs. But pouring in almost
10 years into the business
and the clientele has grown
to reach other nationalities
as well, who over the years,
grew a penchant for their
finger food such as spring
rolls, empanada, and the
ubiquitous barbecue.
The Gonzaleses are not
alien to business at all. At
an early age, both were part
of their own fami- l i e s ’
businesses which
heightened their
acumen for business and taught
them the responsibilities of
running an enterprise. When
they moved to
Filos gather at Kabayan Restaurant for dining and cheering for
Manny Pacquiao during his boxing matches.
Australia,
they also
did the
The hu
r o u n ds o f
sband
team
and w
of
if
working for
Gonza Josie and D e
les ha
in
c
ompanies
g
s been
runnin
g
and factories
almos the busine
ss for
t 10 y
which left
ears.
them drained
and exhausted.
That’s the time
they decided to
put up a business of their
own. Josie capitalised on her
cooking skills and gracious
persona to start the restaurant takeaway joint.
The secret ingredient for
their business longevity is
Can’t smile without you
“A smile takes but
a moment, but the
memory of it lasts
forever,” a quotation goes. For some
people, making a
good first or lasting
impression begins
with a smile. However, not everyone
is gifted with lovely
set of pearly whites,
or some due to
health or accidents
lost crucial teeth to
make up for that
perfect smile.
Dr. Willy Reyes
is the professional
cum magician to
make you stand out
in a crowd. For the
past 16 years or so
of his practice, he
must have made a
lot of people smile
and feel confident
about themselves. As a matter of fact, it must have
been those smile statements
which have brought clients
to his clinic, for which he
says that “word of mouth”
has been among his biggest
promotional campaign. He
has his uncle Dr. Angelito
Roman, also a dentist to
thank for encouraging him
to be a dental prosthetist. He
started his own laboratory as
a dental technician, and later
stepped up to being a dental
prosthetist by 2007.
For those who are cluless,
“A dental prosthetist works
independently to provide
complete and partial den-
tures, dental appliances and
mouthguards to the public,”
as defined by Health Queensland in its website. He/
she helps clients with their
prosthetics needs and help to
improve their looks, improve
their breathing, nutrition,
and overall health. Their
work is not only cosmetic
in nature, but also promoting health. Willy prepares
dentures, mouth guards, and
dental implant.
Setting up a business such
as Willy’s was no easy task
for him. Aside from the cost
involved, there were regulations to comply with strictly.
For him, changes in government regulations provide the
greatest challenge
for him, but he is
always ready with a
plan A and a plan B,
while still adhering
to these. Overall, he
should be “secure”
as a businessman,
having dabbled in
various businesses
while still in the
Philippines.
A huge percentage
of his clientele is still
Filipino. Willy says
that his initial focus
was to grow his client base and ensure
providing services
to the population
at large. “Filipinos’
preference is usually to work hand in
hand with another
Filipino. And I suppose this is true with
other cultures.”
Future entrepreneurs
would benefit from Willy’s
advice. “Start with something you know best. Success comes with passion,
love and what you enjoy
most,” He is heeding his
own advice, as he says he
will expand his business at
hand rather than set up new
ones. “This is my expertise
and the only way to be more
successful is to continue
what I do best, as a dental
prosthetist.”
His dedication to his business and profession should
give his customers many
reasons to smile and with
confidence.
Their other venture - an Asian grocery
consistency in putting in the
hard work and the effort to
serve customers better. Being
immersed in business at an
early age, Josie gave her two
cents for future entrepreneurs. According to Josie,
“I think in order to remain
successful in this business,
it is important to be patient,
committed, honest, reliable,
and humble.”
With a restaurant and
three Asian groceries to
their name, the couple has
indeed enjoyed success that
others could only dream of.
To balance their professional
with their family life, the
Gonzaleses would dine out
and take quick trips to spend
quality time together. For
now, the couple is content
with what they have. As for
future plans, Josie quickly
retorts, “we’re still praying
for it.”
When it’s time to put
out the celebration hat on,
or congregate to cheer for
Pambansang Kamao Manny
Pacquiao, aren’t you glad
there’s a Kabayan near you
to make you feel welcome, at
ease, comfortable, relaxed?
Kabayan is the next home
where Filos can be their own
unique self.
14
Philippine Fiesta of Victoria 2011 Programme
26-27 November 2011
Prepared by: Liz Honey (Program Coordinator). This program is subject to change.
www.philfiesta.com
THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS–PERFORMERS AND CREWS
BINGHAY & CO PTY. LTD.
Accountant & Tax Agent
Purita Binghay, MBA, CPA
also a Registered Migration Agent
MARN 9791593
11 Dandenong Road East, Frankston VIC 3199
1/28 Pickett Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Ph. 9770 0066 Fax: 9770 0466
Mob: 0404 495 830
email: [email protected]
We don’t have to look up to the sky and search for a star.
Here in The Philippine Times, you are the STAR. This is your newspaper.
This is your story. This is your place. Dahil sa Philippine Times, kayo ang aming artista! The Philippine Times
Serving the Filipino community for 20 years now.
Visit: www.philtimes.com.au
15
The fun way to celebrate and holiday
Ruth Roa
lights for an evening of
entertainment and excitement. There is plenty of
high energy fun on board
this floating resort.
We always look forward
to dining at the restaurant
every night to keep track
of our group. The Filipino
restaurant staff always
keep us smiling and laughing with their rendition of
our songs and jokes. Tony
and Divina Innes appreciated most our special night
w h e n t h e C h e f c o o ke d
pansit, pritong pata and
isdang kinilaw.
The freedom to choose
what we want to do day in
and day out, adventures,
new discoveries as we
visited the islands make
a truly wonderful time for
our group of
26.
Next year
we are going
for a pilgrimage to France
(Lourdes),
Rome, Portugal
( Fa t i m a ) a n d
Bosnia (Medugorje). Email
ruthroa21@
y a h o o .
com or call
0403703714 if
interested.
Photos by Rolly Ferrer
We (FIL- OZ Group)
deserve a stress free break.
No grocery shopping. No
c o o ki n g . N o w a s h i n g
up. No need to drive anywhere. Nine nights on
board Pacific Pearl to New
Caledonia and Vanuatu
with port of calls to Mystery Island, Noumea, Lifou
and the Isles of Pines.
No matter your age
(Nanay Purification Talibot
is 84 and Kuya Al Mustapha is 76 ) or what your
idea of a good time is, there
is always something entertaining for you on board
the ship. We celebrated
the birthdays of Kimberley
Nini, Dorie Mustapha,
Antonette Cortez, Lisabel
Lumanog ,Edwin Nini and
the bridal shower of Marites Williams.
Rolly and Lorna Ferrer,
Joel and Linda Magpayo,
Rod and Emily Bernardo
with Maria Selga enjoyed
taking photographic specimens all throughout the
trip, by day and night. The
sun has gone down but
the fun is not over with
Jen Nini and Katrina Belardo. It is time to cue the
music and dance the night
away. Janet Nini, Helen
Contreras, Lily Pilypaitis,
Josefina Benigno, Rod and
Jeanette Shepherd cue for
KaBAI’s Melbourne
Cup Dance 2011
Capizeno’s costume ball
mounted to raise funds
The Kaliwat Bol-anon
S a Au s t r a l i a , I n c . ( Ka B A I ) h eld a s u c c e s s f u l
Melbourne Cup Dance last
5 November 2011 at the
Sacred Heart Parish Hall
in Oakleigh. The fun night was
pure dancing and raffle
games. Parents, children
and their friends gathered together and simply
enjoyed the company of
fellow Boholanos and
their guests.
The highlight of the
night was the Best
Dress Competition with
several Boholanos and
guests parading their best
Melbourne Cup dress.
Declared Melbourne Cup
The Circulo Capizeno
of Melbourne Inc., headed
by its President Terry Apines, recently presented its
8th fundraising campaign
through a halloween party
and costume ball at the Serbian Orthodox Church Hall.
“The event is held to raise
funds for our projects in
Capiz. It has a family disco
because we value the importance of family having a
night out. Everyone enjoys;
we even have the piñata
for the kids,” she told The
Philippine Times. She said
the group’s beneficiaries
are the elementary schools
in the Second District of
Capiz and they are targeting
to give safe drinking water to
the school kids in the remote
areas of Capiz.
“For the last seven years,
we already have sent donations to Banica Elementary
Best Dress was Rose Hinog
Jumamil. Second place
went to Ivy Arino Mar-
The winners for the Best Dress Competition with
KaBAI President Tony Boncales (left) and VicePresident Venecia Hinog Wadsworth (right).
quez and third place went
to Trining Natividad.
Tony Boncales, KaBAI’s
President, posted on Facebook few days after the
event: “Daghang salamat
kaajo sa atong mga sanos
ug sanas - once again we
had a very successful
evening of fun and it
was because of our membership’s enthusiastic
support and participation together with our
Bol-anon friends.”
KaBAI is a non-profit
organisation which
aims to bring together
all Boholano community
and people of Boholano
d escen t an d fr i en ds i n
Australia.
School, Balighot Elementary
School, Bantuan Elementary
School, Culasi Elementary
School, Olotayan Elementary School, Quevedo Elementary School, Venancio
Alba Elementary School.
Pinamalatikan Elementary
School and Bitoon Elementary School,” she added. She
thanks the sponsors, families
and friends for their unending support to the group,
adding
their do nation has
made a
great difference in
the lives of
the schoolchildren in
Capiz.
The officers of
Circulo
Capizeno
of Melbourne Inc. are: President - Terry Apines; Vice
President- Remy Frenila;
Secretary - Alma de los
Reyes; Treasurer - Cora
Biclar, Business Managers - Nene Cooke and Lolit
Bayuna, Public Relations Officer - Cesar Vega and board
of directors: Teresita Frenila,
Stuart Knight, Benson Biclar,
Stephen delos Reyes, Lillian
Vega, Elaine Soriano and
16
ENTERTAINMENT
Imelda Papin performs Scraps earns honourable
mention in art tilt
in Australia
The Philippines’ Jukebox
Queen Imelda Papin, who
popularised the hits “Isang
linggong pag-ibig”, “Pagibig na Walang Dangal”,
and “Kung liligaya ka sa
piling ng iba”, will stage an
Australian tour from 25 to 27
November.
On 25 November, Papin
will perform with daughter
Maffi as special guest, supported by local talents, and
backed up by the Ronnie
Dandan Band. Concert is
on Mounties Showroom,
Mt. Pritchard, NSW. Ticket
prices are $40 for Platinum,
and $35 for Gold. For ticket
enquiries contact Nita Chris-
tian on 0437 210 007 or
9629 3989. Door opens at
6:30 p.m. and show starts at
7:30 p.m.
On 26 November, she will
perform at the Parkview
Room Central Coast Leagues
Club, Gosford, NSW. Daughter Maffi will again be her
special guest along with
other local performers joining her on stage. Tickets are
at $25 prepaid and $30 at the
door. Announcements set
the show at 6 p.m. Contact
organisers for actual show
time. For enquiries, contact
Ruth on 4341 0647 0432
420 164, or Jerrelyn on 0404
174 548.
Meanwhile, Papin will
also perform in “Imelda
Papin Live!” on 27 November 2011 at the Shepparton
Football Netball Club in
Deakin Reserve Harold St
in Shepparton. The concert
is produced by A.F.C. Inc of
Northern Victoria and Southern Riverina, in cooperation
with EMG Enterprises Pty
Ltd.
Ticket is at $40. For enquiries, contact Vangie Lennie on 0408-314-939 or 03
5852-2997.
Watch out for Papin on 27
November during the Philippine Fiesta in Victoria at the
Melbourne Showgrounds.
Filo singer Christmas CD out
Thinking of a suitable
Christmas gift for a loved
one? Why not consider
the Christmas CD of Neil
Monreal, an up and coming
Filipino singer in Australia?
Titled “Miracle of Joy”, the
CD is a compilation of best
all-time as well as contemporary Christmas hymns, and
an original composition by
Luz Cabrera de Mesa which
bears the same title as the CD.
Monreal’s personal favourite
aside from the original song
is “My Grown Up Christmas
List” because it “convenys
my very own heart’s sentiments.” It also has three
backing track for those who
wish to sing along.
According to Monreal,
“Christmas brings a different
aura to everyone, a kind of
joy that is beyond human
comprehension…a miracle
so to speak.” The CD can be
purchased online at www.
neilmonreal.com. Visit the
site and avail of the Christmas promo.
Komedi Bar is back for 2012 !!
Friday 24 February 2012, 7:30pm
Yarraville Club
Saturday 25 February 2012, 7:30pm
Village Green (Mulgrave)
Tickets to be released soon
Comedy Competition – for inquiry pls email [email protected] or Facebook Liz Honey
scraps from the
floor. At first,
she thought that
her chosen concept was “heavy,
risky, and a bit
bleak.” But her
f r i e n d s u rg e d
her to pursue
what was meaningful to her, as
chronicled in
the same blog.
Paredes is a
freelance designer and illustrator,
and has worked
as a Courtroom
Sketch Artist.
For more information about
the Chalk Urban
A r t Fe s t i v a l ,
visit http://www.
chalkurbanart.
com.
Filipina illustrator Ala
Paredes received
honourable
mention for her
art Scraps in the
2011 Chalk Urban Art Festival
held 6-9 October
in Church Street
Parramatta. The
art competition’s
theme was Food.
In her blog
alamundo.
t u m b l e r. c o m ,
Pa r e d e s d o c u mented how she
conceptualised
the art with
which she explored an aspect
of food which
w a s h u n g e r.
The art depicted
children eating
RCS enthralls audience
with their music
Two years ago, Ryan
Cayabyab and RCS came to
Melbourne to wow the audience. Last 22 October 2011,
they came back to perform
at the Collingwood Town
Hall in Melbourne to the
delight of their audience.
The Ryan Cayabyab Singers are: Anezka Alvarez,
Celine Beatrice Fabie, Kaich
Tiuseco, Erwin Lacsa, Poppert Bernadas, Vince Lim
and Volter John Caber.
Front acts were local
talents Rolando Limun,
Alyssa Limbo, Justin Richard Abella and Angela
Medilo.
The concert was presented by FILCCA, FCCVIA,
PAFI and GK Youth.
17
Pasko sa Nayon concert
soon in Melbourne
Experience the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company from New York
Mila Cichello
Bayanihan Australia
Community Network Inc
(BACNI) is once again bringing the annual Pasko sa
Nayon (Christmas in the
Village) 2011 Concert to
Melbourne. The big evening
is on Sunday, 4 December
2011 at the BMW Edge,
Federation Square.
BACNI, a non-profit Filipino Australian organisation
based in Melbourne CBD,
introduced Filipino Christmas
to the public in 2007. The
BACNI organising committee,
Pasko production team and
cast of community performers are all volunteers. The
meryenda (refreshments)
after the show are donated by
Filipino shops, associations
and individuals.
“Melbourne is renowned
as a multicultural city that
celebrates diversity and our
community thrives on sharing
our many cultural traditions
and stories. Melbourne’s Filipino community contributes
actively to the city’s cultural
life, and events such as Pasko
bring people of many different
backgrounds together,” notes
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, the
Hon Robert Doyle.
The Pasko Concert is the
Rina Benedictos
only Filipino event in Melbourne’s cultural calendar.
Sponsors such as City of
Melbourne, Victorian Multicultural Commission and
Federation Square help defray
event costs.
The Pasko sa Nayon concert
showcases colourful Filipino
folk dances, glittering Christmas lanterns, English and
Filipino carols but focuses on
a different theme each year.
This year, the parol theme will
be celebrated in song, dance
and images.
“Where there is a group
of Filipinos, you would find
a community – and when
the community gathers, the
parol is a symbol of faith and a
foundation of fellowship to all
Filipinos the world over,”says
Philippine Honorary Consul
General Virginia Kalong.
For 2011, BACNI is proud
to present a dazzling ensemble
of talented Filipinos. Leading
the cast is Rina Benedictos,
a classical singer who has
performed in Australian
musicals, appeared on TV
advertisements, released the
commercial CD Solace in Song
and captivated dignitaries at
the 2011 Perth’s Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM) earning
her a standing ovation. Other
performers are the Philippine
Rondalla Victoria, Kultura
Pilipino Dancers, Fil-Oz Idol
2011 winners Jake Estabillo
and Vanessa Sanchez-Cosic,
and soloists Janelle Belisario
and Angela Medillo. Julian
Belisario will be the musical
director for the night, with
Samuel Datario providing
piano accompaniment. Giselle
Gonzales and Matt Margarejo
will be the hosts.
Tickets are $25/head, $20
Seniors and Kids U12 and can
be ordered from Terry on 0413
844 146 or email Francesca
on [email protected].
INSPIRED BY the spirit of ancient China, Shen Yun Performing Arts brings to life a
bygone culture with a gloriously colorful and exhilarating show of classical Chinese
dance and music. Based on ancient heroic legends and modern courageous tales,
Shen Yun and its breathtaking beauty are not to be missed. Scheduled on 10 April at
The Regent Theatre, Melbourne.
18
GLIT AND GLAM
The Golden Girls
She puts wonder in woman
She’s beauty and grace
Myrna and her birthday well wishers from
Couples for Christ.
Elsa Mea
d is still a
Wonder
at 50.
Wom
an
With husband Bob
With the entire family, Bob, and children
Sian Mary and Ricky.
Myrna Jalandoni with husband Joey.
Myrna celebrated her birthday with husband and kids.
Photos by George Gregorio
Proud to be Pinoy
Melbourne Cup BBQ
His Philippine flag
birthday cake.
Ben Magkase with
wife Matet and
two daughters.
Ben Magkase celebrates his 40th birthday at his place attended by
close friends and family members.
And some Pinoys prefer to celebrate Melbourne Cup at home. Imelda
Egan (right, wearing purple) hosted a simple Melbourne CupBBQ at
her place in Carrum Downs.
Friends and family members enjoy the food and the company and they did have
their own betting. Some came home with a few more dollars in their pockets. Most
importantly, it was the relaxing moment and catching up that made their day.
DECEMBER
y
n
i
t
s
e
D
e
i
l
r
a
h
C
f
o
g
n
i
d
d
e
The W
o
a
Y
a
n
i
t
r
and Ma
tor
anaging Direc
(M
o
a
Y
ie
rl
a
a and Ch
sive knot of
ted day for Tin
inally, the elu
F
!
ed
v
ri
ar
he most awai
as
tied on 4
h
between, was
vices Pty Ltd)
er
in
S
n
al
re
d
av
il
N
ch
a
t
L
of
ran
stown.
erve, William
with three vib
,
es
rs
R
h
ea
y
lt
g
ea
n
w
lo
n
nine
ess the
da” Commo
resent to witn
at “The Rotun
p
l
1
1
al
0
e
2
er
er
w
b
le
em
p
. Reception
Nov
nds of the cou
Mercado CMC
ie
fr
y
d
re
ff
an
Je
y
t
il
n
m
own.
ra
eb
Close fa
Pier, Williamst
mnised by Cel
em
le
G
so
n
y
o
n
g
o
in
m
d
re
licans Lan
private ce
owed at The Pe
ll
fo
ly
te
ia
ed
imm
T
“
Time is too slow for those who wait,
too swift for those who fear, too long
for those who grieve, too short for
those who rejoice, but for those who
love, time is eternity.
~Henry Van Dyke
The newly weds Tina and
Charlie at Gem Pier
Exclusive professional photography was taken
by Patrick Caumban of Filcoast Photography
based in Wagga Wagga, NSW
19
20
GLIT AND GLAM
Greetings from a
thousand miles
Intimate birthday party
Making her wish and blowing
the birthday candles.
Dhelma Doria's parents
flew in to Australia to join
her for her birthday.
Melly Rawlinson prefers to celebrate
her birthday in a simple party with
few close friends at her residence in
Hampton Park..
Dhelma parties with a few of her friends.
Forever starts today
Baby Joshua is welcomed
to the Christian world
Christopher Plumridge and Esterlita
Ruelo sharing happy moments together
after the wedding.
Joshua Madio with his parents Jessie and
Sheba, and godparents who witnessed the
baptismal rites.
The bride and groom together
with the wedding entourage
having a grand time posing for
the camera.
Fr. Boy Galdo
carries Joshua
who was just
ushered into
the Christian
world via
baptism.
Photos by Ben Young
Parents, godparents, and Fr. Boy stood by baby boy Joshua after his
baptism held on 8 October 2011 at St. Luke’s Church in Lalor.
21
MIGRATION
Filipinos global action for local
development discussed
The Commission on
Filipinos Overseas (CFO)
recently held the first ever
Diaspora to Development
Global Summit of Overseas
Filipinos at the Philippine
International Convention
Center.
The summit was attended
by over 500 participants
from all over the world and
by Presidential Awardees,
speakers from government,
multi-lateral agencies, and
academic organisations.
Over 60% of attendees were
from the US, some members
of the National Federation of
Filipino American Associations represented. One of the
key objectives of the summit
was to discuss how resources
and competencies could be
harnessed systematically
and synergistically for the
country’s social, cultural and
economic development, with
the support and coordination
of the Philippine government
especially through CFO.
Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) Presidential Awardee 2010 Ruth
Carlos- Martinez, Director
International Service and affiliated with Rotary Australia
World Community Service,
was invited as a delegate
and speaker on Diaspora
Philanthropy. This section
sought to highlight innovative programs in publicprivate partnerships in the
exercise of corporate social
responsibility, and twinning arrangements (e.g.,
hometown associations with
source communities). The
policy thrusts of the Philippine government to encourage development assistance
from abroad were also raised.
Carlos-Martinez spoke about
Innovative Ways of Mobilizing
Resources for Diaspora Phi-
lanthropy
and presented
c o m munity
developm e n t
projects
u n d e r - Fr
o
t a k e n (J m right: Evangeline Y
ordan), Sec
bo
retary Nic
by over- Ca
olas, Ms R
rlos Martin
uth
ez(Austra
s e a s Ger
lia), Rand
be USA.
y
organisations
such as Rotary International.
The methods and ways of
diaspora philanthropy were
provided during the workshop.
At the end of the three
days, the delegates organised
the Global Filipino Diaspora
Council (GFDC) with 30
members comprising the
Executive Committee, and
Atty. Loida Lewis, as global
Chairperson.
The Executive Committee
Council members, with Ms
Carlos Martinez (Australia) herself as the eighth
member, are from Brazil,
Denmark, France, Germany,
Czech Republic, USA, Italy,
Australia, Hong Kong, Qatar,
South Korea, Singapore,
Sweden, Canada, China,
and UAE. After establishing
its mission/goals and agreeing on its organisational
structure, the Council will
establish regional chapters
in North America, Europe,
the Middle East, Asia and
Australia.
The Council recognised the
significant contribution of
CFO with the energetic leadership of Secretary Imelda
Nicolas and it will work toward laying the groundwork
for the Diaspora to Development (D2D) institutional
program for areas addressed
during the Summit.
Standing from left: Secretary Nicolas, Delegate Speaker Ms Ruth Carlos Martinez
(Melbourne), Atty Laguatan and Rodel Rodis (USA).
22
MIGRATION
DIAC Dandenong office
moves to new location
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s
( D I AC ) D a n d e n o n g Re gional Office will relocate
to new premises starting 28
November.
The new office will be
lo c ated on Le v e l 5 , 7 6
Thomas Street, Dandenong.
A departmental spokesman
said the location is better
suited to the services DIAC
offers and provides easier
access for clients.
“DIAC will continue to
provide the current range
of counter services in Dandenong, including a suite
of citizenship services on a
needs basis. The new office
will offer access to internet
kiosks and other supported
self-service options.”
Clients can also continue to use departmental
services online, including
the Viza Wizard, Visa Entitlement Verification On-
line system, downloading
forms, and lodging certain
visa applications.
The current office at
5 1 P r i n c e s H i g h w a y,
Dandenong, will close
at 12.30pm on 25 November 2011 to facilitate
the relocation.
For more information,
proceed to the website
www.immi.gov.au or call
the department on 131 881
during business hours.
E oE
eling
c u nms e n t
FoR
m
a
r
l
g
ro
pr
en
s t u d yd c o u r s e
an
NURSES with NO
EXPERIENCE
IELTS OF 7
EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP VISAS
STUDENT PATHWAYS to PR
FAMILY and SPOUSE VISAS
MIGRATION REVIEW TRIBUNAL
FREE CONSULTATION Call : 04 1232 1187
www.allskills.com.au
ABN 32 389 630 964
[email protected]
MIGRATION CONSULTANCY
AUSTRALIA
INTEGRATED RECRUITMENT & MIGRATION
Education . Migration . Settlement
Felix
Carao Grad Cert Aust Immi Law (VU)
MARN 1069354 / MMIA 4572 / QEAC No. G028 / MRCSA 51889
Member of Migration Institute
-of Australia-
Accredited
Recruitment
Professional
23
MIGRATION
Student visa reforms commence
Felix Carao
Hon. Michael Knight,
AO, in his strategic review
of the student visa program,
recommended a number of
changes to help increase the
competitiveness of the international education sector.
The following changes will
be implemented by DIAC by
the first half of 2012:
1.Streamlining visa processing for students who package their non-university
courses with an eligible
university course including students coming for
semester or year long
non-award courses, for
example, as part of an
agreed student exchange
program.
2.Allowing all School sector
student visa holders to
study English for up to 50
weeks.
3.Removing the English
language requirement for
Schools sector visa applicants subject to Assessment Level 4.
4.Developing an integrated
policy in relation to the
award of scholarships and
the management of visa arrangements, in particular,
for awardees with a disability or HIV for AusAID
or Defence (subclass 576)
visa applicants
5.Supporting high-quality
Australian vocational education and training (VET)
providers to expand their
offshore training services
through programs such
as Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants
Scheme.
In addition, these changes
were implemented on 5 November 2011:
1.reduction in financial
requirements for Assessment Level 3 and Assessment Level 4 student visa
applicants
2.inclusion of prepaid homestay fees in the financial
assessments of student
visa applicants.
Lower financial
requirements
From 5 November 2011,
the financial requirements
for Assessment Level 3 and
Assessment Level 4 student
visa applicants are reduced.
Evidence of funds for Assessment Level 4 applicants
is reduced from 36 to 24
months and, if evidence is
being presented as a cash
deposit, their savings history
is reduced from six to three
months. Evidence of funds
for Assessment Level 3 applicants is reduced from 24
to 18 months.
This reduces the financial
requirements by up to approximately AUD36,000 for
an Assessment Level 4 applicant and up to approximately
AUD18,000 for an Assessment Level 3 applicant.
These changes apply to applications for visa subclasses
570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575
and 580 lodged on or after 5
November 2011.
Assessment levels
Assessment levels serve
to align student visa requirements to the immigration risk
posed by applicants from a
particular country studying
in a particular education sector. Assessment Level 1 represents the lowest immigration
risk and Assessment Level 5,
the highest. The higher the
assessment level, the greater
the evidence an applicant is
required to demonstrate to
support their claims for the
grant of a student visa. See:
www.immi.gov.au/students/
student-visa-assessmentlevels.htm
Why have the changes been
made?
The changes will help increase the competitiveness of
the international education sec-
tor by reducing the requirement
for financial evidence.
The genuine temporary entrant (GTE) criterion has been
introduced as an upfront
integrity measure. The GTE
will help to ensure that only
those who genuinely intend
a temporary stay in Australia
for the purpose of study
would be granted student
visas. See: www.immi.gov.au/
students/_pdf/2011-genuinetemporary-entrant
The GTE requirement
explicitly addresses the individual circumstances of an
applicant to indicate that the
intention is for a temporary
stay in Australia. Student
visa applicants must be both
a GTE and a genuine student
to be granted a visa.
A genuine student is one
who intends to obtain a
successful educational outcome and has the language,
educational and material
background to have a reasonable chance of achieving this
educational outcome.
Factors that are considered
under the existing requirement to be a genuine applicant for entry and study
as a student include English
language proficiency, financial capacity, prerequisite
schooling, age requirements
and intention to comply with
visa conditions. There are no
changes planned to the genuine student requirement.
Will the GTE make it harder
to get a student visa?
No. It will, however, provide a useful way to help
identify those applicants
who are using the student
visa program for motives
other than gaining a quality
education.
What is genuineness?
The DIAC has been assessing the genuineness of visa
applicants for many years.
It currently assesses visitor
visa applicants against the
genuine visitor requirement.
A genuineness assessment is generally made by
considering a number of
personal factors relating to
an applicant such as their
immigration history, circumstances that may encourage
the applicant to return to
their home country and conditions that might encourage
the applicant to remain in
Australia.
The GTE requirement
operates in a similar manner
to the department’s genuine
visitor requirement. The
genuine visitor requirement
has been in operation for a
number of years. In 2010-11,
over 1.5 million visitor visa
applicants were assessed
against the requirement.
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Contact: Vinia or Baby
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conditions apply)
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56 Spring Square Hallam
Vic 3803 (Inside:
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Email: mannymendero@yahoo. com
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Contact: Ernie Vilbar
Factory 3, 17 Libbett
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Email - [email protected]
For specialty Filipino bakery products:
Pan de sal/pan de coco/ensaymada/
hopia/ monay and lots more.
Bakeries and
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Services.
JOLLY B’S BAKERY
& TAKEAWAY
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All online for now.
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A range of essential bags and organizers.Visit us on our ebay store,
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JASMINE’S
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AND CAKES
Contact: Cora or Joyce
19 Chiswick Crescent
Derrimut VIC 3030
Contact: Peter/Carina/Alex
123 Lower Dandenong
RoadMentone Vic 3194
Special pandesal, ensaymada, Spanish bread-ube, etc./special longganisa
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Contact: Angie
Shop 12 / 51 Synnot Street
Werribee Vic 3030
Phone 9 7 4 1 4 4 1 4
Mobile 0425 756 094
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Coffee Distributor
Contact: Lionel C. Orthel
Phone 1300 322 992
Mobile +61412 906 689
Web: www.orthelcoffee.com
“Sole distributor of Santilli Coffee”
READ THE LATEST FILO NEWS
Contact: Susan
Phone (03) 9361 2401 Phone 1300 365 503
(03) 9689 2855
Mobile 0433 776 720 Specialising in all occasion cakes with
different flavours and Filipino bread
i.e., pandesal, ensaymada, etc.
Fast and secure bank-to-bank or
door-to-door money transfer to the
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ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION Email: [email protected]
BUSINESS FOR SALE
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AUTO WRECKERS & PARTS
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BRAYBROOK
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131 CRANWELL STREET, BRAYBROOK VIC 3019
PHONE: (03) 9312 2222
FAX: (03) 9310 1900
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BAKERIES
Danber Financial Services
Reg / Aida 0413 199 344
Sharmini 03 9794 8108
PAPA BEAR BAKEHOUSE
ABN 49 100 180 747
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FILIPINO BREAD, CAKES AND PASTRIES
11 MARKET PLACE, BRAYBROOK VIC 3019
(NEAR CORNER OF DUKE STREET AND BALLARAT ROAD)
PHONE: (03) 9311 2909 MOBILE: 0421 820 800
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For personal and complete business services, please contact:
PT 04/10
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ABN: 20 933 961 278
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2 Wyena Court, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029
Mobile: 0433 854 650 • Phone: 03 9748 2740
Fax: 03 9748 9193
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PT 11/10
OPEN:
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THURSDAY & FRIDAY: 9:00 AM TO 7:00 PM
SUNDAY: 10 AM to 3:00 PM
Filipino grocery in Dandenong for sale
Price: negotiable
Genuine offers only.
If interested, please contact
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Please quote: Philippine
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COMPUTER
SERVICES
PC Repairs and Upgrades / Hardware
and Software Installations
PC Reformat / Assembly of new computer that suits your budget
+ Bonus Music and Movies for your
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Computer Systems
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Western Dental
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Contact: Dr. Nenita
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204-206 Station Road Deer
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Fax
Mobile
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(03) 9363 7772
(03) 9363 7872
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Contact: Rowan or Jason
Contact: Jun Zara, Senior
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Mobile 0415 861 105
Web: www.linucomsolutions.net
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Dentists
Dr Beth Casama
B.S. D.DM (ADEC Certified 1997)
Level 4, Suite 1, 2 Collins
St Melbourne 3000
Phone (03) 9654 5705
Phone (03) 9307 8460
Mobile 0434 492 330
0433 772 420
Music for all types of parties. Can
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Door-to-Door Sea
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Balikbayan Box
6 Byron St. Clayton South
Vic 3169
Phone (03) 9543 5507
Mobiles 0413 462 389
0400 331 152
Balikbayan boxes and Padala Regalo.
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Hairdressing Salon FOR SALE
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JRJ Corporate Advisory
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Phone 5 2 2 9 9 7 2 7 Mobile 0433 655 193
LITO MANANDIC
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Contact: Lito
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AND SANROX BIN HIRE
Manufacturer of new truck
bodies and trailer.
Bins available different sizes
(pick up Western Suburbs only)
Ph: (03) 8358 5644
Mobile: 0419 306 934/0478 257 888
www.rmjbodies.com.au
Well Established Hair and Beauty Salon
for sale on busy main road in West
Brunswick. Salon is newly renovated
and has 7 Work stations 2 Basins and 4
separate rooms 2 bathrooms a kitchen
and private car park. The salon is split
level over 212 square metres. For all
enquires contact Bonnie on 93835840 or
0450726916.
CAKES
Lust for Cake
Cakes, Classes, Equipment & Supplies
ISADORA SCOTT
Phone: (03) 9795 9298
Mobile: 0413 561 241
Website: www.lustforcake.com.au
PT 1110
24
DENTAL SERVICES
bellpost dental
Dr. Maria Marquez-Malanyaon, Dentist
Dr. Deepti Cherukuri, Dentist
PH: (03) 5275 1533
FAX: (03) 5275 1544
Bellpost Shopping Centre
Shop 10, 290-306 Anakie Road
Norlane Vic 3214
LBC HARI NG
PADALA
Unit 5, 64-66 Rebecca
Drive, Ravenhall VIC
3023
Entertainment
Services
R.M.M. DRIVING
SCHOOL
Gov’t Accredited Cert. III & IV
Phone 1300 522 000
Contact: Rowen Maranan
P.O. Box 1055, Preston VIC
3072
Sea freight / Air Freight / Money Remittance Services.
Mobile 0414 959 224
Driving Schools
Driving School
Liz Honey
Promotions &
Phone (03) 9449 5779 Entertainment
Contact: Liz or Mike
Electrical
Contractor
Contact: Cecilia Pham
215-217 Sydney Road,
Coburg Vic 3058
ABAN ELECTRICS
Experienced driving instructor will help
you to get your licence. Automatic
or Manual. Learned by hour or plan.
Serve all suburbs in Western area
and Pascoe Vale, Brunswick, Coburg.
New Car. For more information, please
contact 0411 498 709.
Contact: Armando
Mobile 0411 498 709
EVS Driving
School
Gov’t Accredited Trainer Cert. IV
Contact: Tita Evelyn
Western Suburbs/St. Albans
Ph/Fax (03) 9367 7438
Mobile 0412 191 577
Web: http://www.lizhoney.com
Liz Honey Promotions & Entertainment –
giving opportunities to young people.
REC. NO. 15805
ABN: 5903 4426 553
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Grocery Stores
MOONLIGHT
DRIVING SCHOOL
Submit an article
Email [email protected]
Phone (03) 5814 3177
Fax
(03) 5814 4962
Mobile 0439 632 949 FILIMEX ASIAN
Door-to-door Money Remittance – Sea
Cargo / Video Hire / Phone Cards /
Cosmetics / Aloe Vera Products
ASIAN PACIFIC MINI
MART
Contact: Susan
40/10 Craigieburn Road
Craigieburn VIC 3064
FILIPINO
GROCERIES
Contact: Alex & Marites
3/1 Purton Road (behind
the Bedding Furniture),
Pakenham VIC 3810
STORE AND CAFE
Contact: Grace
229 Melville Rd, Brunswick
West VIC 3055
Mobile 0425 808 108 Contact: Terry or Boy
Asian-South Pacific-Australian frozen
and dry goods/video tapes/phone
cards/door to door cargo, etc.
Contact: SHERLITA
Contact: Mabelle
Shop 8, 323 Main Road
East, St. Albans
VIC 3021 (behind
Safeway)
rates), video rental (Tagalog movies)
Dandenong Vic 3175
Mobile 0430 006 095 Contact: Annie or Gloria
All types of electrical/domestic works.
Aircondition & Digital TV Antennas
Installation.
FOR RENT
BROADMEADOWS
Phone (03) 9689 0188 PHIL-ASIAN
Shop 12/67 Bourke Road,
GROCERY
Clarinda VIC 3169
The BIGGEST Filipino Discount Store in
the Western Suburbs (since 1997).
Contact: Mrs. Carrie Casimiro
Shop 16, Railway Crescent,
Broadmeadows Vic 3047
AMELIA’s Variety
Store & Asian
Grocery
Money Remittance, Sea cargo services,
Filipino movies VHS/VCD Hire, Phonecards, Variety of Phil-Asian goods.
Contact: Amelia
9/161-163 Railway Avenue,
Laverton VIC 3028
Contact: Chona
48 Wilson Road, Melton
South Vic 3338
Phone (03) 9746 9193
Mobile 0449 781 139
Web: www.angelquiapo.com.au
Asian Filipino Grocery/Money Remittance/Phonecards/TFC subscription/
Balikbayan Boxes/Tagalog DVDs/
Frozen-Dry Goods.
Branches
Specialising in large range of Asian/
Filipino groceries. Door-to-door Cargo.
Open: Monday to Saturday.
Mabuhay Pinoy
Asian Groceries
Contact: Dhel Boucher
Shop 10, 51 Synnot Street,
Werribee VIC
Door-to-door Money Remittance/Parcel
(Sea/Air)/Video Rentals-Conversion/
Phone Cards/Flower Arrangements
MALIGAYA FILIPINO
ASIAN GROCERIES
Fax
(03) 9369 2393 Contact: Grace or Anne
Mobile 0434 980 586 Shop 6, Craigieburn Plaza,
Angel sa Quiapo
Dandenong Vic 3175
Phone (03) 9708 5680
Mobile 0414 623 465
Phone (03) 9309 3277 Phone (03) 9974 2944
Mobile 0403 212 970 Mobile 0433 379 395
CRAIGIEBURN
ASIAN GROCERY /
Phone (03) 9369 2393 PHIL-FITS
Door-to-door Sea Cargo and Money
Remittance /Phone Cards / Video Hire/
Clothes & Bags
Services we offer:
General Dentistry, Cosmetic
Dentistry, Orthodontics
Selling mixed dry and frozen Asian
goods. Door to door cargo to the
Philippines.
Shop 121 Footscray Market,
Hopkins St. Footscray VIC
Phone (03) 9551 8688
Unit for rent
at Deer Park.
Three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living
rooms. Call Jen
0450-957-382
Mobile 0417 331 756
Craigieburn Road,
Craigieburn VIC 3064
Phone (03) 8339 7439
Open 7 days / wide variety of Fil-Asian
products / cheaper prices / quality
service / check us on Facebook
CRAIGIEBURN ASIAN GROCERY
Post an event.
Visit
Kids Entertainment Money Remittance
&/or Freight
KAROLINA’S KIDS
Services
ENTERTAINMENT
Shop 4, Boronia Village
Shopping Centre, 159
Boronia Road, Boronia
Vic 3155
Please call for bookings.
Lechon
AMALIA’S LECHON
CEBU P/L
SPECIALISING IN FILIPINO
AUTHENTIC SPIT ROAST PIG
Contact: ALEX and AMIE
Web: www.allsafeXP.com.au
Dausan
International
Freight
Forwarder
Contact: John or Imelda/
Ramon
28 Narellan Drive, Hampton
Park VIC 3976
35, 12-20 James
Phone (03) 9762 2123 Factory
Court, Tottenham, VIC
Phone (03) 9799 7624
Mobile 0413 844 146
3012 (Mel Ref. 41A4)
Ph/Fax (03) 9799 4245
Phone: (03) 9356 4522 Email: [email protected]
Phone (03) 9314 0858 Mobile 0404 097 624
AH (03) 9367 7818 Large range of Filipino - Asian goods
Mobile 0 4 3 4 1 4 3 1 2 9 Door-to-door Sea Cargo and Money
Filipino delicacies, door-to-door sea/ and seafoods. Door-to-door Cargo and
air cargo, money remittance (higher Money Remittance. Prepaid Phone- 0 4 0 1 2 0 9 5 4 0 Remittance Services.
MARCIAL
Phone (03) 5941 9788 Shop 1231B, Howitt
Street Wendouree,
Leny’s Grocery
ELECTRICAL &
Fax
(03) 5941 9688
Contact: Leny Laysa
Ballarat Vic 3350
Open 7 Days a Week . Specialising
TELECOMMUNICAT- in Asian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Filipino,
Shop 15 B, 15-23
Phone
5
3
3
8
1
2
6
6
Indonesian, Japanese products.
ION PTY LTD
Langhorne Street,
ALANIS ORIENTAL
SUPERMART
25
Phone (03) 9798 5389 Contact: Karol
xp
Mobile 0419 674 339 Phone 9 3 0 2 4 1 9 7 allsafe
Contact: Susan Rodriguez
Mobile
0420
354
648
Australia-wide
Door-to-door cargo/money remittance/ Web: www.charmantus.com/kke
phonecards/bags/shoes/clothes/wide Face painting, balloon twisting, tem- Phone 1300 365 503
range of Asian products.
porary tattoos, party games hosting, (03) 9689 2855
clowns, fairies. Competitive price.
Masagana
Filipino Asian
Phone (03) 9386 2948 Groceries
FILOZZIES GROCER
BALLARAT ASIAN
GROCERY
DENTAL SERVICES
Contact: Norma or Mel
56 Spring Square, Hallam
VIC 3803
cards. Under new management.
MEERA SPICES
AND GROCERIES
Contact: Pandit Patil
Nancy
Carrum Downs Plaza
Shopping Centre
Shop F 04, 335 Ballarto
Road, Carrum Downs
Victoria 3201
The Original and the One and only
LECHON CEBU in MELBOURNE
Proven Delicious….Once tasted
always wanted!
Ito lang ang tunay na malasa at totoong
LECHON CEBU….PIT SENYOR!
Locksmiths
BRIMBANK
COMMUNITY
MARKET
Phone (03) 9776 4900
Mobile Pandit Patil - LOCKSMITHS AND
0 4 0 3 6 7 8 5 1 3 SECURITY DOORS
Nancy - 0400 779 063
Filipino and Asian products available
at reasonable prices.
Money transfer - Western Union
Open 7 days a week - 9 am to 8 pm
Melly’s Asian
Groceries
Contact: Melly
Shop 43, Hampton Park
Shopping Square,
Somerville Road,
Hampton Park VIC 3976
Ph/Fax (03) 9796 4289 Ph/Fax (03) 9799 2565
Mobile 0433 243 323 Money Remittance, Sea cargo Servic-
614 Ballarat Road,Ardeer
VIC 3022
Contact Tom or Gil
All Locks Opened / Installed / Repaired
/ Rekey & Master Key System / Supply
& Installed of Security Doors
Migration Agents
Hoju Visa
Consulting
(Registered Migration Agent Number
0635478, 0958805)
Contact: Daniel, Devorah
Suite 5, L4, 167 Queen
Street, Melbourne
es, Filipino Movies VHS/VCD Hire, VCD
Karaoke Hire/Sales, Phonecards.
MANILA IN
FOOTSCRAY
QUIAPO AUSTRALASIA Phone (03) 9600 3114
PTY LTD
168 Churchill Avenue,
Braybrook Vic 3019
Contact: Lita / Bong
Unit 5, 64-66 Rebecca Drive,
Ravenhall VIC 3023
Phone 1300 522 000
(03) 8390 6916
Web: www.lbcexpress.com
Organisations Social &/or Religious
AUSTRALIAN
VISAYAN
ASSOCIATION OF
VICTORIA INC
SCHULER COURT,
Mobile 0413 481 442 13 NARRE
WARREN VIC
3805
or 0 4 3 3 7 5 8 0 0 0
Door-to-door money transfer, air/sea
cargo. Prepaid phone cards. Filipino
movies for hire.
Contact: Vivian
Shop 14, 119 Hopkins St,
Footscray VIC 3011
(Leeds St entrance)
LBC Money
Transfer
Contact: Dr. Edgar Lagrito,
President
Phone (03) 9796 3872
Everyone is welcome to join our
organization.
ADVERTISE IN THIS
SECTION
Email:
[email protected]
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Phone (03) 9311 0992
Phone (03) 9689 7237 Fax
9311 4876
Fax (03) 9689 3800 Wholesaler / (03)
/ Importer of
Mobile 0423 224 224 Philippine FoodRetailer
Products / Money
Welars Express Money Remittance /
Door-to-door Cargo / Prepaid Phonecards / DVD Movies for sale.
Remittance / Door-to-Door Cargo
/ Selling Orocon plastic containers
/ Others
ManileÑa
Filipino
DOOR-TO-DOOR
SERVICE
Laverton Dental Clinic
Shop1- 8 Neville Ave.
Laverton VIC
Phone: (03) 9369
8585
Dentist:
Dr. Dalisay Sibal
PT 03/10
DIS Dental Surgery
104 East Esplanade
St.Albans VIC
(Melway ref: 13J9)
Phone: (03) 9356
4809
Dentist:
Dr. Dalisay Sibal
Contact: Jovita Steven
35 Michel Street,
Shepparton Vic 3630
Electrical &
Telecommunication
Domestic/Commercial/Industrial
Contact: LEO OR LOLIT
Website: www.moonlightdriving.com
Established in 1990. Excellent member
since 1990, Professional Drivers Trainers Association of Victoria (PDTAV)
Contact: Shirley Rivera
391 Chandler Road,
Keysborough Vic 3173
Phone (03) 9308 4286
Accredited Driver Trainer No. 021
Ph/Fax: (03) 9305 4896
Mobile: 0401 739 802
0433 573 849
Asian Grocery
ASIAN-OZ
GROCERIES
Mobile: 0419 597 345 AL’S ASIAN/
Phone (03) 9366 0151 Contact: Dori
Mobile 0430 326 695 2/12 Linley Street,
ADTAV MEMBER: Australian Driver
Trainer Association Victoria
16 Marriot Road, Keilor
Downs Vic 3038
classifieds www.philtimes.com.au
Western Dental Care
Dr. Nenita Evangelista- Lalin
If you’re experiencing gum
problems, toothache, sensitive
teeth, needs replacing missing tooth/
teeth, not happy with colour of your teeth, or
needing a dental check up...
Tel. (03) 9361 2166 /(03) 9363 7772
204-206 Station Road Deer Park VIC 3023
Experienced builders labourer
ACCEPTING EPC MEDICARE
DENTAL PROSTHETIST
DRIVING SCHOOL
EARN EXTRA INCOME
INTERNET MARKETING
At Its Best!
EASTERN MELBOURNE
DRIVING SCHOOL
YOUR LOCAL DRIVING SCHOOL
AT SOUTH EASTERN SUBURBS
CONTACT BEN BOLANO
MOB: 0408 543 554, PH. (03) 9795 1834
PT 03-CONT
BEGINNER, CHANGE OVER, OVERSEAS LICENCE
ALSO A CLEANING CONTRACTOR
Be a part of today’s most powerful
business plan.
Market Australia’s proven
UnFranchise® Business Development
System can put you on the road to
financial success.
Call 0433811155 for details.
Thomastown VIC area.
For further information
contact Robert on 0418 177
645 or email
[email protected]
Qualified Panel Beater
required to work in
Thomastown (Vic) area
Wages negotiable for the right person.
Great working environment
Very clean and modern workshop
Very good team environment
Contact: Robert
Zenith Automotive Body Repairs
T 03 9464 1166 F 03 9464 1901
E [email protected]
26
classifieds www.philtimes.com.au
FILIPINO
AUSTRALIAN
FRIENDSHIP
ASSOCIATION
OF GEELONG
INCORPORATED
Contact: Barry Buckle,
President
D.W. Hope Centre, The
Boulevard, Norlane
VIC 3214
Phone: (03) 5257 1921
“We welcome everyone to join our
organisation.”
filipino
australian
foundation of
qld
Contact: Mauro Somodio
PO Box 2424, Chirmside
QLD 4032
Phone (07) 3216 9808
FILIPIno
community
coordinating
council of qld
FIRST BORN
GOSPEL CHURCH
(an IAFB AUSTRALIA
CHURCH )
Contact: Ptr Ben – Contact: Elsa Reed
0412 335 077
(President) or Malou
Collie (Vice President)
Ptr Lynette –
0448 005 373 C/- 58 Greengully Road,
Keilor Vic 3036
1 Malcolm Court, Narre
Phone
Warren Vic 3805
Elsa-(03) 9336 1008
Worship service – Sunday 10:00 am
Malou-(03) 9369 3881
-12:00 noon
GOD WITH US
INTERNATIONAL
CHRISTIAN
ASSEMBLIES INC.
Contact: Pastor Roger
Bucao/Pastor Nancy
Bucao
Seaford Community Centre,
Station Street, Seaford
VIC (Mel Ref. 427, C2)
Services every Sunday from 10:00 am
to 12:00 noon. Everyone Welcome.
HOPE OF LIFE
COMMUNITY
Phone (07) 3808 7804 CHURCH
Contact: Ptr Rick Raimundo
Filipino
Sun. 10:00am - 8 Watt St.
(Corner Watt & Corio
Community
Streets), Sunshine VIC
council of
Sun. 4:00pm - 49 Valepark
Victoria inc.
Cres, Cranbourne VIC
(fccvi)
Phone (03) 9449 1926
Phone (03) 9687 9011
Fax (03) 9687 9120
Website: fccvi.org.au
“As the umbrella body, we look after
the welfare of the Fil-Aussie communities in Victoria.”
Advertise in this section
(03) 9369 4324
Mobile 0414 916 817
Web: www.hopeoflife.org.au
Worship Celebration - Youth Group Prayer Fellowship - Home Groups. You
are welcome!
ADVERTISE IN THIS
SECTION
Email:
[email protected]
MARRIAGE CELEBRANT
JEFFREY MERCADO
AUTHORISED & REGISTERED
CIVIL MARRIAGE CELEBRANT
A7373
Mobile: 0432 341 181
Email:civil.celebration@gmail.
com
“Victorian Filipino Celebrant
representing our community”
MIGRATION SERVICES
Philippine Fiesta
of Victoria Inc.
PO Box 533 Laverton 3028
Contact: Ross Manuel,
Chairman
Email: contact@philippineconsulate.
of our association.
“We celebrate the Pre-Valentine’s
Day of the Ilocano Filipino Australian
Association of Victoria Inc. (IFAAV)
every 2nd week of February”.
Ilonggo
Association of
Victoria, Inc.
C/- 5 Chedgey Drive, St
Albans Vic 3021
Ph AH (03) 9364 0435
Mobile 0409 430 040
Our next project is to build a multipurpose hall in Bacolod through
Gawad Kalinga.
JESUS THE
REDEEMER
CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP
PO Box 1043 Werribee VIC
3030
5/44-48 Lock Avenue
Werribee VIC 3030
Contact: BJ Galutera -
0400821187
Raul Lacerna -
0400932446
Edwin Mallari -
(03)97483674
CHRIST CENTERED TEACHING
Sunday Services:10:30 am-12:30 pm
Bible Studies: Tues. + Thurs.
PampangueÑo
Club of
Melbourne
Victoria
Contact: Roy Carbungco,
President
11 Hunter Ave,
RoxburghPark VIC 3064
Phone (03) 9305 1426
Fax (03) 9305 1425
Mobile 0411 145 776
The club holds its annual event every
Melbourne Cup Day eve.
Contact: Choy Symes
(President) or Terry
Kane (Vice President)
C/- 9 Englewood Court
Hillside Vic 3037
Mobile 0422 807 339 (Choy)
Mobile 0409 675 246 (Terry)
Email: choysymes.shareme@
y7mail.com
Club annual project “Operation
Smile”
Responding to the growing needs of
Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Operation in
Southern Philippines.
Pay TV Dealers &
Installers
DEALER - ABS CBN
TFC
Contact: Leo and Josie
Difuntorum
12 Bancroft Avenue, Narre
Warren South Vic 3805
Mobile 0433 342 847
0433 701 657
Authorised TFC Dealer and Installer /
All types of Satellite free to air, Christian channels/Antenna Installation.
Philippine Gov’t
Offices
PHILIPPINE
EMBASSY
H.E. Ernesto de Leon,
Ambassador
P.O. Box 3297, Manuka
Canberra ACT 2603
Submit an article
PARTY HIRE SERVICES
WE HIRE:
FOOD WARMERS WITH FUEL•CHAIRS•TABLES•
TABLE CLOTHS• CHAIR COVERS•CUTLERY•
CROCKERY• JUGS•ASH TRAYS•GLASSES•
GAZEEBO•CANDELABRAS AND OTHERS
CLASSIC ENTERPRISES
0419 360 904 / 9369 4324
PROMOTIONS/PRINTING
MARN:0849618
Nurses, Doctors * Student Visa
Engineers
* Teachers
Work Visa
* Residency Visa
Partner Visa
* Child Visa
A SIMPLE CALL TO US MAY CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Banksia Immigration Australia
Suite 8B, Level 2, 221 Queen St, Melbourne
NURSING AGENCY
RECRUITING NURSES
RING MARITHES - 0432 595 660
P.O. BOX 373, SUNSHINE VIC 3020
Ms Virginia Kalong
Suite 1205, St Kilda
Towers, 1 Queens Road,
Melbourne VIC
IMIGENCE STUDIO
Contact: Mark Sombillo
Mobile 0401 396 189
Web: www.imigence.com
Photos for events, fashion and corporate use. Fun and good times
guaranteed.
Radio Stations
PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS/
PRINTING
•CALENDARS• T-SHIRT PRINTING•FRIDGE MAGNETS•
KEY RINGS• WINES•LABELS•OTHERS•
RUBBER STAMPS•BUSINESS CARDS•LETTERHEADS•
RECEIPTS•FLYERS•GENERAL PRINTING
CLASSIC ENTERPRISES
0419 360 904 / 9369 4324
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Phone (03) 9415 1923
(03) 9415 1926
Wednesdays 3.00 PM to 4.00PM,
Fridays 7.00 AM to 8.00 AM, Sundays
11.00 PM to 12.00 Midnight
Phone (03) 9863 7885
Fax (03) 9863 7884 CPCA radio
Web: www.philconsulate.com.au
Mondays and Fridays. 10:00am
to 4:00pm. Thursdays by appointment only.
Philippine
consulate (QLD)
Mr. Alan Grummitt
126 Wickham St, Fortitude
Valley QLD 4006
program
Melbourne, 3SER 97.7 FM
Mondays 11.00 AM to 12.00PM
Geelong radio
94.7fm - filipino
program
Geelong, Victoria
Thursdays 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Contact: Aspie Burns
Restaurants,
Take-away Shops
and Grocery Stores
Munchbrunch
Claire’s Food
House
Phone 9 7 9 4 6 7 8 0
Mobile 0408 377 074
Contact: Annie or Levi
129 Walker Street,
Dandenong Vic 3175
Contact: Claire or Mary
Shop 5/550 Mahoneys Rd,
Campbellfield VIC 3061
Web: www.munchbrunch.com.au <http://
www.munchbrunch.com.au/>
Café and Catering Services. Offering the best in authentic Philippine
cuisine.
Services offered: take-away Filipino
cuisine, Filipino groceries, money
remittance, door-to-door boxes,
calling cards.
Schools - Language
&/or Special Courses
Phone (03) 9359 0802
Mobile 0409 092 556
KABAYAN FILIPINO
RESTAURANT AND
ASIAN GROCERY
Contact: Jocelyn / Ding
5 Willaton Street, St. Albans
VIC 3021
PHILIPPINE
LANGUAGE
INSTITUTE
1/28 Pickett Street
Footscray VIC 3011
Phone (03) 9310 8366 Ph (6:00pm)
(03) 9687 9626
Shop 6, Victoria Square Cnr Mobile 0413 383 648
Elaine & Victoria Cres,
St. Albans VIC 3021
0466 422 047
Phone (03) 9367 2557 Filipino & Visayan Languages AffordMobile 0425 842 883 able fees. SUNDAY CLASSES.
Shop 21-22 /100 Furlong
Road, Cairnlea Shopping
Centre, Cairnlea Vic 3023
PHILIPPINE
LANGUAGE
Phone (07) 3252 8215 Phone (03) 5221 7144
Phone (03) 8390 1346 SCHOOL OF
Fax
(07) 3252 8240
Catering/Take away food/Door-to-door
RADYO KABAYAN
Philippine
Consulate (Tas.)
Mr Paul J. Green, Honorary
Consul General
GPO Box 1231 M, Hobart
TAS 7000
Melbourne, 855 Khz AM
Wednesdays 7:00 to 7:30 pm
KOWLOON HOUSE
Phone 0408 766 890 FILIPINO CUISINE
Fax (03) 9663 2874 AND NOODLE BAR
Web: www.wr.com.au/bjs/wow.htm
Phil Dept of
tourism
Level 1, Philippine Center,
27-33 Wentworth
Avenue, Sydney NSW
2000
Real Estate
FIRST NATIONAL
REAL ESTATE
RELIANCE
Phone (02) 9283 0711 Contact: BEN RESPICIO
SALES EXECUTIVE
Fax (02) 9283 0755
Web: www.tourism.gov.ph
AND INVESTMENT CENTER
27 Wentworth Avenue,
Sydney NSW 2001
Casey City’s Most Trusted
Opinion Shop 7a,
Enterprise Avenue,
Hampton Park Vic 3976
FILCOM
PUBLISHING P/L
Contact: George
Mobile 0411 566 885
Website: ggoryopictures.com
Specialising in digital photography,
design of business forms, logos,
booklets, souvenir programmes,
magazines, flyers, etc.
Contact: Betty Tito/
Marylou Tito / Debbie
Tito / Dennis Tito
1A Triholm Avenue,
Laverton VIC 3028
Phone (03) 9369 4121
Mobile 0404 057 064
Email: kowloonhouse.restaurant@
gmail.com
Catering/Take-away food/Door-to-door
Cargo / Money Remittance / Phone
Cards Available / Video Rentals
LUTONG PINOY
Contact: Narcisa Mcleavy
Shop 251, Footscray
Market Vic 3011
VICTORIA, INC.
Contact: Perla Luetic
C/- 42 Eleanor Street,
Footscray VIC 3011
Phone: (03) 9317 9156
Fax: (03) 9367 3682
Mobile: 0413 623 991
Web: www.filipinolanguagemelbourne.
org.au
VCE Provider, Filipino LOTE, Units
1, 2, 3 & 4
Travel Agents &/or
Travel Tours
A philippine
tours
Contact: Aleli, Jennifer,
Chris, Ester, Grace,
Geraldine, or Vencie
225 Melville Rd, Brunswick
West VIC 3055
Phone (03) 9702 7855 Mobile 0401 027 683
Mobile 0412 335 077 Specialising in Filipino Dishes – puto, Phone (03) 9384 1844
dinuguan, lumpia, turon, palabok,
kare-kare at iba pa.
Mobile 0411 711 639
HARVEST REALTY
Contact: Vincent Djuang
Phone (02) 9283 7300
Enterprise Avenue
Fax (02) 9283 8011 22
Hampton Park Vic 3976
Phone 8 7 8 7 8 4 9 8
Fax
9799 6133
Mobile 0411 363 322
Photographers,
Printers & Graphic
Designers
Cargo & Money Remittance/Phone
Cards Available.
Contact: Maria Selga,
program convenor
Phone (03) 6230 4000 WOWFM - Sydney
Fax (03) 6231 1986 Tuesdays 7:00 to 9:00pm
Phone (02) 6273 2535
Fax (02) 6273 3984 PHILIPPINE TRADE
WE ORGANISE:
*
*
*
*
27 Wentworth Avenue,
Sydney NSW 2001
Mobile 0433 404 987 Phone (02) 9262 7377
Web: www.philfiesta.com
Philippine Fiesta holds yearly event in Fax
(02) 9262 7355
November. “Makipag-akbayan po tayo
Mobile 0415 426 400
para sa kaunlaran.”
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Continued on page 32
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29
The Black Nazarene Fundraising
A night of non-stop dancing for the Black Nazarene
Fr. Loi Viovicente, CS
On the 5th November 2011,
a fundraising was held to
cover the cost of the Black
Nazarene’s ‘housing’ at Ta
Pinu Shrine, Bacchus Marsh.
The evening was full of fun
and it was indeed a successful one. The event wouldn’t
be a great success without the
generosity of people in giving
donations through prizes
and/or buying tickets even
though they were not present
on the night itself. Those who
were present that evening
were satisfied by a friendly
ambiance of dancing, chatting and meeting new people.
The food was served in buffet
style so that people could
freely have their fill anytime
they like.
People’s generosity on that
night goes beyond sharing
their treasure but talents and
time as well. I was deeply
humbled by the commitment
of the committee who prepared the whole celebration
from Friday evening making
sure that people will have a
good time and that everything
should be in place. The same
people stayed up to the end
making sure that everything
was cleared before leaving
the hall.
I would like to express
my deepest gratitude to all
the groups, communities,
organisers and committed
individuals who offered their
time and effort to make the
event a successful one. Without a doubt that our Mahal na
Poong Nasareno was pleased
by all our efforts so that He
will have a special place in
which people, especially the
Filipinos of Melbourne and
beyond, can visit, worship
and adore Him.
May our Mahal na Poong
Nasareno protect and guide
us always as we continue
to live-out our faith and as
living witnesses of our faith
in this foreign land.
CARE supports Filo home buyers
Ellen Desear Espiritu
When Cesar Castillo and
his family migrated to Melbourne in 2008, finding a
house to live in was one of
the tough challenges. They
rented a two-bedroom house
in south east Melbourne.
Three years later, they ventured into purchasing a new
home. This was when they
realised they were endlessly
paying for rising rental fees
for nothing, and therefore,
practically pouring money
down the drain.
“We’ve long been searching. Of course, at first, we
were scared. What if we can’t
John Rodriguez leads
a prayer at a Sunday
ministry program.
pay off the mortgage? What
if we get rejected by banks?
But once we started talking
to people, we got some ideas
then we were referred to
people who are also Filipinos,” he narrates.
Cesar is among the many
Filipinos in Melbourne who
are struggling to find a house
to buy but are afraid to get into
a serious long-term financial
commitment. The common
concerns faced by new home
buyers include doubts about
eligibility to borrow, lack of
confidence to pay monthly
repayments, fear of establish-
ing a financial relationship
with someone who cannot
be trusted, and inability to effectively communicate their
needs with financial advisors
due to cultural differences
and language barrier.
With the right information
and advice from experts,
they acquired a property
without any hassle. This was
when Cesar, like many other
Filipinos in the south east,
met real estate agent John
Rodriguez.
John was in the real estate
industry in the Philippines
for eight years and pursued
this same career
when he migrated
t o Au s t r a l i a i n
the late 1990s. He
met Filipinos who
were struggling to
find a house and
thought he’d form a
company to provide
hands-on service
and a one-stop shop
offering complete
service including
building, financing
and conveyancing
from scratch. He
established the
company Community Alliance Real
Estate (CARE) with
his business partner
John Auricchio who
has a 30-year-experience in sharing part of its
profit to the less
the industry.
“As a migrant, I experienced fortunate young
difficulties in Australia which Filipinos in Mainspired me to open up a nila particularly
company to
assist new
John wit
migrants
h
for who the children of
buy their
m he m
inisters. Las Piñas
first home,
use their
first home
as a leverage
in the future
to invest in
and to provide
a property,
employment ophelp them
portunities to
get estabkababayans in
lished, and
the Philippines.
link them
Community
A heart-warming welcome greets John
to other
Alliance Real
and his family during one of his visits in
people in
Estate (CARE) is
the Southville Christian Church in Manila.
the cominvolved in the
in Southville Muntinlupa sale of residential properties
munity,” John explains.
John believes in word of through Metro Ministries’ in Metro Melbourne mainly
mouth as the best form of Sidewalk Sunday School.
in the south east suburbs of
“It was my daughter’s Narre Warren, Dandenong,
marketing. “If clients don’t
buy the property, that’s fine. I idea. She was celebrating her Carrum Downs, Lyndhurst,
may not have a sale but I have birthday and she decided to Cranbourne, Clyde, Pakengained a friend who may refer spend it in a charity instead of ham, Berwick and in the
me to another friend. The trust receiving presents and have a western suburbs of Tarneit,
factor is there,” he explains, party,” John says.
Wyndhamvale, Point Cook
CARE hopes to reach out and Truganina. The company
proving that the name CARE
was aptly coined to reflect the the 10,000 families in South- sells affordable new homes
company’s brand of trust and ville Muntinlupa by doing from as low as $300,000
Sidewalk Sunday School and with designs ranging from
personalised services.
With CARE’s huge success will continue to do so until the classic to the modern
in tapping this niche market there is a need and as long as contemporary. It also forms
in Metro Melbourne, John they are able to. The company effective marketing camhas decided to bring back the hopes to support community paigns for those willing to
success of the company by sports groups in Melbourne sell their properties.
30
SPIRITUAL GROUND
Everyone belongs at Interfaith concert
Maria C. Smith
Inspirational, patriotic
and spiritual songs, lively
and well-rehearsed traditional dances, and undoubtedly mouth-watering Filipino
treats abound at the Doveton
Hall on 5 November 2011
during the first Interfaith
musical concert, sponsored
by the Centre for Philippine
Concerns Australia (CPCA)
and proudly supported by the
City of Casey.
Interfaith is a first-time
gathering of the different
faith and religious groups, a
Victorian government initiative reflecting the need to
address the interests and
needs of the community. It
focuses on the importance
of spiritual solutions to the
challenging and pressing
issues of our times including
those affecting our young
people.
CPCA Secretary Mr. Conrado Aguilar and newlyelected CPCA Chairperson
and organiser of this Filipino
faith community and youth
fiesta Mrs. Norminda Forteza
excitedly introduced guests
from the different religious
groups including Pastor Ernie Eradiel of the Connect
Church-Hampton Park. The
pastors were unanimous in
their spiritual conviction
of a non-denominational
connectedness with a common purpose of committing
themselves to worshipping
one God and share a lifestyle
of humility and harmony.
Representing the Islamic
faith was Mr. Sam Afra
from the Ethnic Communities Council of Southeast
Victoria. Mr. Afra, a lawyer
from Lebanon, expressed the
importance of respecting different faiths and religious beliefs in Australia. He likewise
explained the significance of
the Koran and the different
pillars of Islam, including the
yearly pilgrimage to Mecca,
emphasising that faith is
what we believe in our hearts
and the opportunity to seek
refuge in the omnipotent
loving God when problems
arise.
Another guest speaker, Ms.
Wesa Chau of the Australian
Federation of International
Students, acknowledged the
importance of this event
particularly for young people
whom she encouraged to
volunteer as a personal
enrichment for future job
and similar lifelong learning
opportunities.
Mrs. Krz Aguilar, a qualified music therapist and
dance teacher, and her Young
Generation (YG) band amazed
the audience with their
rhythmic and soul-touching
expertise on the magical
anklung (wooden piano),
playing the Australian and
Philippine national anthems,
and the classic “How Great
Thou Art”.
The Victorian School of
Languages (VSL) students
were fortunate to get invited
to this unique social gathering, experiencing as part of
their language learning the
opportunity to connect with
the community of believers
and to appreciate the richness
of the Filipino culture demonstrated by the “Tinikling”,
the colourful “Malong” and
the “Maglalatik” dances with
performers coming from
Connect City Church. Young
modern hip hop and breakdancers also impressed the
crowd, particularly when
Dandenong-VSL students
Jurem Ortencio and
Ian
Adalia decided to
join in.
Other FilipinoAustralian youth
surprises include
the Arise Church
Youth Band with
lead singer Corina
and Tafadzwa.
The Connect
City Church
from Thomastown likewise
sent tingles
of patriotism
and nostalgia
among the
audience
with their rendition
of Filipino popular folk songs
such as “Magtanim ay Di
Biro” and “Pilipinas Kong
Minamahal”.
Certainly, no man is an
island. Everyone belongs.
The first CPCA-sponsored
Interfaith event has reignited
the flames of patriotism and
cultural enrichment while
continuously appreciating
the gift of faith embedded in
our hearts, making it possible
for everyone to co-exist in
harmony and peace with the
love of GOD protecting us in
every season of our lives. Indeed, let us keep the flames
burning!
31
Colours of Life
Dina Mananquil-Delfino
God gave me a lipstick
I wanted to freshen up for
my nephew’s VCE graduation, but I forgot my favourite lipstick. I had another
one in my bag, but its colour
is so loud that I would look
like going to a disco. Sigh!
I was thinking of a lipstick
all day.
When a person feels a
close connection with God,
every need is surrendered...
yes, even a lipstick. Of
course, I would not pray as
feverishly for this need as I
would for someone in crisis.
But it was still a desire and I
threw it in God’s hands.
After work, on our way
to pick up my parents, my
daughter decided to stop
at a chemist nearby to buy
some hay fever tablets. I
did not get off the car as I
was exhausted. She came
back and said: “Oh Mom,
by the way I also bought
you a lipstick and one for
grandma too!”
I was silent for a few minutes. My daughter thought
I did not like the colour.
She was never aware of my
Showing God’s love
need of a lipstick that day.
My new age background
would convince me that it
was coincidence, or psychic
waves working, or the law
of attraction. This kind of
belief promotes pride and
lack of gratitude.
I believe that we have a
kind and loving God who
truly cares for our needs,
and yes even a need for a
lipstick. I am sure if I were
to ask Phil Times readers to
share their experiences, we
would have an outpouring of
testimonies more awesome
than my lipstick.
Father John Allen, in his
homily during the Valedictory Mass shared when
his elderly aunt gave him
a poster that said… “In
life there are moments…
yet there are moments…”
It puzzled him for a time
until one day the message
dawned. There are many
ordinary events that go by
in our day-to-day living,
and there are also those that
make us stop, pause, think
and those that affect us for
a very long time.
Just like Christmas. There
are moments… There is
the routine hurriedness
of the season- gifts to buy,
presents to wrap, décor
to complete, food to cook,
visits and reunions, picnics
and barbecues… yet there
are moments… when for
the first time Baby Jesus
captivates us … when the
Holy Spirit embraces our
loneliness … when Mother
Mary protects us with her
mantle ... when St Joseph
takes away our fears…when
the angels rejoice as we
experience forgiveness…
when the shepherds lead us
into the path of holiness…
when the Three Kings remind us that there is more to
life than money, power and
fame… when Herod reminds
us yes, evil is always lurking, but like the star, there
can be goodness in every
person we meet.
When we open the gift
given to us at Christmas,
let us have a moment…a
precious one… not to look
into the cost of the gift,
nor its wrapping, its size or
brand… let us look instead
at the love and thought that
accompanied it, but most
especially the giver and pray
for them to have a moment.
The gift of lipstick was my
God-moment. Earlier that
day, my soul was feeling
rather empty as I had been
busy working and caring for
others that I had no time to
sit in the Lord’s presence.
I prayed for re-connection
with God. He gave me the
lipstick. What a moment!
I will honour Christmas in
my heart, and try to keep it
all the year. (Charles Dickens)
A very happy Christmas to
one and all… Keep safe and
be blessed.
Fatima prayer
Pastor Tim Barrioquinto
Many times it’s the simLast 5 November 2011, ing of just sharing a drink
the Faith Christian Commu- with someone. He’s talking plest acts of kindness that
nity Church held a unique about sharing ourselves; have the most lasting effundraising event titled the practicality of living a fects. Sometimes ordinary
“Breakthrough: Breaking Christian life; a life full of things impact people in
the Chain of Poverty Thru relationships, both with God extraordinary ways. We are
Education” The goal of the and with our fellow men and Christ bearers before others
project is to raise funds for women. He’s talking about in our homes, in the church,
the ICAN Learning Centre, a the humble act of giving a in school, at work, in the
small school in Pasay, Philip- piece of ourselves to others. whole world. What would
pines that caters to the poor He’s talking about sharing in happen if, every day, we
and underprivileged children practical ways and not just in were always conscious of
who live in the slum area and abstract terms. Sometimes this truth and did our best
have no capacity for a decent thinking outside of the box to put it into practice? We
education. The head of the to help someone else can are Jesus’ ambassadors to
school is Sister Ruth Dela grant the greatest rewards. others here on this earth. We
Cruz and we are blessed by Sometimes, caring for others are His hands and his feet to
her presence on the night of is more important than car- be a blessing to all those we
come in contact with.
ing for ourselves.
the occasion.
My prayer is that we may
We at FCCC believe in
It is our vision at Faith
Christian Community Church showing the love of God place God in all of our heart
to see the chain of poverty through our own caring and a real compassion and desire
broken and we believe that loving actions toward oth- to serve others because as
one way to achieve this is ers, because greatness in much as we have done this
through a decent education. the kingdom of heaven is act of kindness to the little
The project was indeed a great measured by even small acts ones, we have done this to
Jesus.
success not only because of kindness.
of the overwhelming
support we received
from our friends and
many donors but also
because I have witnessed from our own
church people their
dedication and real
compassion for people
who are in need.
We live up to what
Jesus talked about
in Matthew 10:42,
when Jesus speaks
Organising Committee Members led by Ellen Llanora and
of sharing a cup of
Baby Villarante.
water. He isn’t speak-
Friends congregate at
Nanay Emma’s house to
pray to the Our Lady of
Fatima.
Family and friends
gather to offer their
petitions to Our Lady,
and Nanay Emma
graciously hosts them.
Photos by Rolly Ferrer
Filipino Chaplaincy
Upcoming Celebrations
ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
FILIPINO CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
(378 Nicholson St., North Fitzroy, VIC 3068)
Fr. Loi’s contact no. 0450699363
ADVENT RECOLLECTION
December 3, 2011
Scout Hall, Sunshine
1:30pm – 5pm
5pm – Holy Eucharist (Anticipated Mass)
TA PINU SHRINE ANNIVERSARY
Bacchus Marsh
December 10, 2011
11:30am – Rosary & Procession followed by the
Holy Eucharist
Pastor Tim Barrioquinto (standing second from right) and members of the Faith
Christian Community Church.
SIMBANG GABI NOVENA MASSES
16 – 24 Dec. 2011
Holy Eucharist Church, St. Albans (5am)
32
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Sincere Good Wishes
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34
Best years to buy property
Albert Sy
The Festive Season is fast
approaching and the Reserve
Bank of Australia (RBA) has
finally recognised that the
multiple consecutive interest rate increases over the
past year were not necessary
and rightly so decreased
the interest rate by 25 basis
points on Melbourne Cup
Day.
There are signs of a repeat
of the conditions experienced in the early 2000s,
when lower interest rates
stimulated the real estate
market. A higher interest
rate environment, while
keeping inflation under
control, adversely impacts
the economy and this is
where the market has found
itself. Property values (in certain
areas) have shown a small
decline of 2.8% over the
last 6 months from an all
time high of a growth in
Melbourne of 47.45 since
2008, which is a massive
11.11% capital growth per
annum. This is simply not
sustainable when Austra-
lia’s average capital growth
(which is well documented)
for the last 100 years is an
average of 9% per annum.
All indicators show that
market conditions over the
past 6 months has created
an opportunist time, for first
homebuyers, upgraders as
well as investors to become
active again very quickly.
Consumer sentiment is improving, with the recent
cut in official interest rates
inspiring an upswing in
confidence amongst Australians, and particularly those
with mortgages or who are
looking to buy a home, the
latest Westpac Melbourne
Institute Index of Consumer
Sentiment has found.
“This result is around our
expectations and is clearly
driven by the decision by the
RBA to cut the official cash
rate by 0.25 per cent with,
in most cases, the major
lending institutions passing
the cut on in full to mortgage
borrowers,” Westpac’s chief
economist, Bill Evans said.
“The significance of the
rates decision is apparent
from the breakdown in responses by home ownership,”
he continued. “Confidence
amongst those folks which
have a mortgage soared by
13.9 per cent; people who
own their house mortgage
free boosted their confidence
by six per cent; while tenants’ confidence actually fell
by 6.8 per cent.”
Further, Laing+Simmons
forecasts interest rates to
decline by up to 1% by mid2012, which should translate
to an increase in consumer
spending and stabilisation
of property values. At a broader economic
level, higher interest rates
in recent times have had the
effect of reducing consumer
spending as people turned
their focus to increasing
their savings and reducing
their household debt. This
is normal for the Australian
economy. Let me show you a simple
comparison between Australia, the European countries and Americas basic
economic differences. This
will demonstrate the reason
why Australia’s economy
will continue to grow in the
coming years:
• The RBA believes unemployment has peaked
• New dwelling construction still below underlying
demand
• Melbourne’s population
to reach 5 million by 2020
more than Sydney
• Migration will remain
strong-vast majority prefer
Melbourne
• Further interest rate decreases in the foreseeable
immediate future
In effect, only recently I
was reviewing the National
Housing Supply Council
figures and found that Australia has a 202,400 housing shortfall. The deficit is
expected to grow to 308,000
by 2014.
There will be suburbs
where values will rise comparatively quickly, particularly in lower priced new
residential developments
within close proximity to
the city, again driven by the
lack of supply of properties
in good locations. Declining interest rates,
stabilising values, lack of
new supply, rising rents
and a low vacancy rate are
converging to create a most
attractive environment for
property purchasers – a
scenario the market has not
experienced for 10 years
or so.
As 2011 is coming to a
close, I would like to wish
you and your families the
best of the Seasons Greetings for the Holidays and a
Safe and Prosperous 2012.
If you have any questions
or would like to seek any
further assistance in property investment options,
please feel free to call me
on mobile: 0409 952 994
E-mail: [email protected].
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35

The Philippine Times December 2011 edition

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