PIANIST PERFORMED IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD
July 2017 THE CANBERRA REPORTER | 3
POLITICS
A MAN ’ S BOLD PLAN TO LIFT FILIPINOS OUT OF POVERTY
Esguerra ’ s vision starts with forming a new political party
IT MAY sound like reaching for the stars , but one visionary believes he ’ s found a way to rid Filipinos of poverty . Canberra-bred economist , IT specialist and politically bent Victor Esguerra is so passionate about his conviction that ’ s he ’ s moving back to the Philippines to make his vision work . In his bold and ambitious plan , Esguerra has put together a set of principles and objectives to achieve his end . “ The objectives are simple and focused ,” he said : “ Eradicate poverty and bring dignity back to the people , expunge corruption at all levels , and stop pollution .” In a briefing to the Filipino press in Sydney on Friday , June 16 , Esguerra said that to make his plan to end poverty in the Philippines he would form a political party and win government . “ It will be a government that would fund loans to entrepreneurs , just like banks and lending institutions but at no interest ,” he said . “ This would help put more people into jobs and provide more purchasing power to keep businesses and industry growing .” Will he run for election ? “ No . Definitely no ,” Esguerra says . “ That is not in my plan .
IMMIGRATION
VICTOR ESGUERRA
ment ”, the root cause of poverty . “ Only when you know the root cause of poverty can you devise a way to eradicate it ,” Esguerra said . “ To explain the root cause of poverty would take me at least three chapters of a book , which obviously I cannot do in this publication . “ Suffice to say that it has to do with two things : Firstly , the economic system we are running ( in the Philippines ) today is dependent on continuous growth of GDP “ Secondly , expansion of the economy ( in the Philippines ) is driven by the expansion of credit . The top economists in government will say that credit is good because it is the driver of the economy , according to Esguerra . “ Well , actually , this is not correct ,” he said . “ This is where I differ from those who follow the principles of Harvard economists . “ There is a way that government can expand the economy without going into debt . There is a way that the country ( Philippines ) can grow its economy without any foreign investments .
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Engaging with its stakeholders
THE Australian Government announced funding in the 2017-18 Budget for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection ( DIBP ) to engage with the market to enhance the way it delivered visa and citizenship services . DIBP released a consultation paper recently to launch engagement with the market on this transformational program of visa reform . The consultation paper Delivering Visa Services for Australia is available on AusTender . It outlines DIBP ’ s vision for visa reform and seeks feedback on the roles the market could perform in designing and delivering the future visa and citizenship business . This is an opportunity for the market to be involved in the critical transformation of visa services in order to better facilitate high-value travellers , increase efficiency in processing and improve the overall visa applicant experience . •
COVER STORY
One woman ’ s keys to people ’ s hearts
PIANIST PERFORMED IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD
By MARILIE BOMEDIANO
IT TAKES remarkable creative talent 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 in all walks of life .
Hildegarde Palafox Mendoza , 60 , played accompaniment at Pope Francis ’ s 5pm Mass in The Vatican in 2013 ; performed recitals in the United States , Switzerland , Austria , Germany , Cambodia , the Philippines , and here in Australia . She is also a music educator and choir conductor , had trained at both the piano and pipe organ . In 2007 , Mendoza became official accompanist for Sing Australia Choir ’ s tour of Greece and Turkey , performing at preparations for Anzac Day ceremonies at Gallipolli .
TOURING . She was one of the official piano accompanists on the Austria-Australian Choir tour of Vienna , Salzburg , and Cologne . Following the death of her husband Douglas Mendoza in 2006 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 in all walks of life ., Mendoza continued to perform , mostly for charity around the ACT and NSW .
She is a regular piano accompanist of the Sacred Heart School Choir , Con Brio , Jumping Gateway Choir for people who are socially disadvantaged , and the Andante Andante ( ABBA ) Choir . Mendoza was also a regular accompanist for Canberra ’ s own Filipino string band Rondanihan under its founder and former conductor Roy Ramirez .
“ I want to give something back to society in return for everything I have enjoyed in life ,” she said . Hildegarde was the eighth child of Dr Felino and Natividad Palafox .
She completed a scholarship at the University of Santo Tomas ’ s conserva-
HIDEGARDE PALAFOX MENDOZA
SCEPTICISM . Responses to a quick survey of local political pundits in the Filipino community showed overwhelming scepticism over Esguerra ’ s blueprint . “ I like his vision , but doubt his success ,” one observer said . “ Winning government with a new political party is already next to impossible .” “ The devil is in the detail . It won ’ t work , but I wish him well .” Esguerra stands his ground , however . Using his IT background , Esguerra said developed money flow diagrams that helped in the analyses of just exactly how money worked in a normal business cycle . He said he was able to work out what it was that “ really caused impoverishtory of music in Manila “ I became very active with the UST choir in 1973-77 ,” she said . “ I accompanied UST Action Singers on the piano at national competitions .”
DOCTOR . Her husband was a doctor who specialised in tropical medicine , a medical missionary of World Vision International and under the supervision of the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau ( AIDAB ). Mendoza studied piano and organ at the Yamaha Music School , church music in the United States , studio teaching , singing , and advance choral technique .
She is a member of the American Guild of Organists based in Boston , Massachusetts USA ; and the Royal School of Church Music in Canberra . Mendoza release a solo CD album , Inspiring Moments , a collection of her piano pieces . She is now working on her second album , Love Notes from Hildegarde .
Indeed , the pianist ’ s keyboard keys can ’ t stop making music for all who care to listen in the ACT today . •
CLEANUP AUSTRALIA
Alumni doing their bit for Oz
EAGLESBLUE , better known as members of the Ateneo Alumni Australia , joined the CleanUp Austalia Day campaign on Sunday , June 25 , 2017 . A team of nine started the day off at 10am with tree-planting on Clarkes Point Reserve in Woolwich NSW . At 11am the team moved to Betts Park and surrounding area to clean up the shoreline , bush , and run-off from Gladesville Reserve . Hunters Hill Council staff provided the team with tools , gloves , garbage bags , and seedlings for the day . The staff also prepared the plant beds for the Ateneans . •
IN PICTURE at Betts Park , from left , former AAA president Arlene Amor , Karen Calayag , and president Tiffi Avila .