Ang Kalatas December 2016 | Page 9

NSW International Student of the Year Happy Abby and her Christmas wish She probably got a very early Christmas gift – winning the ear International Student of the Year Award 2016 – and now happy Abigail at Aguilar expresses her hope that ring the Yuletide season will also bring tudents blessings to underprivileged students in the Philippines. Association of Pinoy Students in Australia Members of the one-year old Association of Pinoy Students in Australia served as volunteers at the Philippine Christmas Festival held last month at the Darling Harbour in Sydney. The students were involved in the two-day event. APSA was launched last year as a network for Filipino international students. The APSA will be celebrating its 1st Anniversary on 17 December. For more details about the organisation, see APSA on Facebook. Photo: Bob Reyes Paskong Pinoy... “My Christmas wish this year is for all underprivileged children to experience a wonderful ul Christmas even if it's just once a year, at least they will experience that feeling of happiness and joy brought by people with kind hearts,” Abby tells AK as she relates the challenges she faced growing up in Manila. For her the colour of Christmas is green. One of dancers at the cultural presentation at the Tumbalong Park. Abby won the NSW International Students Award organised by Study NSW within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. The awards celebrate the outstanding contributions made by international students to communities in NSW. Abby is a Year 12 student from Hunters Hill High h School. She received the prestigious award in a ceremony held in October in Sydney. She came to Australia two