The Canberra Reprter The Canberra Reporter APRIL2017 | Page 2

2 | THE CANBERRA REPORTER April 2017 CAUGHT ON CAMERA A random survey of Filipino-Australians in the ACT by Reporter staff What do you do for leisure or entertainment in Canberra? EDITORIAL Fast train travel deal makes a lot of sense CANBERRA to Sydney in two hours. By train. Sounds like riding the ‘Bullet Train’ in Osaka, Japan. According to a recent press report, that’s how fast Spanish train-builder Talgo said its state-of-the-art train would travel, cutting the present running time by half - from four hours to two - between Canberra and Sydney. Spanish executives were in Canberra recently to offer details on running Talgo’s high-speed passenger train between Canberra and Sydney. What was interesting about Talgo’s train, according to commercial director Guillermo Martinez, was that its high-speed train could run on existing tracks between Canberra and Sydney “with little or no modification”. Even more interesting is that, if given the green light, Talgo’s train could be up and running in a year. But there’s more: Talgo said it would bring a demonstration train to Australia on loan - free of charge - to highlight the technology at work. “There would be no cost associated with the trial,” Martinez said. “All of the initial cost for the trial would be borne by us.” Estimated cost of the project: $100 million - or less. This would need to be shared by the ACT and NSW governments. A press time, a public meeting was taking place to discuss the project, including presentations from Talgo representatives. If it’s anything like the ‘Bullet Train’ in Osaka - fast but also quiet, smooth, comfortable and safe – we think the question of bringing this high-speed, state-of-the-art Talgo train to Canberra is a no-brainer. The travelling public would benefit from it and love it. n IVY REYES of Kembah We love visiting the national museums, especially the dinosaur museum with my two children (3 and 5 years old) We visit families as I grew up in Canberra. Canberra’s highlights include the Parliament House, the National Gallery, the War Memorial - all free attractions. For those with kids. Questacon is really the place to be . n RONALD GEPOLLA of Dunlop RUSSELLE TRINIDAD of Queanbeyan It’s fun visiting the landmarks of Canberra such as Parliament House, the War Memorial, Telstra Tower; walking around Lake Burley Griffin, Questacon, The Mint, Deep Space Observatory and, of course, the local restaurants. Then there’s watching movies at Dendy Cinema in Civic or Hoyts in Belconnen, having a picnic at Ginninderra Lake or Cotter Dam, clubbing at the Hellenic Club. n My family and I love to walk around Lake Burley Griffin and admire the scenery. It is also a place where we usually go on a picnic. Most weekends, we go to Lolo And Lola, a pop-up store in Acton Park, to eat Filipino dishes. We frequent Hoyts in Woden to watch movies, and go bowling at AMF Bowling Lanes in Greenway, for some fun and spend quality time. n - Jaime K Pimentel, editor LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Readers are invited to write in about their views and opinions on subjects of public interest. The editor reserves the right to publish letters on any grounds. Readers must comply with a code of ethics that requires fairness, truthfulness, accuracy and an absence of malice and discrimination. Please email letters to [email protected] ROLL CALL FILIPINO-AUSTRALIAN ORGANISATIONS IN THE ACT n Philippine Australlian Association of Canberra & Monaro Region (contact, Joseph Gasendo) n Gawad Kalinga ACT (contact, Sally Barber) n Filipino Community Council ACT (contact, Noonie Doronila) n ACT Filipino Australian (contact, Beewah Snelson) n Philippine Cultural Society (contact, Feding Donaghue) n Rondanihan (contact, Ian Bull) n Filipino Community Sports (contact Ariel Patugalan) n Filipino Language School of Canberra (contact, Arnel Basas n Couples For Christ (contact, Danilax Ambida) n Jesus Is Lord (contact, pastor Eric Marquez) n Philippines Studies Group (contact, Emy Liwag) n El Shaddai Prayer Group (contact, Cesar Lai) n Sampaguita Ladies (contact, Cecilia Flores) n Radyo Filipino Australian (contact, Gloria Ross) SA ATING WIKA Ang panahon ng Kuwaresma Ulat ni GLORIA ROSS Dahil na rin sa kakaibang kasaysayan ng sinaunang mga katutubong Pilipino na unang yumakap sa relihiyong dala ng mga Kastila, ang Krist iyanismo sa Pilipinas sa ngayon, ay iba sa Kristiyanismo ng mga kanluraning bansa. Isang halimbawa na ay ang mga gawain ng simbahan tuwing Semana Santa. Ang pagbasa o pag-awit ng Pasyon na sentro ng lahat ng gawain ng kuwaresma ay katangi-tangi sa paniniwalang Kristiyano ng mga Pilipino na maihahambing sa mga gawaing pag-awit noon ng mga epikong katutubo. Ang mga Pilipino ay may malalim na paniniwala na ang kanilang relihiyon ang nagpapatibay sa pamilya kaya naman lahat ay nagsisikap na makapiling na muli ang kanilang mga kamag-anak o angkan tuwing Mahal na Araw. Kaya naman pangkaraniwang tanawin sa linggong ito ng Semana Santa ang pag- aagawan sa mga pampublikong biyahe upang makauwi sa mga malalayong probinsya ang mga naninirahan at nagtatrabaho sa mga lunsod. Sa bansang Australya naman, makikita kaagad ang mga komersyal na palatandaan ng Semana Santa sa pamamagitan ng mga “hot cross buns” at tsokolateng “Easter eggs” na mabibili na sa pagbubukas pa lamang ng buwan ng Marso. Magpapatuloy kaya ang mga nakaugaliang gawain na ilang daang taon nang bahagi ng paniniwala sa Pilipinas? Ito kaya ay dadalhin ng ilang mga Plipino sa ibang bansang kanilang pinaninirahan ? Ang “Easter eggs” at “hot cross buns” kaya ay magiging pangkaraniwang bilihin sa mga tindahan sa Pilipinas sa panahon ng Semana Santa? n Publisher THE CANBERRA REPORTER (ABN 44149329419) Contact 0423 358 747 __________________ Editor-in-Chief Jaime K Pimentel Deputy Sally Barber Subeditor Violi Calvert Editors Gloria Ross - News Marilie Bomediano - Features Arnaldo De Leon - Motoring Photography Dennis Benedictos Marilie Bomediano Gerry Musa Advertising Rina Benedictos - Canberra Josie Musa - Sydney Admin Josie Musa Legal Counsel Linda (Geronimo) Santos _____________________ Printer New Age Printing, Rydalmere NSW _____________________ Waiver: Opinions expressed by writers do not necessarily belong to the publisher.