The Penrith Filipino Gazette is no longer in circulation.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Philippine Independence Day 2013 - Celebrating the Global Filipino Community
By Chiqui Tolentino-Desphy
Manila
(Philippines) - Oslo (Norway) - Copenhagen (Denmark) - Helsinki (Finland) - Lofoten (Norway) - Brugge
(Belgium) -Rotterdam ( Holland) - Vienna (Austria) - Johor (Malaysia) - Bangkok (Thailand) - Hong Kong (China) - London (UK)- New
York/California/Illinois/Washington DC (US) - Vancouver/Calgary/Ottawa/Ontario (Canada) - Dubai (UAE) - Mansouriyah (Kuwait) - Muscat (Oman) - Singapore City (Singapore)
- Australia
The
cities and states listed above have one thing in common: in 2013, each and
every one commemorated the 115th Philippine Independence Day in the month of June. In the
Philippines, the main event was held on June 12, 2013 at the Liwasang Bonifacio
in Manila. Within Australia, every weekend in June was filled with many events
celebrating this Philippine milestone, from Alice Springs in NT, to the many
Filipino hubs in News South Wales, Victoria, South Australia,
ACT, Western Australia and Queensland.
Independence Day celebrations in the
Philippines are highlighted by the police and military parade, headed this year
by President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino (NoyNoy or PNoy). Similar ceremonies that included flag raising
and wreath-laying at the graves of national heroes were simultaneously held in
major cities in Luzon, in Cebu and Davao.
Outside of the Philippines, Philippine
Independence Day celebrations were made possible through a number of ways-
-Philippine Embassies or Consulates worked with the
overseas-based Filipinos within their communities
-Local government councils supported
Philippine Independence Day celebrations with their local Filipino community
organisations
-Self-funded events held by Filipino
communities and organisations
Additional support through
sponsorship is provided by Philippine-based companies. In many cases, the celebrations are held on
the closest weekend day.
This event for overseas
Filipinos is more than a national holiday.
It has evolved to be a celebration of Filipino culture, food, crafts and
arts. Many of the Philippine
Independence Day events in Australia consist of the flag-raising ceremony,
ceremonial speeches, performances of Filipino dance and song, and a Filipino
meal, be it a simple merienda (snack) or a full-on Filipino market
with food and crafts stalls. In most
major states, formal balls are held, giving guests the opportunity to wear the
beautiful Filipiniana costumes. The same
is true for celebrations in other countries.
In some countries though,
there are notable additions:
· New
York City is perhaps the home to the largest PID celebration in the United
States. The culmination of the event is
the annual Philippine Independence Day Parade that attracts over 100,000
people. This year’s parade was held on 2
June 2013.
· In Singapore, under the title “Isang Bangkang Malaya’, the Filipino Dragons (Singapore) celebrates with a
dragon boat race that was open to Singapore-based Filipino
organisations last 22 June 2013.
· In
Belgium, the Council of Filipino Associations in Flanders celebrated Independence Day on 2 June 2013. While entrance was free, this fund-raising event supported the Philippines’ Classroom project for an
elementary school in Aklan, Philippines
· The
Philippine Independence Day celebration in Oman featured the book launch on ‘Art as Reality’
last 12 June 2013. The book contains
art, essays and poems created by elementary and high school children of
overseas foreign workers from 21 Philippine schools in Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.
Filipinos
indeed can be found all over the world and are proud of their culture and
heritage, whether it is the teaching of their children the language or
enrolling them in Filipino language schools, cooking native dishes at home or
buying from the local Filipino store, participating actively in their adopted
country’s local communities or quietly by contributing to the local and
Philippine economies.
Filipinos overseas largely embody one of Jose Rizal’s best
quotes: Ang hindi
marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan (He who does not look back whence he
departed from shall never be able to reach his destination. En.wiktionary.org/wiki/user:J.J.Nario). They acknowledge
with gratefulness what their land of birth has given, and in return, they
contribute positively and strongly to the success of their adopted countries
Philippine Independence Day — Penrith
A Flag Raising Ceremony marked the 115th anniversary of Philippine Independence held in the City of Penrith on 22 June 2013. The Philippine Consulate General Honourable Anne J. Louis and Penrith City Mayor Clr. Mark Davies led the celebrations at the Penrith Civic Centre Grounds.
KAPAYAPAAN AT KALAYAAN, ADHIKAIN PARA SA SANGKATAUHAN
Pursuing Peace and Freedom For Humanity
Thank you to all Participating Organisations:
- Aguman Capampangan Australia Inc.
- APO AA Sydney Australia
- Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.
- Australian Devotees of Our Lady of Penafrancia
- Bicol Inc.
- Golf Par-E Social Club
- Marikina Association of Sydney Australia
- Philippine Australian Society of Senior Citizens
- Philippine Cordillerans
- Sydney Patriots Filipino Cycling Team
- Blacktown Community Band
2013 PLCAA Officers
Induction of the 2013 PLCAA Officers and Board of Directors held at St. Marys Senior Citizens Centre,
St. Marys with Philippine Consul General Hon. Anne J. Louis officiating the rites.
Front Row L-R: Lionel Laserna (PRO) Maria Bock (Auditor), Angie Rebosa (Secretary), Consul General Hon. Anne J. Louis, Danny Rosales (President) , Maya Ibarra ( Vice-President) , Alan Candelario ( Treasurer )
Back Row L-R:Dr Alexis Leones (Past President), Board Directors: Aida Basto, Maria Barroga, Divina Ibarra,
Consul Marford Angeles, Board Directors: Ronie Checa, Chiqui Desphy, Imee Summerfield, Marie Bandayrel
MESSAGE
Danny Rosales
PLCAA President
My warmest welcome to the readers of Penrith FilipinoGazette.
It wasn’t so long ago that
we celebrated our 5th Anniversary
in August 2012 and I could hardly
believe that we are now on the third
quarter of our 6th
year.
It seems like only yesterday that PLCAA had their 2013 Annual General Meeting
and the election and induction of the Board of Directors. It is the typical starting point for PLCAA’s
busy year.
Since the Anniversary celebration, time flew away and no one seems to notice the passing of time up until we start hearing the familiar tune of Christmas songs again. But before that, let’s stop and rewind to look back at the months behind us.
The very first quarterly birthday celebration was
so successful that it’s been decided to be part of PLCAA core activities. It’s
been a great way to unwind and strengthen the bond of our general membership.
The PLCAA Glee Club and Cultural Dancers have also
caught the attention of other organisations and the Filipino community in
general. Their songs, dances and lively presence help them grow and establish a
reputation as true ambassadors of Philippine culture.
We
celebrated the 115th
Philippine Independence Day in June
2013. Our contribution to the global commemoration was again a great
achievement for PLCAA. It was very well
attended, with 12 different
organisations represented. Our guest
dancers Las Ninas Filipinas were great in their performance of “Paypay de Manila”.
Jun Javier and the Blacktown Community Band provided the beat and rhythm
to warm the event attendees.
Once again, PLCAA Glee Club’s rendition of “Ikaw, Ako, Tayong Lahat Magkakapatid” is a hit and made PLCAA proud. What really impressed me though, is the
PLCAA Cultural Dancer’s performance of a Muslim dance “Daling Daling”.
Our cultural dancers are really beautiful to watch from their flowing
costumes to their graceful moves.
The fun
doesn’t stop there. PCFS sponsored a
well-attended cooking demonstration with Marx Canoy, a celebrated Filipino
Chef. I had a chance to browse through
some of Marx’s recipes and I must admit that there are some mouth watering
recipes in the book.
So what’s in store for the rest of the year.
For sure we will have the last quarter birthday
celebration. I heard that the celebrants
are now on with their thinking hats to ensure that their celebration will be
the best ever.
School activities are also in the horizon : the
school’s participation at the Spring Festival and the End Of Year Merit
Awards. The Award’s day is the one that
everyone is excited about. It is the day we acknowledge the efforts and achievements of our
students.
The
St Marys fun day is a popular one. Last
year, we saw our students perform “Tinikling” to the delight of the crowd. Our “Turon” was a hit
as well.
The list goes
on and on. In November this year we will
have a major fundraising event. We need
your support for a successful event. The money that will be raised will enable
us to continually fund our school operations and other PLCAA projects.
Over the years there’s one activity that really
touched my heart, it is the Christmas carolling at Nursing Homes. I don’t know why but it always bring tears to
my eyes every time l see the residents enjoy the performances.
The main event for the year is the “Pasko Na Naman”.
This year we plan to go outdoors at the Coachmans Park, St Marys. It
will be a big celebration, a day to
celebrate the birth of our LORD and to
thank him for ALL our blessings. A great
way to end a very successful year. I am really excited about these forthcoming
events and looking forward to all of you joining us.
God Bless and
Mabuhay tayong lahat.
Penrith Filipino School -From the Principal's Desk
Mrs. Marie Bandayrel
This year marks the 115th anniversary of Philippine Independence which was celebrated with the
raising of our national flag at the Penrith Civic Center on 22 June 2013. Our
Penrith Community Filipino School (PCFS) students proudly wore their Majorette
costumes and demonstrated their Baton skills under the tutelage of Maricel
Dolores. Our students performed well
inspite of the limited rehearsal time
they had. They performed with the Blacktown Community Band in a parade with colourful
costume and wearing a native hat. We look forward to their next Baton
exhibition on the 7th of
September 2013 at the St Marys Spring Festival.
The PCFS was fortunate to
have the Filipino Master Chef Marx Canoy, for a cooking demonstration of the
“Purple Biko Canape” on 29 June 2013. The food tasting was enjoyed by our PLCAA
members, PCFS staff, students and parents. Everybody is looking forward to
another cooking lesson by Marx Canoy in the future.
The PCFS would like to
extend their gratitude and appreciation to Marx Canoy for his voluntary
demonstration. We would
also like to send our warmest thanks to Lety Cunanan (Academic Adviser) for her
continuing support with the school and its events.
Maraming Salamat Po
To enrol,
Please contact
The School Registrar :
Phone: 9834 4626
Email: plcaa.inc@gmail.com
School Location:
St Marys Senior Citizens Centre
St Marys Community and Cultural Precinct
29 Swanston Street, St Marys
Saturdays:
9:30am -11:45 am
Ticket to Life Scouts, Manila - Changing Futures
By: Lee Candelario
Tourists
in Manila flock to Manila Bay, Rizal Park and, of course, the Mall of Asia.
During the day, these areas are busy, exciting places. Local people go about
their daily business without complaint, whether they are policemen directing
chaotic Manila traffic, street vendors selling
anything from cigarettes to clothes pegs, or pedal tricycle drivers
taking their lives in their hands as they navigate the streets of Malate and
Ermita.
At
night, the scene changes slightly. Families that were lost in the crowds during
the day are suddenly more visible. They
sit on street corners, often preparing a simple evening meal, some encouraging their
toddlers to ask for money from passing tourists, others just smiling.
An
estimated 1.2 million children live in streets in the Philippines. These street
children are everywhere in Manila.
Food is scarce and education is not a priority. Families live from day to day, and the
cycle continues from one generation to the next.
One
organisation that is changing the lives of these children is the Ticket to Life
Scouts of Manila. In 2011, we visited the Philippines and contacted Scouts
Philippines to see if there was a troop that my son could visit as he was a
scout here in Australia. I was contacted by Sophie Castillo, TTL Scout leader.
She invited us to visit but said that the TTL Scouts were not an ordinary
troop. I was intrigued.
On
the day of our visit, we climbed three flights of stairs to be welcomed by a
room full of children, ranging in age from 12-17. Their smiles and enthusiasm
were infectious. Some were shy, but others were very outgoing. We joined in
their games and learnt about the work of the troop.
During
the break I spoke with Sophie and learned more about this troop of scouts.
Sophie explained that they were all local street children. Sophie and other
scout leaders walk the streets at night and identify children in need. They
talk to parents and encourage them to allow their children to join the scout
troop. Children attend weekly meetings and participate in scouting activities,
including cleaning local waterways. Most importantly, they learn values, like
honesty, self respect and hard work.
It astounded me that during
our visit, my son was given gifts by the scouts. They happily offered their
scarves or toggles expecting nothing in return. That alone spoke volumes about the values being instilled in
these children through scouting.
The
role that scouting plays in the lives of these children cannot be
underestimated. If not involved in scouting, some would already be working,
some perhaps involved in criminal
activity. Through scouting they learn practical skills as well. They are encouraged
to regularly attend school and are assisted in this respect by the local
Catholic Church. The goal is to prepare children for life and whatever obstacles they may encounter.
The
work that Sophie does with the other leaders is life changing. It is
emotionally demanding and sometimes
logistically challenging. She does it because it makes a difference. I
for one am convinced that without scouting, these children would have a very
bleak future.
Ticket
to Life Scouts operate in eight developing countries. Their goals are the same.
If you would like to know more about TTL Scouts go to their webpage. A link has
also been provided below to a video clip of Sophie in action in Manila. The
troop relies largely on donations to supply scouts with equipment and
opportunities. If you would like to make a donation to the troop please contact
me at
Candelario Family (Alan,Lee,Hannah,Rivir) and TTL Scouts
Magluto Tayo - Let's Cook
By Malu Barroga
MOLO SOUP
Ingredients:
Filling:
Filling:
½ kilo
minced pork
1 cup
water chestnuts, chopped finely
1 cup
prawns, shelled, deveined and chopped
1 cup
finely chopped spring onions
1 whole garlic, minced
2 tbsps
soy sauce
1 tsp
ground black pepper
3 eggs
Broth:
4 tbsps cooking oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 brown onion, sliced thinly
1 cup shredded chicken
1
cup prawns, shelled, deveined and diced
12 cups
chicken broth
Ground
black pepper and fish sauce for
seasoning
Chopped spring onions for garnishing
Wrapper:
Wanton wrappers (available from the Asian Stores)
Procedure:
Mix thoroughly the ingredients for the filling.
By teaspoonful, wrap in wanton wrapper.
Sealed the edges with water or egg
whites.
Set aside.
In a soup pot, sauté garlic and onion in hot oil.
Add chicken and prawns, cook for a
few minutes.
Pour in chicken broth and bring to
a boil.
Season with fish sauce and pepper
according to taste.
Drop the stuffed wrapper into the
broth.
Cover and simmer for 20
minutes.
Serve hot with chopped spring
onions.
Cebu, Philippines
Visit Cebu
A rich tropical and heritage paradise
In the heart of the Philippine archipelago lies Cebu, a
prosperous island endowed with natural beauty and rich heritage. Cebu is a bustling metropolis. Here, the old
and the new blend to create a unique destination that has attracted both
business and leisure travelers for a brief visit or for an indefinite vacation.
Cebu’s
trail of progress dates back to pre-historic times. “Sugbu” or “Zubu “, as Cebu
was then known to early merchants as the Island’s flourishing trading port. Today, it remains the hub of
trade and commerce in the south, given its strategic location in the heart of
the Philippine archipelago. It is one of the most progressive cities in the
Philippines.
As with other busy trading posts, foreigners settled
in this tropical haven and adopted it as their own. These included Chinese, Malay and Arab
traders, as well as Spanish colonisers.
With the influx of these settlers,
Cebu’s
culture was influenced and enriched by foreign practices, flavours and
traditions, thus created a culture that is distinctly Cebuano.
Cebu is the land of the
country’s earliest Christians and the oldest educational institution, fortress and street. Many buildings and colonial relics still stand today as
testaments of its colourful history.
In addition to its historical status, Cebu offers
exciting natural wonders. Stretches of white sand beaches, pristine waters,
rich marine habitats, mountains and lush rainforest have never failed to
impress travelers. All these along with
its distinct Filipino hospitality make a visit to Cebu an ideal destination.
Don’t Forget
your “Pasalubong”
Native Delicacies:
Dried mango preserves, crunchy sugar-coated biscuits
(otap), rolled wafers with peanut and cashew fillings or turones, dried fish or
danggit, tasty lechon and fresh fruits are some of Cebu’s known gastronomic
delights . Tourists can have a taste of
Cebu’s delicacies by strolling along the city streets that are lined with
numerous shops for souvenirs or for
“pasalubong”.
Guitars
Cebu
also produces a wide selection of hand-crafted string instruments like guitar,
ukulele, banjo and mandolin that are at par with the world’s best. Maribago District, the centre of Cebu’s
guitar-making industry produces the best
guitars in the country.
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