Ang Kalatas Volume IV February 2014 Issue | Page 12

12 COMMUNITY ROUND-UP Volu Volume 4 | Number 5 February 2014 www.k www.kalatas.com.au With MARILIE BOMEDIANO Vietnamese community supports Haiyan survivors A total of A$92,006.00 was handed over by the Vietnamese Community of Australia (VCANSW) to ActionAid Australia recently to support fundraising initiatives for Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) survivors. llThe cheque was given to Ac- tionAid fundraising head Michael Fogarty by VCA NSW president Thang Ha in the presence of Philippine Consul Marford Angeles at a cultural event in Cabramatta. VCA vice president Dinh Tran said the gesture from their community was also their way of giving back to the Philippines which he said opened its doors for the Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s. “After the end of the Vietnam War 1975, a lot of Vietnamese fled from persecution and went to Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and the Philippines,” Dinh Tran said.. “The one noble difference in the Philippines was that the Filipino people welcomed us. They didn’t lock us up, they didn’t send us away, they didn’t rob us, but helped us with open arms.” Since the late 1970s, an estimated 200,000 Vietnamese refugees landed in Philippine shores. The NSW Vietnamese community drive was supported by the Alliance of the Philip- pine Community Inc. (APCO) which campaign with three street collections. The APCO raised $11,175 in Bankstown, $3,955 in Canley Heights, and $11,780 in Cabramatta $11,780 including 4,071 worth of coins. A concert was held in the VCA Cultural Community Hall, with New Stars Band’s singers followed by a fund drive led by.Miss Philippines-Australia Melanie Balagtas. Donors included a Marrickville woman who made and sold origami paper birds for the cash drive. Action Aid Australia operates a relief programme for vulnerable people like women, children and the elderly providing survival kits for the Haiyan survivors. Mr. Thang Ha, President of Vietnamese Community of Australia- NSW (VCA-NSW ) handed a check to Mr. Michael Fogarty, Head of Fundraising at ActionAid Australia worth AU $92,006.00 Haiyan Aide witnessed by Philippine Consul Marford Angeles Tribute to Mothers 2014 Plaza Filipino Inc and Global Ilocanos Australia Inc. collaborated to stage ‘Tribute to Mothers 2014’ in their ‘A Night to Remember’ dinner concert held February 2 at the Burwood RSL. llThe event also saw the induction of the groups’ new officers. The event also opened a fundraising for Typhoon Haiyan survivors. MP L aurie Ferguson, member of Werriwa, led the induction of officers for the Plaza Filipino with Ms Rise Roux as its new president. MP Chris Hayes, federal member for Fowler led he induction of officers of the Global Ilocano with Remi Macina as its new president. Ms. Ms. Elizabeth Escandor from Aparri Cagayan was crowned as Mother of the Year 2014 followed by 1st runner up is Ms. Maria Eleanor Padilla, 2nd runner up Ms. Gwendolyn Apalisok, 3rd runner up, Ms. Cleotilde Baltazar and 4th runner up Ms. Rosalina Lay. The rest of the “Tribute to Mother’s Day Honorees” were Ms. Dian Ford from Tacloban, Leyte, Ms. Leticia Lomo from Tuguegarao, Lee Meekan from Abra, Ms. Penelope Perfecto from Bicol and Ms.Carmencita Thompson from La Union. “Tribute to Mother’s Day Honorees” were awarded by Daisy Ann Cumming, immediate past president (IPP)PFI Inc.