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www.philtimes.com.au the philippine times JANUARY 2016
The Philippine Times yearender: A toast to the best among us
Reby Gaw
Atty Aida Garcia (left) was awarded Citizen of the Year
The year 2015 has seen
several powerful and compelling stories about our
lives here in Australia. As we
in The Philippine Times celebrated our 25th anniversary
on the year that just passed,
we recall the important milestones and issues. This is
our tribute to the Filipinos
who achieved great heights
and did us proud and our
chronicle of community undertaking worth our careful
attention.
Achievers in our midst
Cyrus Villanueva capped the
year of victories when he
clinched the title X Factor
Australia 2015, following
Marlisa Punzalan’s win in
2014. Cyrus was a star-inthe-making with singles
outranking Adele and Justin
Bieber even before he was
declared the winner.
Filipino Australians also
figured in the area of civic
service when they garnered
awards from the Govern-
Filipino-Australian Adam de Leon (left) as young Simba in
The Lion King.
ment. Filipino Community
Council of Australia National President Atty. Aida
Garcia was named National
Australia Day Council Citizen of the Year; Walter Villagonzalo, founder of the Migrant Hub, Wyndham City’s
Citizen of the Year 2015 and
Community Engagement
Award; Ben Hur Winter,
Governor’s Multicultural
Award for Arts and Culture,
and Manny Asuncion, writer
and founder of Dulaang Bay-
an Melbourne Inc, Victoria
Multicultural Commission
Community Award.
Shining in the arts
Filipinos have always been
known to excel in singing, dancing and acting.
Demi Sorono, finalist of So
You Think You Can Dance
Season 1, shared her story
through hip hop, theatre
and song in a show called
“A Touch of Grace: Shadow
Warrior”.
This act was likewise featured in the Fringe Festival,
for which she shared stellar
billing with fellow Filipino
Australians Emily Stelky and
Dianne Miranda, director
and choreographer, respectively of the one-woman play
“Afterglow”.
Meanwhile, Adam de
Leon was cast as the young
Simba in the Melbourne season of The Lion King.
Larger than life
What better way to depict
life than through art. Some
of our Filipino-Australian
artists celebrated their life
journeys through the canvass. Ben Alvarado, who
celebrated his 25th year in
Melbourne, exhibited art
pieces inspired from his
sojourn through life.
Joel Magpayo, renowned
artist and resident editorial
Artist Caesar Sario
cartoonist of The Philippine
Times, held an exhibit of
his work called “50 Hues of
Gold” as an anniversary gift
for his wife with whom he
shared 50 years of marital
bliss. The gesture is a sweet
dedication of love, much
like the serenade of a young
suitor.
Other artists who had
their exhibits in 2015 were
Turs Simsuangco and Caesar
Sario.
Entertainment 2.0
A song can trigger a lot of
memories—happy, sad and
nostalgic. This is amped
even more with songs of
yesteryears, perhaps of our
childhood or young adulthood. So when Filipino talents come over, we are eager
to sing and jam with them,
if only to bring back what’s
hidden in our hearts.
Asia’s Queen of Song
Pilita Corrales entertained
us with song and humour.
A timeless entertainer,
Pilita sang and swayed
with her audience and even
accommodated selfies with
fans. Disney ’s princess
sweetheart Lea Salonga,
world class entertainer and
our pride also graced the
Melbourne stage.
Others who have come to
give us a grand time include
The Voice Kids alumni Lyca
and Darren Espanto, Concert King Martin Nievera,
Eraserheads former lead
vocal Ely Buendia, comedy
actors Melai and Atak and
a slew of comedy bar stalwarts, soul singer Jaya and
Kapamilya performers led by
Aiza Seguerra, Eric Santos
and Angeline Quinto.
While there are Filipino
films available every now
and then, we were in for a
treat with movie screenings
of Filipino blockbuster films,
way better than catching
them on DVD. A Love Affair, Etiquette for Mistresses
and A Second Chance were
shown in local cinemas.
Hurrah for sports
Aside from entertainment,
sports is among activities
that bring Filipinos together.
Boxing fans were not to be
Lea Salonga sang a duet with a member of the production crew
AUSTRALIA DAY
C E L E B R AT E
Y O U R WAY
Australia Day means something different to everyone, and it’s important
you do what’s right for you. So on January 26, reflect on what you love
about being Australian.
australiaday.org.au #australiaday
Augusto Caesar Amonsot
keeps PABA Super
Flyweight title