The Canberra Reporter The Canberra Reporter | Page 2

4 THE CANBERRA REPORTER | October 2016

LAFF REPORT- CAUGHT ON CAMERA

In a random survey of Filipino-Australians in the Canberra area , respondents answer the question put to them by reporter MARILIE BOMEDIANO :

What has brought you to Can-

EDITORIAL

Stepping up to the plate brave enough

TWO of the ACT ’ s best qualified candidates for seats in the 2016 Legislative Assembly were the first Filipino-Australians to ever step up to the plate . Both missed out , but it was a brave effort by Liberal bet Jessica Adelan-Langford and the Greens ’ Indra Esguerra , considering their parties were not expected to fare well against Labor at the polls .

Labor won in 38 % of the vote , Liberal 36.7 % and the Greens 10.3 %. Swing against Labor was -0.5 %, Liberal -2.2 %, and Greens -0.5 %.

There were eight other parties , and groups , way down in the polls .

Notably , for the Filipino-Australian community it was heartening to see Langford and Esguerra setting an example to the rest of us to ‘ walk the talk ’ about integration into mainstream Australian society .

To put one ’ s credentials on the line in a bid to be of service to ratepayers ’ and residents ’ needs is , arguably , the best credible act of integration into Australian society .

SUCCESS . Beyond our ACT borders , we have just seen the remarkable success of six Filipino-Australians at the local council elections of September 19 , 2016 :

Elected to Blacktown City Council in Sydney ’ s west were Jess Diaz ( re-elected ), Linda Geronimo-Santos , Frederick Brillo , and Jaymes Diaz for the Liberal Party .

Carol Israel was elected for the Labor Party .

That brought the number of Filipino-Australians in Blacktown Council to five , in a council of 15 .

In addition to them , Rey Manoto became the first Filipino- Australian elected to Campbelltown City Council in Sydney ’ s southwest .

We have been informed and reminded that all six were voted in , not solely by the Filipino community , but by a majority of local mainstream voters .

MARK MANANTAN , 27 Acton

I have chosen Canberra because it has the Australian National University ( ANU ), one of the leading Asia-Pacific universities , especially in terms of my course specialising in international relations . I think the environment here is a perfect mix of the Australian culture as well as having the central

ATING WIKA sa Tagalog

LEILANI FOX , 45 Weston Creek

After myi father ’ s extended visit to Australia from the Philippines many years ago , my family came and settled in the ACT when I was only six months old . I love Canberra ’ s small town feel and the facilities of a big city . It ’ s been voted consistently by the OECD as the best place to live . Great schools , great health care ,

Matalik na pagsasamahan

Ulat ni GLORIA ROSS

SA ISANG artikulong sinulat ng Punong Ministrong Malcolm Turnbull sa babasahing Australian Economic Review kamakailan lamang , sinabi niyang ang mga bansang Singapore at Australya ay may malaking pagkakatulad dahil sa ang mga ito ay parehong panirahan ng iba ’ t ibang lahi , may mataas na antas nang edukasyon at may bukas na ekonomiya . Sinabi rin ng Punong Ministro na ang ugnayang Singapore at Australya ay nahubog noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig na kung saan 1,700 mga sundalong Australyano ang nasawi sa pagtatanggol sa

bansang Singapore . Kumbinsido si Ginoong Turnbull na parehong makikinabang nang husto ang dalawang bansa sa kanilang matalik na ugnayan at pagtutulungang pang-ekonomiya sa kasalukuyang panahon . Gayundin , natatangi ang Pilipinas sa Timog-Silangang Asya bilang isang malapit na kaibigang bansa ng Australya . Ang ugnayang ito ay nahubog din sa panahon ng nakaraang digmaan nang tumulong ang mga Australyano sa pagpapalaya ng Pilipinas mula sa pananakop ng bansang Hapon . Ang magkakaratig bansang ito - ang Australya , Singapore at Pilipinas ay nararapat na patuloy na humanap ng

Y CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER Y

REGINALD ENRIQUEZ , 21 , Waramanga

My family moved to Canberra in 2011 . Canberra offered us a nice , friendly and relaxing environment starting with the Cockington Green Gardens in Nicholls . We have been impressed with the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex , the Australian Institute of Sport in Bruce ,

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