Ang Kalatas November 2015 Issue | Page 20

16 THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 2 | NOVEMBER 2015 COMMUNITY ROUND-UP COMMUNITY ROUND-UP PACF move to new site a done deal THE Philippine Australian Community Foundation has finalised its selling of its old property in Schofields last month. The $2.5million pay-out inclusive of the 250,00 deposit was finalised on October 15 and the PACF has final- ly paid outstanding debts with enough money balance – about $100,000 – to be deposited in a fixed term deposit with part of it to subsidise maintenance, to pay council rates, utilities, insurance and other operational costs. The PACF has moved to a new site in Blacktown. PACF chairman Manny Villon said that their property sell-buy arrangement has been completed. “We finished the settlement with the sale of our property at 80 Grange Avenue, Schofields on October 15 and immediately thereafter we paid the balance on the new property in 50 Forge St, Blacktown 0f 1.29 Million (A$1,290,000),” he said. “We are now totally debt free,” said Mr. Villon as he expressed assurances that the new site will be feasible for their operations amidst reservations earlier expressed by some quar- With MARILIE BOMEDIANO ters that the Blacktown site may not be convenient for community use. About concerns on parking at the new premises, Mr. Villon said that the new site may not have an inclusive parking lot but it has passage and access to tenant-shared parking space for over 200 vehicles. The PACF Board officially moved furniture and other equipment to their new Blacktown premises last month. Hoy Pinoy hot at Good Food Month HOY Pinoy, the emerging food stall brand with its sizzling barbie and appetizing Lechon de Cebu, was among main attractions last month at the Night Noodle Market. Manny Villon (left) with the previous owner of 50 Forge St. Blacktown, Glen and Jaime Pimentel, convenor of the Filipino Press Group in Sydney (centre). The noodle market is part of the SMH's Good Food Month, considered one of Australia’s largest food festival. The noodle market is part of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Month, considered one of Australia’s largest food festival. Hoy Pinoy featured the best of Pinoy-style grill – like inihaw na baboy, inihaw na manok – and the Lechon complete with its savoury salsa. The food stall had long queues of food lovers from different cultural backgrounds. The much-loved recipes were brought to Sydney by visiting Melbournian FilAussie entrepreneur Regina Alcantara-Meehan with her chef-partner hubby James Meehan. This is their second year here in Sydney, this time as holders of two stalls. Last year they only had one stall offering ‘Inasal na manok’ and ‘Inasal na baboy’ which also attracted a big number of international patrons. Regina is an innovative migrant from Olongapo City where she grew up. After her family migrated to Australia, she took up Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology from Victoria University of Technology in Melbourne and she now works as a laboratory technician. Hubby James, graduated from Northern Melbourne Institute of Tafe (NMIT) as a Chef. This year he has been to the Philippines three times to further discover the Pinoy’s culinary culture and the secrets of Pinoy recipe. Pinoys in NSW ethnic council THREE Filipino-Australian community leaders were elected to the Ethnic Community Council of NSW during its AGM and elections last month at the council’s headquarters in Waterloo. APCO founding president Dr Cen Amores and Adhika chairperson Josie Musa were elected to the 12-member Board of Management while current APCO president and ASCON chairperson Ruben Amores was elected to the members forum. “I feel so blessed because we have a legitimate voice of the Philippine-Australian community in the ECC-NSW, the peak body of different ethnic communities,” said Dr Cen Amores. “We initiated this with the help of all ADHIKA Inc members composed of a network of the Pinoy community radio broadcaster-producers. This is a big opportunity and challenge ahead for us being members of the board of the ECC-NSW’s newly elected team,” said Josie Musa. Peter Doukas was re-elected unopposed for his second term as Chair with Jack Passaris as the Deputy Chair. The ECC NSW Board of Management de- Cen Amores, Josephine Musa velops and approves policies and procedures, implements the ECC's strategic plan and manages financial, staffing, and legal responsibilities. The Member's Forum consists of elected officials who, in addition to their governance responsibilities, may act on behalf of the management, act on issues referred from and monitor action taken on decisions made by the board. Some government officials who attended this year’s AGM were Parliamentary Secretary for Communities Dr Geoff Lee MP, who represented Premier Mike Baird; the Hon Sophie Cotsis, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism who represented Leader of the Opposition Luke Foley MP and Dr Mehree Faruqi, a member of the Greens NSW Upper House and former Premier Barry O’Farrell. LAND FOR SALE Located in Village East Executive Home (Cainta, Rizal). 267 sq. m. Fully paid. First owner. For more information, call Sol Chan (H) 9829 4321, (M) 0425 215 321