Two Brilliant PCFS Students receive Minister’s Awards: Stories Behind the award

Aminah Angkaya and Rivir Candelario received Highly Commended Awards at the 2010 Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Student Achievement - Community Languages Schools by the NSW Department of Education and Training at the Sir John Clancy Auditorium, University of New South Wales on 5 September 2011. Aminah is in the senior class and Rivir is in the junior class. Together with 65 senior students and 64 junior students of different community language schools in NSW, Aminah and Rivir were honoured and been granted the prestigious Minister’s Award for their excellent contributions to the development of intercultural understanding and involvement in the Penrith Community Filipino School (PCFS) and wider community.

Deputy Director General Mr Gregory Prior of the NSW Department of Education and Communities, in his speech, gave credit to the diligence and commitment of the students in maintaining and developing their heritage. He acknowledged the strength of this invaluable program with the language being taught by the native tongue in the community. Mr. Prior encouraged the parents to strongly support the teachers and volunteers who contributed to community language education and diversity. Ms Josefa Sobski, Chair of the NSW Community Languages Schools Board emphasised the fact that knowing another language makes learning a different language easier. Ms Sobski added that being a bilingual or multilingual is a proven asset that can be claimed by an individual entering the workforce.

The parents of our two achieving students have expressed much pleasure and honour for their children. Rowie Angkaya was very proud of her daughter, Aminah who has been an active member of the PCFS for almost 3 years. Aminah has performed native dances in several occasions in Penrith, Blacktown and Bathurst areas during the Philippine Independence Day celebrations and the like.

In an interview, Rowie stated : “ My daughter, Aminah Ashley Angkaya, has never failed to give me pride and joy whenever she gets achievements both in the academic and extracurricular arenas. When I received a mail informing me of her high commendation for the Minister's Award, I was so ecstatic! It is by far, the highest achievement my daughter has ever received. Being a single parent to Aminah, I've had days when I felt like life was difficult raising my daughter alone. I came to Australia in year 2000 with the hope of providing her with a better future. Aminah is a daughter anyone would wish for. She is my source of strength. I can't help but be proud of who she is and who she is capable of becoming. I am grateful to my daughter’s school Caroline Chisholm College for molding her moral fiber and for their confidence in her capabilities. To Penrith Community Filipino School for believing and nominating her for 2011 Minister’s Award. Special thanks to those who have helped us along the way - our relatives, friends and the community we belong to for their love, support and guidance.

Lee Candelario who is an Australian and a teacher in Girraween Public School remarked that her son Rivir was “ reluctant to attend Filipino school to begin with. Firstly, he didn’t believe that he was Filipino and secondly, he thought that he would have to do homework. As he started to grasp the language and make new friends, his outlook changed, and he could see what an asset learning Tagalog would be for him. It is quite cute to listen to him practise Tagalog in the car on our half hour trip to PCFS. He often translates words and phrases for me when I don’t understand. He is really looking forward to our upcoming trip to the Philippines, as he will be visiting some friends he made two years ago. Back then he could not communicate with them at all. This time he is really looking forward to trying out his Tagalog on them. We are also going to visit a Scout group made up of street children in Manila. Rivir wants to be able to make friends with them too.

Rivir’s mainstream school friends feel sorry for him, because he has to go to ‘school’ on a Saturday. He tells them that it is fun and that he doesn’t just study there. He has participated in many cultural events including Pasko Na Naman and A Touch of Heritage. Rivir has performed in displays of Arnis and created fruit carvings and drawings for display at cultural events. Rivir has participated in dance displays including the Maglalatik and Singkil. Receiving the Minister’s Award has been an honour for Rivir and his family.We would like to thank the Principal, Tita Marie and all of the teachers, especially Tita Estella for all of her encouragement.

PCFS Principal Marie Bandayrel proudly reported that many students in the Penrith Community Filipino School deserved to be applauded for their dedicated efforts in sharing their Philippine heritage with the community through the learning of the Filipino language and culture. The number of students entering the school grows each year and the students’ achievements in language development inspired the teachers in meeting the challenges of educating these children on their cultural background. The children brings with them the optimism of their parents for them to know their cultural identity and being able to communicate with their elders. For those interested to enrol at the PCFS, you may email the registrar at plcaa.inc@gmail.com or call 98344626.

L-R: PCFS Registrar Divina Ibarra, PCFS students Aminah Angkaya and
Rivir Candelario, PCFS Principal Marie Bandayrel and
PLCAA President Dr Alexis Leones