Sydney Fiesta Kultura 2017 Brings Colorful Philippine Tradition to New South Wales
Left photo: Hon. Ray Williams extolls the contributions of the Filipino community in NSW to the rich multicultural society of Australia. Center photo: Consul Marford Angeles, congratulates the Philippine Australia Sports and Culture Inc. (PASC) for 29 years of successfully showcasing Philippine culture and values through the Fiesta Kultura. Right Photo: Ms. Kymberlee Street (2nd from left) was crowned as Miss Philippines Australia 2017 and Ms. Carissa Gallacher (3rd from left) as Charity Queen Australia 2017, with Ms. Chynna Palis (leftmost), Miss Philippines Australia 2017 Runner-Up and Ms. Jhoan Molin (rightmost), Charity Princess Australia 2017. (Photos courtesy of Mr. Bob Reyes and Mr. Jojo del Rosario)
06 October 2017 SYDNEY - Consul Marford Angeles was joined by New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Multiculturalism Ray Williams, Member of NSW Parliament Prue Carr, Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali, Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone, Parramatta City Deputy Mayor Michelle Garrard, The Hon. John Dowd AO, and Philippine Australian Sports and Culture (PASC) Inc. President Lolita Farmer in officially opening the Fiesta Kultura 2017 at the Fairfield Showground in Fairfield City, New South Wales on October 02.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Ray Williams who is also member of NSW Parliament for Castle Hill cited that Filipinos or Australians with Filipino heritage make up around quarter of a million of the population in Australia, and that the Filipino community contributes immensely to the social and economic strength of Australia, thus further enriching its cultural diversity.
Member of NSW Parliament for Londonderry Prue Car lauded the Filipino community in NSW for actively promoting their culture and heritage through activities such as the Fiesta Kultura, highlighting the values that Australians and Filipinos share such as such as family-centeredness and religiosity. Mayors Stephen Bali and Frank Carbone and Councilor Michelle Garrard likewise acknowledged the importance of the Filipino community, expressed their high regard, and pledged continuing support in their respective cities, namely, Blacktown, Fairfield and Parramatta.
In his message at the event, Consul Angeles highlighted the Fiesta as a means by which Filipinos symbolically open the doors of their homes to their friends to share their way of life through food music and the arts, in essence, sharing their soul. He mentioned that just as Australia has embraced the Filipino community, Filipinos are welcoming Australia through the Fiesta to have a taste of the Philippines, hopefully to entice them to discover more of what that the country has to offer. Citing the Philippine Chairmanship of the ASEAN this year on its 50th Anniversary, he said that the Philippines is opening its doors wide open and invited Australians to come to the Philippines with their Filipino friends. He congratulated the officials and members of PASC for further cementing strong Philippines-Australia bilateral ties through the Fiesta’s focus on people-to-people connections.
Founded by Mr. Manny Castillo, and currently headed by Atty. Lolita Farmer, the PASC has been organizing the Fiesta Kultura for the past 29 years. The Fiesta showcases Filipino talents, features food stalls, booths selling Philippine products and services, and a Trade Promotion Center featuring products from various regions in the Philippines. The Fiesta also featured a Media Centre manned by several Filipino community media practitioners. Proceeds from the event are donated by PASCI to various institutions, such as hospitals and orphanages in the Philippines, and to fund scholarships for deserving Filipino youth.
A team from the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney led by Consul Melanie Diano had a booth at the Fiesta Kultura, and gave Fiesta visitors information on consular services and the Dual Citizenship process as well as offering Overseas Voters Registration as it has done previously. The Philippine Department of Tourism in Sydney (DOT-Sydney) led by Tourism Attaché Norjamin delos Reyes also had a booth at the event promoting Philippine tourism destinations.
The event was capped by the Miss Philippines Australia and Charity Queen beauty pageant in the evening where Ms. Kymberlee Street was crowned as Miss Philippines Australia 2017 and Ms. Carissa Gallacher as Charity Queen Australia 2017. They will both travel to Manila to turn over donations to an orphanage and to award scholarships to an educational institution later this year. END
For more information, visit www.sydneypcg.dfa.gov.ph
Atty. Lolita Farmer OAM, President of PASC, and Mr. Manny Castillo, founding President of PASC, welcome participants at the opening of Fiesta Kultura 2017. The team of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney stands ready to provide provide information on consular services at its booth at the Fiesta Kultura.
Left photo: Consul Angeles being interviewed by Filipino community broadcast journalist Ms. Josephine Musa. Right photo: Consul Angeles and Consul Diano with Ms. Musa at booths featuring Philippine made products including traditional barong and woven mats.