THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 7 Number 1 | OCTOBER 2016
NEWS
3
Finally, more Fil-Aussies
take seats at city councils
By Titus Filio
Filipino-Australian
politicians scored well at the
last local elections winning
seats in city councils. Newly
elected councillors at the
Blacktown City Council
included four Fil-Aussies
belonging to the Liberal
Party and one from the Labor
Party; in Campbelltown, a
Fil-Aussie from the Labor
Party also took a seat in their
city council.
Father and Son tandem at council
Liberal Councillor Jess Diaz, a lawyer, seasoned in
Blacktown city politics after two terms retains his seat in Ward
1. It’s a big year for the Diazes as son Jaymes (Liberal) joins him
in the council. Jaymes is back in the political scene after a rather
stormy run for a Greenway parliamentary seat in 2013.
The father and son are moving on from bitter political battles
in the past and are now just raring to get to work together in the
council to push their vision – for the party, for the community.
For the senior councillor, there is so much work to be done.
“I am passionate to lift not only the perception but also in
reality the image of Blacktown. The City gets little attention and
sits like a vacuum between Parramatta and Penrith, The Hills and
Liverpool,” he told AK.
“As a Liberal, it can only come about in the changing
demography in the growth areas in Blacktown, similar to what
happened in the Norwest area. In the same vein, the face of the
City, the CBD must be lifted.”
Councillor Jess Diaz said that in a multicultural city like
Blacktown, people must accept and recognise the strong
representation of different ethnic groups in the Council.
“If people feel genuine ownership of the City, natural pride
ensues and respect for one another will promote peace and
harmony and the common goal of “progress” can be achieved.”
For Jaymes, he is ready to work on specific advocacies
addressing long-term problems hounding communities in
Blacktown.
“As a second generation Filipino-Australian, I am aware of
my cultural heritage and I am familiar with Filipino-Australian’s
struggle for economic upliftment. The situation in many parts of
Blacktown is not dissimilar with Filipinos caught in the cycle of
welfare dependency in many parts of Sydney,” he said.
“In Australia welfare dependency has been perpetrated by certain
political parties for political dominance. I advocate for genuine early
intervention in family support, employment and education to break
this vicious cycle of welfare dependency. This will allow a person to
have greater self-esteem and control over their life.”
It is a remarkable year for the young Diaz who is making a
comeback after a bitter election-related media-bashing experience
he wenth through a few years ago. Lessons had been learned.
WORKING TOGETHER. Councillors Jaymes and Jess Diaz at their law office in Blacktown
“I said and believe that criticisms can only energise a person
especially in politics, knowing that what is in the public arena is only
half truths. One is not defined by one’s error or mistake, particularly
one orchestrated or set up. As I said, people only know half truths,”
Councillor Jaymes Diaz said.
“It is also part of breaking the stereotype of what a representative
looks like and breaking the bamboo ceiling,” he said.
“I am grateful to the people
of Blacktown for giving me a
chance to prove I can make a
difference and that’s something
I don’t take for granted and I
will do my best to work hard to
represent them.” - Cr Jaymes
The young Diaz is busy preparing for his new role and is drawing
on both his experience as a lawyer of good standing and by being the
son of a veteran Liberal councillor.
“Filipinos have always been respectful and look up to their elders
for their wisdom. My father is a great inspiration and he raised me to
always serve the community so it makes sense that I would also serve
when given the opportunity to do so,” Jaymes said.
Local level politicians
Three newly elected councillors also come from the Filipino-
Australian community.
Liberal Frederick Brillo has been elected in Ward 3; Linda
Santos from the Liberal Party gets a seat in Ward 4. Carol Israel
from the Labor Party will also take her seat in Ward 4.
Outside Blacktown, active Filipino community leader Rey
Manoto from Labor won a seat at the Capbelltown City Council.
Councillor Jess Diaz says he sees the election of Fil-Aussies
to city councils as a pathway being fashioned out for community
members to have their say in politics at the local level.
“Our long-term aspiration for genuine empowerment is
taking shape, albeit in the local level of politics. The pathway is
being fashioned for the posterity of Filipino Australians to take
part in government’s decision-making process in parliaments and
the high-level echelons of power,” Cr Jess Diaz said.
“Filipinos worldwide have demonstrated their capabilities
and intellectual abilities as exemplified by Dr. Jose Rizal, a
Universal Genius. This can only be good for our community to
raise the esteem and standing of Filipinos in Australia.”
Cr Jess Diaz noted the support of the great majority of FilAustralians in the last elections.
“I am personally aware and thankful for the support of
great majority of Filipino Australians. It is, however, sad and
unfortunate that a few ferociously tried to frustrate our efforts and
worked against their own posterity.
“Let’s break the culture of menial or colonial mentality so
ingrained among us often sprouting its ugly head. Our common
denominator is being “Filipino” so first and foremost let us
always remind ourselves of what binds us together.”
Blacktown is home to a big number of citizens with Filipino
descent. Campbelltown meanwhile is also home to a very active
Filipino-Australian community. Campbelltown is home to a
major Rizal Park that opened a few years ago.