STORYTELLER WITH A FILIPINO AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE
‘Fuel’ for today’s PinOz younger generation
MORE than 200 delegates were treated to an all-day career and lifestyle program at the first Philippine-Australian FUEL Conference, on Sunday, October 13, at Blacktown City’s Bowman Hall.
Designed for university students and young corporate professionals, the conference offered speed mentoring sessions featuring Filipino-Australian professionals across several disciplines including accounting, medicine, nursing and technology.
An all-day career and lifestyle event, the conference also featured an amazing dynamic lineup of speakers, included the Oscarnominated animator Robertino Zambrano, social media influencer Elysa V and financial adviser Sheila Cabacungan, who shared their insights and strategies for success.
“It’s not all roses, and things do take time,” said Zambrano, referring to his long journey from doing basic graphic design work to his Oscar nomination.
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Voice coach Marcus Rivera, in picture, entertained delegates with a mini-workshop on how to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ properly.
Wellness advocate Paola Llorando brought energy to the room with a Tik Tok routine.
The conference featured a session on ‘How to put “no” in FilipiNO’, a discussion on how Filipinos can learn how to set boundaries in their social life and finances for their mental health.
Representing different generations were Julian Macasil (Gen Z), Rey Morcilla (Baby Boomer), Dr Marietta Languido (health expert and Baby Boomer), Madel Guevarra (Millennial) and facilitator Michelle Baltazar (Gen X). n
Australia underscored as vital source of arrivals
ON the sidelines of the 24th World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Perth, WA, Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco engaged with Filipino community leaders and guests from the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) during the Love the Philippines: Tourism and Travel Forum
The forum provided a crucial platform for enhancing tourism ties between the Philippines and Australia.
Australia was underscored as a vital source of visitor arrivals in 2024, with nearly 200,000 Australians visiting the Philippines as of October 7, 2024. Currently, Australia ranks as the 5th largest source market for Philippine tourism.
“As of October 7, we have welcomed nearly 200,000 Australians already,” Ms Frasco said. n
‘My Dad Never Saw The Beatles’ ‘My Dad Never Saw The Beatles’
Playwright’s what-if story wins 2024 Griffin prize
AFILIPINO-Australian
from Sydney’s Upper North Shore has won the prestigious 2024 Griffin Theatre Award for her musical stage play My Dad Never Saw The Beatles.
Jules Orcullo, younger daughter of Felix and Evelyn Orcullo of Wahroonga NSW won over the judges’ nod, beating two other finalists from 172 entries.
Orcullo accepted her award at a presentation ceremony on July 28, 2024 at the National Arts School in Darlinghurst NSW.
The award came with a $17,400 commission fee that the winner will use to complete her musical play.
Orcullo is a graduate of University of Sydney and
Oxford University with Masters degree in Women’s Studies.
She is a playwright, actor, singer, songwriter, and dramaturg at present working as a dramaturg at the Sydney Theatre Company.
Her debut musical Forgetting Tim Minchin, in which she also starred, premiered at the Belvoir Theatre in July 2023 and was nominated for Time Out Arts and Culture Award for Best Musical for 2024.
Orcullo has held education roles at NIDA, Belvoir, and ATYP, worked as a performer and director on independent new works across Australia and the UK.
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RP a ‘bright spot for investment’
THE Philippines was showcased as one of Asia’s brightest spots and highlighted the country’s capability and growing opportunities in critical sectors such as agriculture and IT-business process management services at the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum (AABF) in Sydney recently.
Speaking at the Forum, the Philippine Ambassador to Australia and current chairwoman of the ASEAN Committee in Canberra,
Hellen De La Vega, pointed out that ASEAN was a prime destination for investment.
“ASEAN countries have implemented measures including liberalising policies. For instance, the Philippines has allowed full foreign investment in renewables.”
Jack Madrid, president and CEO of the IT-Business Process Management Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said the country’s advantage was
rooted in its capable workforce, amidst fears of the AI revolution. The Department of Trade and Industry’s trade and investment promotion office in Australia, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC-Sydney), took part in the forum and pointed out that it “positioned the Philippines as one of Asia’s most promising economies ready to seize emerging opportunities in these key sectors”. n
STAFF WRITER
JULES ORCULLO
Photo: SUPPLIED
MARILIE BOMEDIANO
TOURISM
Photo: DARRYL O’BRIEN
WAT’S DAT THING-O? WHY DON’T I HAVE DAT?
‘CUZ YOU WERE BORN ONE YEAR AFTER ME! DUHH.
EDITORIAL
JAIME K PIMENTEL Editor
Vive la difference
(SIGH) VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!
STICKS & STONES
FELIX ORCULLO
Have you been scammed? I have. And it ain’t so pretty.
HAVE you been a victim of internet scam? If you have, you’re not alone.
Thousands of Australians are being scammed on a yearly basis. And the amount scammed is in billions of dollars.
In 2022, in Australia alone, it was estimated that Australians were scammed to the tune of $3.6 billion. In 2023, the amount dropped to $2.5 but it was still staggering.
IT STARTED with a small group of us old-oldies having a pow-wow about how we were going to solve today’s world problems and wars before we kicked the bucket.
Then the subjects went ‘really serious’; no fooling, ‘almost laughable’: How is it that females and males were becoming more and more alike at what they ‘trend’, offered one 80-year-old:
Women have been encroaching on what most of us considered ‘men’s domain’ such as coat-and-tie suits, body-art tatoos, ‘man-size’ watches, playing rugby, sailing solo around the world, and whatever more.
Men folk worried about this female encroachment.
Then came a sober reminder from a 90-year-old: What about the differences that still hold true: Men still have an Adam’s apple and women don’t; women get pregnant and men cannot; men grow taller; boys come with a penis, girls come minus one.
All togetherr now: Vive la difference! n
BRIEFING
The drop has been credited to the vigilance of the fraud authorities and the increase in the awareness of the populace.
Being scammed is infuriating and embarrassing. But you shouldn’t feel that way. Even with the best computer knowledge, many still fall prey to these sick individuals who use their genius in conning people rather than improve our society.
The advice of police and fraud authorities are simple: Do not entertain any phone calls or text messages from someone purporting to be banks, telephone or energy companies, ATO, Post Office, etc.
These establishments do not ring or send texts to customers.
If you get any of these messages, delete them and report them to the fraud authorities. But whatever you do, do not give away your credit card numbers, your driver’s licence number, your tax file number. Just don’t
I know. I was scammed recently.
Long story, but at least the bank gave me credit for the total amount scammed.
I was one of the lucky ones. Many don’t get anything back. Be very careful. n
Student visa program under siege
THERE have been numerous allegations of widespread manipulation of the student visa program and rampant poaching of students by unscrupulous agents.
Universities have reported that some of their newly enrolled international students are either
ghosting by never showing up in classes or are swiftly recruited by competing private institutions shortly after their arrival.
The appeal to students is that they can remain in Australia and pursue a vocational qualification at a fraction of the cost of a reputable program while still gaining
IN MY MIND
access to the job market.
Dishonest agents and certain students are discovering methods to exploit the Australian visa framework.
Some students are opting for less expensive colleges and private universities, which frequently offer shorter programs, while others are
Awakening of Filipino-Australian youth
Filipino-Australian youth to rise to new challenges in this country we now call home.
Over a century later, under the guise of a more peaceful and friendly environment, one is reminded that there is a need for
The need for action of the Filipino youth in Dr Jose Rizal’s time was different, but the need for leadership today has remained the same.
The present younger generation of Filipino-Australians consists of youth who were born overseas; others were
born in Australia.
The influx of Filipino-Australians arriving in Australia has grown in significant numbers since the lifting of the White Australian policy.
There is a wealth of gifted and talented Filipino-Australian youth who can take over the mantle of leadership in Australia. Are they willing? Or, are they barred by the perceived or
violating their visa conditions to enrol in low-cost, potentially dubious vocational institutions.
Moving to a vocational stream renders them ineligible to stay and work after graduation and eliminates the possibility of trying to obtain permanent residency. n
real divisions among groups of Filipino-Australian adult sectors?
To these youth, let it be said that your sense of leadership is strong and should shine in the wider arena of Australian society. Let nothing stand in the way to success. You, the youth of today, are badly needed. You are the present and the future. n
TOM BAENA
LINDA GERONIMO SANTOS
DR JOSE Protacio Rizal’s famous poem, A La Juventud Filipina’, a poem written in Spanish and first presented in 1879 in Manila, inspired the Filipino Youth of his time to reach greater heights.
SYDNEY JOURNALIST RECEIVES WORLD RECOGNITION
A Filipina oozing influence
THE title of ‘Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World’ in 2024 went to Sydney’s mainstream journalist and active Filipino community leader Michelle Baltazar.
Baltazar, editor-in-chief of leading national financial magazine, Money, and an active Filipino community in Australia, was named by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) from among nominees worldwide comprising Filipino women from the United States, Canada, Australia and the Philippines for her devoted activities in mainstream and community media as well as in the Filipino Australian community at large. Her industry expertise and drive have seen her rise through the ranks, making her one of the most
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
high-profile executives in finance media.
Baltazar’s passion for financial empowerment is matched only by her dedication as a volunteer to the Filipino-Australian community for more than 20 years.
She founded the website www.australianfilipina.com.au and has been an active member of several Sydney-based Filipino Australian community organisations.
Founded in 2001, FWN is a global network that celebrates the professional achievements of Filipinas, and connects these women to create a powerful network of mentorship and collaboration. Every year, the Global FWN100 selects Filipinas around the world who are recognised for their leadership and achieve-
Filipino colour at kids’ festival
THE Children’s Festival was “a genius idea” 26 years ago, and today it is even more needed in the world we live in, declared the Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare.
Mr Clare was speaking at the 2024 annual Canterbury-Bankstown Children’s Festival.
The festival held on Sunday, October 27, featured song and dance performances by children as young as four years old from different races, languages and religions - including those of the Philippines - along with mainstream popular culture.
“Australia is a country made up of
SANDIGAN
people who come from all around the world from all different backgrounds, religions, cultures and when they come here to make it their home, we don’t ask you to leave them at border control. We ask you to bring them with you and that’s what makes Australia the best country in the world,” Mr Clare said. n
Tourism figures looking just fine
ONthe sidelines of the 24th World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Perth, WA, Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco engaged with Filipino community leaders and guests from the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) during the Love the Philippines: Tourism and Travel Forum
Organised by the DOT-Sydney Office and the APBC, the forum, held at The Westin, Perth, provided a crucial platform for enhancing tourism ties between the Philippines and Australia.
In her keynote address, Secretary Frasco highlighted the robust performance of the Philippine tourism industry, reporting that tourism receipts in 2023 reached Php 3.36 trillion, contributing 8.6% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). n
ments in the global workplace and their local communities. n
Frankie store comes to town
ANINITIATIVE aimed at helping Philippine small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand their businesses internationally was launched in Sydney recently.
Philippine homegrown retailer Frankie General Store, which specialises in handicraft, introduced a collection of Filipino artisanal products in Sydney’s northern suburb of Balgowlah on October 26, 2024.
Frankie showcased eight Filipino brands comprising Anthill Fabric Gallery, RCB Crafts and Design, Orias Studios, Casa Juan, Artritos, Mafikraktika, Knitting Expedition, and Sibol Organics.
By partnering with Frankie General Store, these brands will gain a threemonth presence with dedicated space in-store and online.
This program facilitates global expansion of the brands. n
Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists
MEMBERS
of the Australian Journalists Association under the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance held a moving vigil in Brisbane recently to honour all journalists and media workers killed over the past two years for the International Day To End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
Most of those deaths have gone unpunished.
The names of 168 dead journalists and media workers were read out and everyone attending the vigil signed a banner pledging to end impunity.
At least 126 of those journalists and media workers have been Palestinians killed since October last year. The mortality rate is more than 10% of the media workforce in Palestine. Those journalists who remain face enormous hurdles in covering the conflict, including the constant risk of more Israeli airstrikes, homelessness, and lack of food, water and other supplies.
Even basic tools of the trade like mobile phone chargers and SD cards for cameras are scarce. To coincide with the Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Saturday, MEAA’s Media Safety & Solidarity Fund has launched a new fundraising appeal for Palestinian media workers as a harsh winter approaches.
Donations will provide shelter, food and clothing for journalists and their families, along with safety equipment for journalists, as requested by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate. n
Source: MEAA website
2024 Griffin play prize to Jules...
She is an alumna of writing programs at APRA AMCOS, Hayes Theatre, Contemporary Asian Australian Performance, National Theatre of Parramatta, AFTRS, Playwriting Australia, ATYP in Australia and The Royal Court, Soho Theatre, and Lyric Hammersmith in the UK.
Orcullo, in picture, is also a founding member of Kallective, developing theatrical works for the Filipinx diaspora in Australia.
Other random quotes from Jules’ interview with Griffin:
“My mum disavowed the notion of any kind of fiction storytelling. From a young age, she wanted me to read science books and encyclopedias; but dad was more on the imaginative, creative side,” Orcullo shares. Her interest for make-believe and fantasy began when she was around 12 years old.
“I have nothing bad to say about my childhood — it was pretty good! But fantasy stories made me think, ‘Hey, what if this was reality?’
“I didn’t use it to escape from anything massively harrowing, but the first thing I would turn to when there was some serious illness in the family were books and writing fan-fiction.
“Fiction made me feel like everything was okay; if not in that particular moment." n
MICHELL BALTAZAR
FASHION ON SHOW
Jiu-Jitsu champion
‘Iceman’ has more than just sports in his mind
Eyes set firmly on international stage
Eyes set firmly on international stage
AFEATURE in this year’s PASC Fiesta Kultural souvenir program was a story on 22-year old PinOz jiu-jitsu champion Isaiah ‘Iceman’ Lazaro, who joined the Philippines’ National Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Greece recently.
Lazaro, in picture, who has been training at the Gracie Barra school of jiu-jitsu in Blacktown City since he was seven years old, has claimed the Australian National Jiu-Jitsu championship, the NSW State Jiu-Jitsu championship; and won the bronze medal at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World championships in the USA.
Isaiah’s ambitions go beyond personal success.
“My aim is to provide a voice for young Filipino Australian athletes and showcase their capabilities on the global stage,” says Lazaro. n
SPONSORS
Multiple awards go to Dulce and Ricky
VIOLI CALVERT
THE only two Filipino-Australians who competed at the I Compete Natural (ICN) World Natural Games on November 1-3, 2024 at the Australian Institute of Sports in Canberra finished with multiple awards.
Dulce Franco, of Perth WA, won the top award - the ICN Angel World Champion - plus five more special awards: Ms Swimsuit Novice, Ms Swimsuit 30+, Ms Swimsuit Open, Ms Bikini 30+, and Ms Bikini Novice
Ricky Solomon, of Sydney, was runner-up in the Men’s Fitness 50+ and was in the Top 10 of the Men’s Fitness Open Class among more than 20 countries in the world.
ICN is spearheading a movement in bodybuilding that puts an emphasis on natural preparation and condition of the body.
“ I never thought I will be involved in bodybuilding,” Franco said. “And what I have achieved has made me so proud of what I can do and able to make my dream come true,” n
