Trivia fundraiser to feed 5000 a day
February 2017 THE CANBERRA REPORTER | 3
NEWS FRONT COVER STORY
Seminar sizes up Duterte ’ s first 100 days
DISTRINGUISHED SPEAKERS AT THE ANU
A SEMINAR to review the performance Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte ’ s first six months in office takes place at the Australian National University ( ANU ) in Canberra on Wednesday , February 22 , 2017 .
Six distinguished speakers will take the floor at seminar room 1.04 of the Coombs extension building No 8 on Fellows Road , ANU , from 12:30pm .
The seminar , ‘ Beyond The Rhetoric : Duterte ’ s First Six Months ’, forms part of the Philippines Forum series organised by the Philippines Project .
It will be streamed live at the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University in Manila .
Speakers comprise Walden Bello , a professor of sociology at the State University of New York ; Christian Monsod , a lawyer who served as chairman of the Philippine Commission on Elections ; economic professor Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista ; and Emerlynne Gil , legal adviser for Southeast Asia of the International Commission of Jurists ; Steven Rood , the Asia Foundation ’ s country representative for the Philippines .
In a press release , Canberra ’ s Philippines Project coordinator Amy said in part : “ What is at stake is the Philippines ’ fragile constitutional democracy , protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms , an enduring peace settlement , and prospects of sustained inclusive economic growth . •
COMMUNITY
Adhika pays tribute to women and girls
A CELEBRATION of women and girls will be Filipino- Australians ’ contribution to mark this year ’ s International Women ’ s Month .
Sydney-based Adhika Inc is organising a big event with the theme ‘ Lakas Adhika Celebrating Women and Girls ’.
“ It will pay tribute the strength of women and girls through real-life stories , poetry and songs ,” said chief organizer Josie Musa .
Canberra ’ s Merlinda Bobis has been engaged to script and choreograph a program presenting real-life stories about how women weather storms with the power of their aspirations – their ‘ lakas adhika ’,
The event takes place in Dooley ’ s Lidcombe Catholic Club ballroom at 6:30pm on Friday , March 17 , 2017 . n
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WORDS DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF THE AUTHOR ’ S PROSE
SHE wrote her first poem at 10 years of age , and said she felt embarrassed when her father showed it proudly to his friends .
Merlinda Bobis is now a multiaward-winning author , poet , scholar and stage performer who has made Canberra her home .
Bobis was born and raised in the Philippines ’ city of Legaspi , Albay , south of Manila in Luzon .
She lectured at three universities in Manila after leaving her hometown at 20 years of age before emigrating to Australia in 1991 , earning a doctorate and teaching at the University of Wollongong for 21 years .
Retiring in 2015 after publishing two award-winning books - more than 40 years after writing her poem , Ang Langgam ( The Ants )
PinOz pair bridges gap at summer fest
TWO Filipino-Australians competed in this year ’ s Summer Festival of Bridge on January 10-22 , 2017 at Canberra ’ s QT Hotel in Acton .
Sally Barber and Susanita Dudley took part in the annual
sporting event organised by the Australian Federation of Bridge ( ABF ).
The competition attracts more than 1000 bridge players including worldclass names from across the country .
It is also an event with workshops Y by celebrity speakers and network meetings of bridge directors and teachers .
The Festival , which started in Canberra , is now on its 45th year .
“ The event offers bridge competition at its finest for players in all levels of players ,” Sally Barber said .
“ It also promotes Canberra as a city and what it has to offer .” •
MERLINDA BOBIS : ‘ I love painting with words .’
Her storytelling ‘ fashions ’ society
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL TRUE LOVERS
“[ Banana Heart Summer ] is poetry in prose , where ordinary things and events are raised to the level of the strange and unfamiliar . Magic .”
~ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY , USA
– joined the Australian National Universy in Canberra as honorary senior lecturer and visiting fellow .
For a woman whose first language is Bicolano , although fluent in both Tagalog and English , it ’ s a remarkable achievement to have her weave words in the English language enough to earn the respect
A packed room at Canberra ’ s QT Hotel in Acton , above , during the Summer Festival of Bridge . Inset at Sally Barber , left , and Susanita Dudley , the PinOz pair who took part in the competition . of her students and admiration of her peers
Critics of Bobis ’ novel , Locust Girl : A Lovesong , wrote :
“ Locust Girl is a transfiguring fiction that asks the reader to reflect on , and see into the hearts and lives of those whom political systems and nations label outsiders .
“ There were many fine and stylistically accomplished works among this year ’ s entries , but the distinctiveness , sweep and visual power of this short novel set it apart . Bobis ’ fabulist , indeed fabulous , narrative enables the reader to imagine what it might look , smell and feel like to be treated as less than fully human .”
From The Boston Globe , 2009 : “ Perhaps only a poet could transform the themes of her second novel into something as gorgeous , disturbing , loving , and oddly hopeful as The Solemn Lantern Maker .”
From Publishers Weekly , USA 2008 : “[ Banana Heart Summer ] is poetry in prose , where ordinary things and events are raised to the level of the strange and unfamiliar . Magic .” •
Trivia fundraiser to feed 5000 a day
A TRIVIA night organised by Gawad Kalinga Canberra and the Philippine Australian Association of Canberra and Monaro raised $ 2,500 for charity recently at the Canberra Bridge Club in Deakin .
Gawad Kalinga used its half share of the proceeds to support its campaign to end hunger in the Philippines through a project known as Kusina Ng Kalinga .
Each Kusina ng Kalinga was scaled to cook up to 5,000 meals a day with parent volunteers serving as backbone of the daily operations . •
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