THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 7 | APRIL 2016
NEWS
07
Migrants urged to promote Filipino
heritage in Australia
COMMUNITY associations
Plaza Filipino and NARRA
Co-op have joined forces
to identify 20 outstanding
Filipino-Australians who are
passionate about promoting
and enriching Philippine arts
and culture in Australia.
By Michelle Baltazar
HONOUREES were feted at a
special gathering in Burwood
RSL Club in Sydney early last
month.
Cardiologist Dr. Raul
Amor, chair of the Filipino
Doctors Association of
Australia, and successful
businesswoman Carmenchu
Montilla-Gresham were named
this year's recipients of the
2016 Philippine Australian
Ambassador for Culture and
the Arts.
While both Dr. Amor and
Montilla-Gresham are busy
with their demanding and
successful careers, they are
very active in the community.
Dr. Amor is regularly
involved in fundraising
activities supporting arts and
entertainment (as well as his
medical outreach programs)
while Montilla-Gresham
raises awareness in traditional
Philippine costumes through
her fashion design.
"I have often talked
about migrant Filipinos
being ambassadors for the
Philippines, as they present
an image of our country and
people overseas," said the Hon.
Consul General Anne Jalandoon Louis in the event's souvenir
programme.
"In this regard, they are
resource persons and best
examples of the Filipinos' rich
heritage and culture," she said.
The Consul General was
present as 18 other individuals
were acknowledged for their
cultural advocacy, community
service and excellence in their
chosen fields.
The proceedings were
followed by a special concert
co-headlined by New Yorkbased Roanne Monte (who
played 'Kim' in Miss Saigon
London) and Dexter Villa
(who played 'Jesus' in Jesus
Filipino-Australians acknowledged for their cultural advocacy, community service and excellence in their chosen field. Photo: Lenzmen Photo and Video
Christ Superstar). They were
joined onstage by fellow
performing artists Tina Bangel
and Marcus Rivera.
The result was an
unforgettable night where
guests enjoyed great
performances from musicals
such as Miss Saigon, Jesus
Christ Superstar and Les
Miserables.
But even as Monte
received a resounding
applause from the crowd
for her reprisal of her 'Miss
Saigon' performances, she
wrote in her blog that it's the
ambassadors who deserve the
praise.
"I stand on the shoulders
of giants when I say that I am
inspired by the tireless work
of ambassadors, diplomats,
community leaders and
volunteers who grace the show
by their presence," she said.
"They are the ones who
make sacrifices to serve the
community and, as a result,
make a difference in people's
lives."
The recognition night is
also a fundraising initiative
with the proceeds going
towards establishing a cultural
centre in Australia.
NARRA Co-op president
Dr. Jimmy Lopez and former
Plaza Filipino president Daisy
Ann Gonzalez Cumming
thanked all the honorees and
guests for their support.
FILIPINO-AUSTRALIAN HONOUREES
Linda Rose Bishop
(Education)
Fredisinda Padilla Buchlak
(Community Service)
Marcelo Cabillo
(Community Service)
Violi Calvert
(Media)
Marx Canoy
(Culinary Arts)
Marilyn Andres Chun
(Education)
Dr. Edgar Escultura
(Science and Mathematics)
Oliver Gadista
(Music)
Josephine Montemayor Henry
(Community Service)
Serna Gregorio Ladia
(Accounting)
Claudio Lisao
(Fashion Design)
Manny Medel
(Community Service)
Violeta Nones Miguel
(Education and Creative Writing)
Armando Reyes
(Theatre Arts)
Bob Reyes
(Visual Arts)
George Torres
(Public Safety and Security)
Josephine Guevarra Weatherly
(Community Service)
Evelyn Zaragoza
(Media and Community Service)