VOL 1, N0 10
JULY 2017
Keys to
people’s
hearts
EVEN as she followed
her late husband on
his work assignments
across the world, this
accomplished piano
accompanist from
Amaroo ACT went about
sharing her musical
talent with people of all
walks of life.
n FULL STORY ON p3
Canberra man’s plan to
rid Filipinos of poverty
HILDEGARDE
PALAFOX MENDOZA
Photo:
Marilie Bomediano
n Story on p4
Fashion show, social ball for a double celebration
CANBERRA MARKS 119TH YEAR OF THE DECLARATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
CECILIA
FLORES
CANBERRA celebrated the 199th
anniversary of the Philippines’ dec-
laration of independence with two
successive functions this year.
The first was a Diplomatic Re-
cepntion featuring a fashion show,
Habol Ilonggo: A Heritage of Tradi-
tion Weaving, held at the Hyatt Hotel
on June 19, 2017 showcasing works
of four Filipino fashion designers
from Iloilo in southern Philippines.
The second was an annual Indepen-
dence Day Ball on June 24 hosted by
the Filipino Community Council of
the ACT (FCC-ACT) at the Corinna
Ballroom of the Canberra Southern
Cross Club.
The fashion show featured designs
by PJ Aranador, John Montinola, Sid-
ney Eculla, and Jun-G Candelario and
was organised by the PhilippineEm-
bassy, the Philippine Consulate in
Sydney, the Department of Tourism
Region VI and the Tourism Promo-
tions Board.
It showcased 64 hand-loomed pieces
as part of their collection of evening-
resort wear, the jet-set traveller, eve-
ning red-carpet gowns, and wedding
gowns.
A highlight of the FCC-ACT ball
was a Filipino Fiesta cultural presen-
tation. It was a cultural fusion of the
traditional Fiesta and Santacruzan.
In her address, Philippine Ambas-
sador Minda Calaguian-Cruz said she
took pride in citing the Philippines’
chairing of the ASEAN 50th anniver-
sary by leading agenda formulation in
the region.
Members of ACTFA-SCA, Philip-
pine Cultural Society, and Filipino
Language School Canberra contrib-
uted a Filipino dance and presentation.
The Rondanihan rondalla welcomed
guests with some renditions of
classic-traditional Filipino music.
Hildegarde Palafox-Mendoza played
Filipino kundiman music on the
piano.
Members of ASEAN neighbours,
from the Laotian and Vietnamese
communities took part in a cultural
dance presentation.
Vhivien Puno, a star-in-the-making,
sang a number.Solid Gold Band got
dancers on the floor. n