SANDIGAN REPORTER

STORYTELLER WITH A FILIPINO AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE

‘THE GIRL IN THE BARRELL’

APROMINENT Blacktown lawyer has released her new book, The Girl In The Barrel, on January 19, 2024 at Kowboy Bar Grill.

The book was written by attorney Linda Geronimo-Santos, under the pen name Andrealinda de Santos.

The author said that her mother inspired the writing of The Girl In The Barrell.

“My mother inspired me to tell the young generation that their dreams come true, and of the danger of poverty in each other’s lives and their families,” Linda said.

She is currently a lawyer at the Geronimo Associates office, in Blacktown, and is an

RETRACTION

by Felix Orcullo Bato Bato sa Langit

> CONTINUED on p3

In my column of the March 2024 issue of Sandigan Reporter, I wrote the story about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr being a drug addict.

I also linked his being a drug addict to the humble polvoron to the point where I called him The King of Polvoron.

I categorically withdraw this comment as baseless and hurtful to all concerned.

n that same column, I also wrote about the government being run by the First Lady and the President’s cousin the Speaker Martin Romualdez due to the President’s incapacity.

I also categorically withdraw that statement and

Book inspired by her mother ENTERTAINMENT

> READ IN FULL p2

Not so well known in Oz

SHE is a Filipino-Australian actress, model, television host, entrepreneur, recording artist dubbed as Asia’s Multimedia Superstar.

Anne Curtis-Smith, recognised as one of the most successful celebrities of the 21st-century in the Philippines, was born in Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia, to Carmencita Ojales, a Filipina from Bolinao, Pangasinan, and >READ IN FULL p4

Her heart and soul goes into any task she takes on

By MARILIE BOMEDIANO

Josiefina (Josie) Cervantes Musa delivers what is expected in any project she’s involved in, a committed, responsible, dedicated, kind, generous and valued leader of the Fil-Oz community.

Despite her busy lifestyle, Josie provides Christian values and traditions to her children, even reaching out to caring for grandchildren as baby-sitters to Cienna, Chelsea, Caylen and the latest addition to the family, Paul. Josie and her husband Gerry raised four children: Geffin, Austin, Jocytte, and Josanne. She was a radio broadcaster-producer of the Radio Kawayan program on radio station SWR FM 99.9 in Blacktown, and of Radio Adhika

on WOW FM 100.7 in Penrith as a volunteer dedicated to issues and activities of the Fulipino communities in the areas and promoting multiculturalism.

The NSW Goveernment recognised Josie’s commitment to community service and was awarded the 2015 Woman Of The Year award for Riverstone.

She founded the organisation, Adhika Inc, with several radio broadcasters, and here she began launching many laudable projects supporting causes such as providing relief to victims of

JOSEFINA ‘JOSIE’ CERVANTES MUSA

THE AUTHOR: Linda Geronimo-Santos, signing copies of her book at the Kowboy Bar & Grill in Blacktown.

EDITORIAL

JAIME K PIMENTEL Editor

BATO BATO SA LANGIT

by FELIX ORCULLO

My retraction

In my column of the March 2024 issue of Sandigan Reporter, I wrote the story about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr being a drug addict.

I also linked his being a drug addict to the humble polvoron to the point where I called him The King of Polvoron.

I categorically withdraw these comments as baseless and hurtful to all concerned. In that same column, I also wrote about the government being run by the First Lady and the President’s cousin the Speaker Martin Romualdez due to the President’s incapacity.

I also categorically withdraw that statement and apologise to all concerned for the hurt that this may have caused them. n

A sincere opinion withdrawal Tale of two supermarkets

WE willfully and sincerely retract all allegations, judgements, interpretations, and comments attributed to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos jr in the BATO BATO SA LANGIT column on page 2 of the first Sandigan Reporter issue dated March 2024.

We are withdrawing all copies of the publication, digital and print editions, from circulation.

It was this editor’s misjudgement that allowed the column’s content to pass the test of credibility without being supported by fact and proper attribution.

We are therefore publishing this EXTRA edition of Sandigan Reporter with a fresh column of BATO BATO SA LANGIT by our esteemed journalist Felix Orcullo.

Again, our sincere apologies to President Ferdinand Marcos jr. n

LIKE everybody else, I also feel the pinch of the rising cost of living. Since the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the cost of food and groceries offered by the two largest Australian supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths.

Colesworth for short. There have been allegations of price gouging between the two big players.

At the time that the consuming public is suffering from the big increases in prices, Colesworth both posted hefty profits. Enter the Government wishing to look into the operations of Colesworth on account of complaints from the suffering public.

There is now a Federal Government inquiry into alleged price fixing and how Colesworth was using its strength deal with their suppliers.

The Greens are even proposing that Australian Competition and Consumer Commission be given extra powers to enable it to break the operations of Colesworth if they are found to be in breach of anti- competition laws. n

Are our community organisations helpful to us?

WHAT do you gain from community organisations?

There are many organisations in the Australian Filipino community; in fact one joke suggests that say there are more organisations than people.

In reality, organisations do a lot of good things.

They address a variety of passions:

time-wasting activities especially for the elderly - such as going to beautiful places together, dances and other social activities, the opportunity to dress well, do gentle exercises, socialise to learn about the state of health, work together to do charitable activities such as collecting donations to help those affected by disasters or difficulties in life, worship

THAT’S MY POINT

together; help in the availability of work, cheap housing, aid ,and other life-sustaining activities.

We must help and participate in the stimulation of these organisations.

Living abroad is also very difficult. Especially if you’re alone or isolated.

For many reasons, such as shyness, lack

Filipino customs that we should not abandon

OUR Filipino culture and values dictate a respect of elders, humility; being friendly and accommodating, and lots of other things such as ‘utang na loob’ (I owe you one).

Living in Australia we have now realised that yes respect can still be given to what is due but we are also encouraged to be assertive.

And this is so true with our children as they learned from school.

For us Filipinos who grew in the Philippines, this is unthinkable - of talking back to your parents, to your elders, grandparents, uncles and aunties, and even to older siblings.

You do not talk back or assert your rights. It

by TOM BAENA

is a bit of cultural shock for the first-generation Australian Filipinos - having to put up with their growing children talking back and asserting their rights whether wrongly or correctly.

This, however, is not the real problem because in time - as Filipinos are being well-known for - is

Hershey crowned Int’l Queen of the Mardi Gras

THE Filipino community’s ‘Hersey’ was crowned Sydney’s 2024 Miss International Mardi Gras at a pageant in The Orion centre in Campsie, NSW on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

The 14th pageant comprised candidates from Sydney’s SoutheastAsian communities and orgasnised by Flagcom (the Filipino Lesbian and Gay Community) to celebrate Sydney’s 46th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival between February 16 to March 3.

About 500 people from different ethnic communities packed the auditorium for colourful entertainment and a coronation program.

Twelve candidates in stunning costumes strutted their stuff, with the winner ‘Hershey’ paraded in a luxury car.

Heshey was followed by 2024 Rainbow Princess, ‘Melanie’, of the

LANGUAGE

‘Do not be ashamed of

THE NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government in NSW, Jihad Dib (in picture) once told the annual conference of community language teachers that he used to be embarrassed by his name and the language his parents spoke.

“All the other kids at school from

Her heart and soul into it all

natural disasters; equipment for schools; a scholarship program for school children, assistance to orphanages, annual gift-giving and apostolate projects in Australia and the Philippines.

Josie graduated from Bicol University, cum laude, in the Philippines and was an associate professor at Bicol University for 19 years.

She first arrived in Australia in January, 1990 as an AIDAB-EMMS Australian Government Scholar at the Univesity of NSW.

Josie completed an MSc degree in Biological Science (UNSW) and a Master of Arts in Education.

She is the founding president of Maharlika Inc; launched the first Bicol Grand Reunion Group which is now Bicol Communities Leagues.

Josie is co-founder of the Australian Devotees of our Lady of Penafrancia, a member of the Governing Board of the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW, secretary and director of the Philippine Community Council of NSW.

Josie has been an active supporter of Gawad Kalinga through the Young Ambassadors project - along with her family - from the early 2000s to the present.

She maintaining her connections and support with the villages of Gawad Kalinga in Bicol and other parts of the Philippines.

It seems almost impossible to find such an attractive and petite woman in the Filipino community in Sydneylike Josefina ‘Josie’ Cervantes Musa, with the spirit and passion towards so many fulfilled commitments in life. n

Greek, Italian and other European backgrounds felt the same,”Mr Dib said

your mother language’

He told the conference organised by the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools at the University of Technology, Sydney that his parents used to drop him off at a Saturday Arabic Language School, but he never went in.

Mother was book’s

experienced teacher - Linda has taught law subjects and diploma courses in business and management.

The author writes a regular newspaper column, Legal Notes, in a popular community newspaper, Philippine Community Herald, providing insight for a layman on how to address the legal challenges of everyday life.

She serves as pro-bono legal adviser

He used to skip language classes, until one day...

“One day they met the teacher and asked how I was progressing. He told them he had never seen me,” Mr Dib said.

Officially opening the conference attended by over 550 community language teachers, he said: “Today

inspiration

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for two community associations, has been the director of three nonprofit organizations and founded an advocacy group supporting victims of domestic and family violence.

She was elected to a Seat in local government and served as a Councillor of Blacktown City Council. Linda combines her love of writing with her love of helping people, especially the Filipino-Australian community. n

Are community organisations helpful ....

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of money, disability, or lack of friends or relatives, it is difficult to join groups. They become lonely, addicted to vices, spend the night at gambling, sleep on the streets and get sick that no one knows or cares for them.

We also have a lot of issues with some companies. They use it for the sake of the leaders or for the sake of the leaders; they use it for political purposes or to satisfy egos, and so on.

You, what do you think? Do community organisations and society help you? n

Filipino customs we need to keep

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that they can easily assimilate and adopt to Australian life.

But there are unfortunate situations, because these inherent Filipino cultural and values baggage can still prevail, especially in mixed marriages, in particular with Filipino women marrying non-Filipinos, in relation to their marital rights and their property entitlement.

The ‘Pagpapakumbaba’ syndrome will work against the Filipino spouse because in most cases they will just accept coupled with our cultural and Filipino values baggage.

So be assertive and know your rights. n

it is the complete opposite, with kids enthusiastically learning their parents’ languages and embracing their cultures.

“My own kids are immensely proud of their multilingual ability and their family name.

“Community language teachers are the catalyst for that dramatic change.”

Sa pagtanggap sa mga kalahok sa kumperensya, sinabi ng Pangulo ng Federation, Lucia Johns: “Ang Federation at ang mga paaralang miyembro nito ay may mahalagang papel sa pagtuturo ng mga wika at kultura sa NSW at Australia at ang wika ay isang mahalagang kadahilanan sa pagsasama at pakikilahok sa lipunan.

Today there are approximately 250Community languages schools helping students learn and use their community language. They are also

IMMIGRATION

THE Albanese Government will aim to halve Australia’s net migration within two years in a bid to slash the annual intake from a record high of 510,000 by imposing tougher tests on overseas students and turning away workers with low skills.

The new strategy will demand students pass a stronger English-language test and will require them to prove they are genuine students before they enter the country, while making it harder for them to stay if they do not find jobs that help address skills shortages. As well as the changes for student visas, the Government will set up a new “skills in demand” visa with three levels to encourage more workers with the highest skills while discouraging those with few skills. n

open to any student who wants to learn a new language.

The NSW Federation of Community Language Schools represents approximately 250 schools with over 460 locations state-wide.

The NSW Department of Education and Communities provides funding to eligible community languages schools through the NSW Community Languages Schools Program.

There is only one Filipino language school listed in NSW, and that is the Penrith Community Filipino Language School. Contact is Alexis Leones on 0421 602 424. n

>FROM p1

QUEEN HERSHEY, in foreground kneeling, acknowledges cheering audience in packed house. Vietnam community; and 2024 Pink Triangle Princess, Nursajat, of the Malaysian community. n

HERE AND THERE

MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES AUSTRALIA

Not one, but two entries

THE Filipino Australian community enters not just one, but one pair, in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant on May 24, 2024 in the Philippines. They are KIMBERLEE STREET and JENINA LUI.

Ani KIMBERLEE: “Miss Universe Philippines is more than just a pageant, it’s my platform to make a difference, leaving a legacy beyond the crown. I’m ready to embrace challenges, soak up every learning opportunity." n

Ani JENINA: “THE prestigious platform is an opportunity to showcase not only my beauty and intelligence but also her advocacy for cultural appreciation and community service on the world stage." n

SHE is a Filipino Australian actress, model, television host, entrepreneur, recording artist dubbed Asia’s Multimedia Superstar. Anne Curtis-Smith, known as one of the most successful actresses of the 21st Century in the Philippines, was born in Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia, to Carmencita Ojales, a Filipina from Bolinao, Pangasinan, and James Ernest Curtis-Smith, an Australian lawyer.

Anne was the first Filipino celebrity to reach 20 million followers on Instagram and amassed millions more on other social media. Yet she is not well known to Filipino-Australians and the Australian mainstream today. n

Example of Mindanao at inter-faith harmony

ONE of the guest speakers at Interfaith Harmony Week in Sydney on February 3, 2024 was Filipino-Australian photojournalist and community radio broadcaster Maria Eftekharhashtroudi, of Pyrmont, Sydney.

Maria (pen name in media Marilie Bomediano) was invited to the event as media ambassador for the South Korea-based Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL), with its head organisation being Lee ManHee.

The purpose of Interfaith Harmony Week is to promote harmony among the peoples of the world.

Maria said: “Korean War veteran Man-Hee Lee began the fruits of peace by swapping weapons of destruction for life and structures.

“In January 2014, a peace agreement was signed between representatives of Islam and the Catholic Church that promised not to cause conflicts.

“The agreement opened up a new era of peace for Mindanao.” n

SPONSORS

MARIA EFTEKHARHASHTROUDI

ANNE CURTIS-SMITH

KIMBERLEE:

JENINA