Pic of the Week 20120730

Rizal's statue stands tall in Australia

The statue of our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal will be unveiled on Saturday 25 August 2012 in the city of Campbelltown, south of Sydney.

"This will make all Filipinos in Australia proud," said Rizal Park Movement Campbelltown (RPMC) President Rey Manoto.

The Rizal statue was made by renowned Filipino sculptor, Eduardo Castrillo and presented as a gift to the Philippine government and eventually donated to the City of Campbelltown.

This 5-meter bronze statue will be among the tallest Rizal statues in the world, the tallest is in Calamba City that stands 6.9 meters, the second tallest in Luneta at 6.2 meters.

"[The statue is a symbol of]  way of sharing with all of Australia, our culture, our heritage and the heroism of our national hero, Dr. Rizal," Manoto added.

H.E. Ambassador Belen Anota, during one of the meetings with the Filipino community leaders declared that Rizal Statue installation at Rizal Park in Rosemeadow is one of her priority projects.

"It is also important for our Filipino youth to understand and become aware of who Dr Rizal was and what he had done for our motherland. It is also significant to tell the world that Rizal fought for non-violent revolution and was the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi," Manoto remarked. 

Rizal formally declared in his writings that reforms could be achieved through peaceful means. With the two books, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, he wrote and the La Liga Filipina he organised, he wanted the people to become aware of reforms.  The irony is after his execution at Bagumbayan, he inspired the revolutionaries to begin the revolution.

With the transformation being done by the Campbelltown City Council at Rizal Park and with the installation of Rizal Statue through the untiring efforts of our Ambassador Belen Anota and Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis, the park is becoming more binding to the Filipinos.  

This Rizal monument will tell stories about his sacrifices and martyrdom, about the heroism he is famous of, his works and his life. The Filipino community is encouraged to support this project of the Ambassador.  

One way of showing your support is by attending the Hero’s Gala Night to be held at Wests League Club at 10 Old Leumeah Road, Leumeah, in Sydney.

This event is the culmination of the fund-raising activities being conducted by RPMC.

Other avenues of support are by becoming a Benefactor for your name to be etched on the metal  Plaque that will be set on the Benefactors' Wall, or by simply buying the raffle tickets.

"The expectation is that this Rizal Statue of this magnitude will bring about renewed enthusiasm about Jose Rizal, for some especially our youth to know him for the first time and for most Filipinos to get to know him better.   Just like those revolutionaries, people will be inspired," RPMC President Manoto said.

Multicultural Media Awards

Nominations for the 2012 Multicultural Media Awards are now open until 13 August 2012.

This will be the chance for multicultural or ethnic newspapers, radio programs, websites and TV shows recognized for the good things that they produce for their audience and the community at large.

“Since the first multicultural newspaper in Australia, Die Deutsche Post,was published in Adelaide in 1848 there has never been a stand-alone award recognising multicultural community media,” said Hon Shaoquett Moselmane, Member of Legislative Council Parliament of New South Wales.

“I encourage all multicultural media outlets to join in this event  – both to further multiculturalism and recognize the contribution of our community journalists,” added Moselmane.

You can nominate for the following categories:

• ·         Contribution to Social Inclusion and Multiculturalism
• ·         Coverage of Community Affairs Abroad
• ·         Coverage of Community Affairs in Australia
• ·         Coverage of Indigenous Affairs
• ·         Editorial / News Reporting
• ·         Investigative Reporting / Feature Writing
• ·         Multicultural Journalist of the Year
• ·         Multicultural Photographer of the Year
• ·         Online Innovation in News Blog or News Website Design
• ·         Television / Radio Feature, Documentary or Broadcast Special

To vote online, please click https://shaoquett.wufoo.eu/forms/multicultural-media-awards-2012/.

You may also submit a nomination by mail to this address:  Office of Shaoquett Moselmane MLC2012 Multicultural Media Awards NSW Parliament House Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000.

Before you submit a nomination, be sure to read the guidelines of the competition from this link: http://bit.ly/mmguide2012

Photos from the Filipino Leaders Conference 2012

Filipino leaders at work at the Filipino Leaders Conference on 28 July 2012. See more photos below.

The first Filipino Leaders Conference in Brisbane last Saturday 28 July 2012 had generated strong interest from the attendees and proposed to hold it again next year and the succeeding years to come.


"When I came this morning I thought this is just going to be a sit and listen activity with a bunch of speakers talking to us, but throughout the course of the day, it was an engaging and a refreshing event," said Mrs Elsie Comino, the president of the Filipino-Australian teacher's Association.

The event was participated by more than twenty leaders and committee officers from various Filipino associations in Queensland, who claimed to have gained knowledge and rejuvenating ideas from the content of the presentations.

"We need to echo these messages to other Filipino organisations as the messages and insights are not only invaluable but inspiring and motivating," said Minda Tinambacan, the leader of the Kabalikat group.

Elijah Buol from the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland outlined the current reporting policies and legal requirements associated with running community organisations.

"We offer coaching and seminars for all migrant groups to assist them to keeping with government requirements and expectations," said Mr Buol who mentioned his email address to be administration@eccq.com.au.

Mr Buol have thorough information of government procedures, policies and tips concerning public liability insurance, running an AGM, the concept of a quorum, profit and loss statement for non-for-profit organisation, among others.

The leaders concluded the day with pledges and propositions which relate to their duties and responsibilities and the predominant messages that had surfaced included: unity for all Filipino organisations, networking with each other, possible set-up of a coregroup, Filipino language education, strong Filipino identity and character, leadership to serve others and not own self, and other realisations.

"After attending here, I wish to also hold the same conference in the Toowoomba region," said Mrs Mena Edmondstone, the president of the Filipino Community Council of Queensland. "It is an excellent leadership professional development for all Filipinos," she added.

The assistant to the consul Ms Reena Johnson spoke about the current wave of Filpino migrants in Queensland and revealed that the estimated 33,000 Philippine-born Australian residents and citizens in Queensland at present is an indication of how invaluable work of Filipino Community leaders are today.

"It's been fun working with the Filipinos as they are intelligent, fun-loving and ingenious people, but there are also some challenges which tell about the seriousness of our work," Mrs Johnson said.

The event was made possible by the contribution from Filipino individuals including Ms Agnes Whiten, OAM, Rev. Fr Marce Singson and others who wish to remain anonymous.

Facilitated by Radio 4EB-FM 98.1's Filipino language program the Filipino Radio Brisbane, the event was made possible by experts within the Filipino Community themselves, including Dr. Idelfina Mateo-Babiano and Mr Zoilo Belano from the University of Queensland, Mr Jose Miciano from Centacare Employment Group, Mr Elijah Buol and Ms Agnes Whiten, OAM, from the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, and Ms Reena Johnson from the Philippine Consulate.

Filipino Radio Brisbane's convener Mr Erwin Cabucos designed the program such that speakers would come from the community itself in order to generated inner empowerment from the people who know best of their own.

"We hope to attract more members and leaders next year as it is imperative that our work and passion will lead to something tangible in the day to day life of Filipino residents and citizens in Australia - and that is the experience of being happier individuals in this part of the world," Cabucos remarked.

Man's inhumanity to man

'The commodification of the human body', 
a contemporary art of Ronald Ventura from the Philippines,  at the  Singapore Art Gallery

The following is an opinion piece by Bing Mesias, a resident writer of Filipino Radio Brisbane

Seems only yesterday when I first heard the phrase from our philosophy professor back in college as she read the paper to us -  of a 5-month old baby raped by her own uncle who babysat for the child.  The baby died.

I was haunted by the phrase many, many sleepless nights later, nay; even now as I remember how we sat in horror as we listened to her read the almost graphic detail of the incident and how she said in the end that yes, tales of man's inhumanity to man is almost endless, from Jesus' time to the present. 

Last week, the phrase rings in my ears again as I read in the papers of the random shooting of some 40 people in a theatre in Denver, Colorado, the report saying that a 6year old girl was among the victims, shot at point blank range.  And even as the world reeled from the dark Friday news, teener Thomas Kelly of Sydney was being laid to rest by his family and friends, dead from an unprovoked attack by a total stranger. 

I read of a little girl of 8, hogtied by her own mother along with her brother, and later suffocated to death.  Of many more gruesome tales of almost barbaric acts of man against man, not to include those lumped together as  "acts of war".  As if war is enough vindication for men to slaughter their fellowmen- as if plunder, rape, burning of people and homes and other vicious acts are okay because there is war. But let's not even mention war at all - even in the best of times like that in Colorado's cinema,  a madman killed at random people he did not even know.  How cruel can man get?

The words of my professor still ring in my ears as clearly now as they did, many years ago.

"Animals attack and kill, yes.  But only for food- because they are hungry.  Only because they are provoked and do so for self- defense.  Only because they perceived a situation as a threat to their young.  Then and only then do they kill. Only then will they attack.  Outside of these situations, animals don't harm their kind.  Nor people. They never harm for the thrill of it.  They don't harm without reason.  Unlike man.. so unlike man."  

Man's inhumanity to man has never stopped through the ages.  No, it did not.  Not even the Biblical passage "Thou shall not kill" has deterred him.  And yet man was made with a heart meant to love.  He was made to His image, and is thus meant to be good. But oh, he kills, how he tortures another.  And  just for the thrill of it.  No reason- he is not hungry.  Nor threatened.  No reason at all- nothing!  He just wants to do it.  Need there be a reason save that of enjoying the act of harming another?  Is this the same creature that God made to His own image? 

Take this- in 1996, 35 people were killed and 23 wounded at a popular tourist site in Tasmania.  In 1999, 13 people were randomly shot by 2 high school students at a Colorado high school, 32 were killed in 2007 at Virginia Tech by 1 gunman, 77 at a political camp in Norway in 2011, many of them students out for a spree.  Closer to home there was the Madrigal family on a holiday in China, killed without reason.  These are the big ones- we don't even include little girls raped then killed and dumped after the deed is done, of Daniel Marcombe just spirited away, the whereabouts of his remains unknown to this day.

When I lose faith in mankind, I try to brush away the thought by focusing on man's innate goodness instead -   of one man saving hundreds of Jews with no thought of his own safety at the height of the Holocaust,  of a little hero going back to a burning house to save another,  of a woman pulling out of a burning car a mother and her child , of a man oblivious of his own safety towing away a victim of a shark attack, of a good Samaritan going down from his car to help a hobbling woman cross a busy street -  these and  many, many more good deeds that truly warm the heart and might have been easily forgotten save in the memory of those whose lives they touched because there were men who cared.  Deeds which make me feel blessed because this indeed is a beautiful world and I'm lucky to be here among my brothers.

And so perhaps I'll just keep on nodding and smiling to complete strangers on the streets, in the shops,  in the various places where I would be.  To accept people  always with the thought that they are my brothers, my family who mean me no harm and we all belong to this specie called humankind.  That sink or swim, we all live together in this one planet Earth.  That yes, God gave all of us a heart.  And that heart was meant to love!

Podcast: radio show 25 July 2012 on 98.1FM, Brisbane

First Filipino Leaders Conference This Saturday

Image source: LOP Leadership.wordpress.com

Filipino Leaders Conference

Leading with integrity and transparency for a happier community

Saturday 28 July 2012, 8:30AM-4:00PM

St Matthew’s Parish Hall, 180 Bryants Road, Cornubia

Phone 0420983188, info@filipinobrisbane.com

AM

8:30-8:50         Registration. Meet and Greet.

8:50-9:00         Welcome

Rev. Fr. Marce Singson, Chaplain of the Filipino Catholic Community of Brisbane

Erwin Cabucos, convenor of Filipino Radio Brisbane, 4EB-FM 98.1

9:00-10:00       “Dynamics of a happier migrant community”

                            Dr Derlie Mateo-Babiano, University of Queensland

10:00-10:30    Morning Tea

10:30-11:30    “Filipino Leadership for the 21^st Century”

Mr Zoilo Belano, International Studies (Peace and Conflict Resolution), University of Queensland

11:30-12:00    Workshop: in search of the good qualities of a Filipino leader

                            Mr. Jose Miciano, Senior Adviser, Centacare Employment Group, Brisbane

12:00-1:00  Lunch

PM

1:00-2:00     “Keeping with government reporting requirements ”

                        Mr. Elijah Buol, Program Manager, Strengthening Ethnic Community Associations, ECCQ

2:00-3:00     “The current climate of Filipino communities”

                                Ms Reena Gabutero Gallardo-Johnson, assistant to the consul, Philippine Consulate, Brisbane

3:00-3:15     Tea and Coffee

3:15-3:40     “Workshop: What can we do? Looking forward…”

             Ms. Agnes Whiten, OAM, Chairperson of Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland

3:40-4:00     Liturgy

                                Efren Altez, former Filipino Chaplaincy Coordinator, Brisbane

                                Acknowledgment

Podcast: radio show 18 July 2012 Cezka Mariz performs live at 4EB!

L-R: Edgar, Cezka, Mar, Marlyn, Ely

Beautiful live radio performance of Filipino-Australian singer Cezka Mariz of her new single 'Hey Baby'. Cezka's parents: Edgar and Marlyn Lapurga spoke about Cezka's childhood and their family's journey involving Saudi Arabia and New Zealand before migrating to Australia in 2007. Cezka Mariz's single 'Hey Baby' is now available in iTunes.

Vote for Cezka to win in the Music Immersive Contest:
http://www.starnow.com.au/competition/StarNow_Music_Immersive_2012/entry/932

Tonight's program also contains interview with the new Filipino Community Council of Queensland president Mrs Mena Edmondstone, speaking about her new vision for FCCQ.

Two Ilonggo songs were played: 'Ciudad Sang Iloilo' by Clique This and ''Linagpang Nga Turagsoy' by Max Surban as prelude to the 'All Ilonggo Songs' Special on Filipino Digital Radio on Saturday 21 July 2012, 7-9AM on 4EB's Global Digital channel. The program can also be heard through the live stream of 4EB's website: www.4eb.org.au

On the panel and broadcasting was Erwin Cabucos. Mar Nur was assisting. Ely Paez was also assisting off-air. Enjoy! 

FCCQ now with a new vision

At the FCCQ 2012 AGM, Murrarrie Community Hall, Brisbane on 15 July

The new president elect of the Filipino Community Council of Queensland, Inc. (FCCQ) Mrs Mena Edmondstone has advocated for more action and transparency within Filipino communities.

In an interview with Mrs Edmondstone, following the result of its annual general meeting on Sunday 15 July 2012, she identifies 'action' as the most urgently desired qualitiy of a leader within the Filipino community.

"Because if there is action, more projects could be achieved," Mrs Edmondstone justifies.

"I also invite all Filipino associations to become members of FCCQ as it is beneficial for them. The door is also open for them to observe in our meetings to witness the changes there are now in the new management of FCCQ," she adds.

The interview with Mrs Edmondstone will be aired over radio 4EB 98.1FM during the Filipino program on Wednesday 18th July from 10PM. In the segment she will reveal her story: her origin from the Philippines and how she migrated into Australia.

The new set of officers for FCCQ's 2012-2013 term is as follows:

President - Mena Edmondstone, Vice-President - Edel Suede, Secretary - Teresita Aquino-Launt, Assistant Secretary - Minda Tinambacan, Treasurer - Josie Gow, Assistant Treasurer - Amy Tanto, and Internal Auditor -Elsie Comino.

The new committee members are as follows: 1. Myrla Prianes, 2. Letty Vendramini, 3. Fe Stokes, 4. Eden Rolfs, and 5. Lisa Zosh. An added role was identified in the AGM: the media officer is now assumed by Erwin Cabucos.

Filipino Radio Brisbane congratulates FCCQ for its successful AGM and its new leadership.

FCCQ's upcoming event the Barrio Fiesta on the 8th of September 2012 is promising to be a sensational celebration of Filipino heritage and culture at Yeronga State School Grounds in Brisbane. Entry fee is $6.00 and a family rate is available. More information is available by calling 0416 689 900.

The proposed new logo of FCCQ (pictured above), if approved, may be used for correspondences of FCCQ to its stakeholders. Some points about the logo:

The back flip grey texts on ‘FCCQ’, showing like a shadow of the red text. It symbolizes transparency that is needed to be maintained in the group. The back flip grey texts on ‘FCCQ’, showing like a shadow of the red text. It symbolizes transparency that is needed to be maintained in the group.

The use of maroon-ish colour signifies our place that is Queensland. The use of the blue, sky blue in particular, is a reminder of the spirit of peace through service that is underpinning the association. It is also reminiscent of the Mother Mary motif which constantly reminds us of the spirituality that is Filipino.

The term ‘happier’ is used to illustrate the simplicity and contemporariness of the group. To be happy is to be fulfilled, active in the community, mentally balanced, charitable, effective citizens of this country. To be happy is the most basic goal that modern man longs for yet can sometimes be illusive. It is the most common term by both children and adults when talk about the destiny of life. It is the end result of every work that a volunteer in FCCQ devotes to.

The address and website is included to create a sense of accessibility to the organization. FCCQ is after all an organization that should care for all Filipinos in Queensland. The Philippine flag and the map of Queensland on the ‘F’ and the ‘Q’ letters are used for apparent reasons.

Get our very own Cezka Mariz to Hollywood

Cezka Mariz, 18, Brisbane-based Filipino-Australian solo artist

Let’s bring our very own Cezka Mariz to world stardom and be with the big voices in the music industry.

Cezka is a Filipino-Australian singer who contends to win the 2012 Star Now Music Immersive Competition.

If she wins she will fly to Hollywood with all expenses paid, take part in the world famous Music Immersive program and work with the great names in the business.

Click on the link below to vote:

http://www.starnow.com.au/competition/StarNow_Music_Immersive_2012/entry/932

You can vote up to 10 times a day until 26 July 2012. Get on with it, everyone! Go Cezka!

What’s her background? Born in Saudi Arabia of Filipino and European traits, Cezka started her passion in singing when she was seven, performing in school programs in Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines.

In 2007, her family migrated to New Zealand where she received private singing lessons for opera through the Performing Arts School of New Zealand. She also took part in the dancing and acting skills training through the performance.net company. From both institutions, she received commendations in singing, acting and dancing.

Her passion for music and performing arts continued when her family moved to Australia in 2002. She took private singing voice lessons through Bright Stars Performing Arts Academy workshops. 

Opportunities as a female lead vocal in live bands for charitable concerts as well as church choir have captivated her. She delivered great talent in leading the CFC-Youth for Christ Praise and Worships as well as a guest performer and as a female lead vocal in a number of concerts and gigs in Australia. On September 23 this year, she will perform in the concert of the popular Philippine band Aegis.

Cezka writes her own songs. In 2011, she was invited by Marg Hynes, Director of the Australian Institute of the Performing Arts (AIPA) to write and record an 8-track album for the 2011 Singer Songwriter Project to be recorded in Los Angeles, California. 

Cezka was also chosen as the McDonald Quest News’ Pine Rivers Press and North Lakes Times Young Stars Award Bi-Monthly Winner in Arts and Education category. She will also be at the 2012 Annual Gala Night for a chance to become the 2012 Overall Winner in June 2012.

Cezka has just finished working on her first single 'Hey Baby' which is now out on iTunes. She is currently working on more originals and will be continuing to perform and participate in more fundraising events.

Sources:

www.cezkamariz.com

www.starnow.com.au/competition/StarNow_Music_Immersive_2012/entry/932

Ilonggo songs blast through Australian airwaves

The first ever two-hour radio program of Ilonggo songs in Australia will be heard on Saturday 7-9AM, 21 July 2012.

This historic broadcasting will be aired through the Digital Radio Channel of Radio 4EB-FM 'Global' and on live streaming of http://www.4eb.org.au/.

Songs to be featured include a combination of classic and pop music production that span across the decades from 60's to today.

Erwin Cabucos, the convenor of the Filipino Radio Group at 4EB FM remarks: "This presentation is hoped to promote the heritage of the Filipino people particularly those which are not given greater access in the mainstream media such as the Ilonggo language."

Cabucos adds: "Ilonggo is a very strong and an endearing culture and it is only fitting that it should be celebrated in the media worldwide."

The two-hour program is co-hosted by Ely Paez.

Both Cabucos and Paez are Ilonggos from Capiz and Miag-ao, respectively, who have migrated into Australia recently. They are teachers by training and by profession.

List of the Ilonggo songs featured include: 'Ilo-ilo Ang Banwa Ko', 'Linagpang nga Turagsoy', Ginpalangga', and 'Kung bal-an ko lang tani' and a whole lot more. Current pop artists include Shiela Barrios, Jay Flow, POB (Pride of Bacolod), Clique This, Angelkym, among others.

Listeners and musicians of Ilonggo origin and orientation are encouraged to submit their music or songs collection to the Filipino group at radio 4EB-FM for future use of the program and for publicity of the singers or the band. We can also interview them for publicity.

Please leave your suggestions by clicking the 'comments' link below.

To listen to the Ilonggo program from your computer on Saturday, firstly, go to www.4eb.org.au, then click on listen live Global. See picture below. Or go to www.tunein.com and search for 'Global Digital' and enjoy!

How to listen to the Ilonggo radio program from Australia 

Opinion: Life is how we live it

Filipino Art of Ugu Bigyan, part 6, 'Boeddha Eyes', from www.flickr.com

Words by Bing Mesias 

"If I am dead my dearest,

                                                    Sing no sad songs for me

                                                       Plant thou no roses in my grave

                                                           nor shady cypress tree.

                                                       But if thou will...  remember,

                                                          And if thou will... forget." 

                             

An era has passed - the era of slapstick but clean comedy, an era when men were men who cared enough for each other they were there to help.  When men were men for others.    

And Dolphy was one of those men.  A man who loved so well to so many he had many ladies in his time and 18, yes; 18 sons and daughters who, by their very existence, have  certainly ensured his immortality.  

No, this isn't about Rodolfo Vera Quizon a.k.a Dolphy- may he rest in peace!  Rather, this is about life in general, about a life well-lived that thousands came to pay him their last respect even as he lay there immobile, smiling perhaps to himself because even in death he was able to bring them in again.  Another certified hit!  

Certified hit? No, it was more than that.  It was a blockbuster no less! Does a hit bring in the highest official of the land himself, Pres. Pinoy?  Does a mere hit cause his bosom buddy in his carefree days- Manila Mayor Lim, to order all flags in Manila flown half-mast in his honor?  Can a man wish for more?  How great was he to have been accorded this supreme honor?  What did he do in his lifetime that droves came to pay him their respect, droves who never even had the chance to rub elbows with him in his lifetime?   

What is life?  Is it just an existence borne by chance? Here today, gone tomorrow?  What is one's reason for being? Just a passing ship in the night?  When gone, un-mourned and unsung?

As men like one Rodolfo has shown, life is certainly more than that.  It is leaving many footprints in the sands of time that others may follow, that others may take an example from. A life well-spent, because it was a life that served, a life that brought some ease, some comfort and  joy to people who remembered him so well in the end, and showed it by coming, by crying, by just talking about the little things that he did for them.

Time was when I wrote in my slum book - the fad of all time for graders, my ambition in life - a hut by a murm'ring brook where I'll just write poems..."

How utterly naive a girl was I, how innocent to have thought that I could just pass by my days writing poetry.  But them were the days of ‘Roses are red, violets are blue.. sugar is sweet and so are you!’, the days when an extra notebook to be used as a slum book hidden from one's parents was luxury enough- because we were each allotted just these many notebooks.  The days when thinking of a hut by a murmuring brook wasn't just a figment of one's imagination because then there were no thoughts of rebels lurking in the shadows nor of bad men out to harm innocent girls. The days when one knew who his neighbors were and could borrow a pinch of salt from them when one ran out of it.  The days of wine and roses perhaps except that there was no wine but just the lowly "tuba" to down and caused men to sing giddily and joked in good humour in brotherly camaraderie. 

I think of the good men and women of my youth now long gone- of men and women who loved truly and well and who spent many a good night bonding with wife and kids because there were no internets and IPods to distract them away from each other.  I think of my peach-blooming years when we recited poems and knew Shakespeare by heart and recited "O Captain, my Captain" with such fervor that a teacher could cry.  Of that time when I loved Hiawatha enough that to this day I have used Minnehaha ( his "Laughing Water") as my pen name because the poem left such an impact on a dreamy-eyed teener who recited all 14 stanzas of Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios" in class instead of just the 7 stanzas required by our teacher. Of the teener in college who wrote "A Certain Smile" in all the pages in her notebook because she discovered the joys of young love over classmate Ysmael and so that her parents wouldn't know except that "A Certain.." was just a song, a popular song at the time. 

And then I think of today - of how deprived and sorry I think of my kids who knew nothing about the rhythm of  "How do I love thee, let me count the ways..."  or the just enough gloom injected into one's voice while reciting the immortal lines  "The woods are lovely, dark and deep but I have promises to keep.  And miles to go, before I sleep.."

I won't be so ambitious as to think that I can gather enough mourners when it's my time to finally go.  Or even of my kids putting up my favorite scarf to fly halfway out my window to remember me by in my wake.  But I do expect them to constantly wipe clean the memorabilia my Office has honored me by when I was still working, to keep for posterity and for my grandkids to read my scrapbooks of magnum opus- my printed articles. I would expect to be thought of kindly by some working kids I have had the privilege to have saved from perpetual ignorance because they were brought back to school from my colleagues' combined efforts, for the parents and the clients to just remember sometimes what was said as I stood before them, mike in hand, to share my thoughts in my treks to where they were- in the cities and in the barrios.  And I would like to think now, for the ones I had the privilege to serve, to remember the kind of service that was the best that I could offer - because to me at least, my best was good enough.  Because I crossed a stormy sea to reach them in one illegal recruitment seminar, because I talked with a few rebels to motivate them enough to come down from the hills and work for reforms with, and not against the government, and because I came home in not a very few ungodly hours from my constant official travels that were so rewarding, so fulfilling that until now I still think that truly, there is no service like good public service.

A life well-lived!  Would that I could say that of mine.  But I still look forward to the coming years when I hope I can still do many, many good acts of service to family and country in my own small way and by so doing, leave my own footprints in the sand that are so many they are enough for me to say that I have really truly lived.  Because yes, though "the woods are lovely, dark and deep.. I STILL HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP.  And miles to go before I sleep, MILES TO GO...."

(Editor's note: Bing Mesias is a resident writer for Filipino Radio Brisbane. Her divergent expertise includes illuminations on Philippine politics, women issues and Filipino identity. Bing Mesias appreciates your comments and reactions. Please leave your messages through the 'comments' link below. Cheers!)

Gala Dinner Dance, Gold Coast

The Filipino Australian Community, Gold Coast invites all Filipinos to the Gala Dinner Dance on Saturday, 18th August 2012, 6:30 pm – 11:00pm.

It will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel and Resort, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.

The event is a buffet dinner with lechon.

Attire: formal.

Ticket Cost: $90 Tickets on sale 1/7/12 – 12/8/12 only.

Please reserve your ticket NOW – this is a very “popular” event.

For ticket bookings and further details please contact: Mary Ann Boehme 0416331233 Letty Walls 0413051828, Joel Gonzales 0402869000 Genie Khaled 0416222286.

Paalam, Dolphy

The Philippine legend of comedy has passed away on Tuesday 10th July, 2012, at the age of 83 in Makati Medical Centre, Makati City.

Rudolfo Vera Quizon born on the 25th of July 1928 in Tondo, Manila is best remembered through his hundreds of films and TV series that spanned across the decades of 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.


Perhaps the most popular of his filmography were the long standing prime time TV comedy shows 'John en Marsha', 'Home Along de Riles', and 'Pidol's Wonderland' in the 80s and 90s. 

The multi-awarded actor has depicted characters that show optimism and humour of the Filipino consciousness in poor and difficult situations.

Dolphy survived by his last partner Zsa Zsa Padilla. He was known to have had six women partners to whom he was never married, and through whom he had fathered 18 children.

Apart from his family, millions of Filipino people will surely miss him. It is not hard to believe this considering that the people have grown in his humour and positive nature through popular media, including TV, films, stage and music.


Goodbye, Dolphy, paalam.   


(How would you remember Dolphy? What film or TV act of his that could best recall him and his acting characters? Share your thoughts below by clicking the 'comments' button.)

Jose Rizal - the play

Rehearsals for the Jose Rizal play have started in Sydney.

Felino Dolloso will be Dr Jose Rizal in the first Australian stage production of the Philippine national hero.

The story will portray the life and heroism of the scholar, doctor and writer until incarcerated by the colonial government of Spain in the Philippines in 1898.

The play will be initially staged in the Central Coast of New South Wales, Wollongong, Canberra and Melbourne.

Inquiries are also underway whether or not the play will be staged in Brisbane.

Teaser trailer may be viewed here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FELINO-DOLLOSO/114218141930025

Podcast: radio show on 11 July 2012

Entertaining and informative, the Filipino radio show on Wednesday 11th July 2012 starts with a patriotic song 'Bayan Ko' and ends with a current hit 'Pag-ibig' by Yeng Constantino, showing FRB's commitment to cater for wider tastes of the Filipino audience.


On the panel is Jose Miciano and on the microphone are Mar Nur and Raul Roa.


A significant information for Overseas Filipino workers: transporting remains of the deceased OFW back to the Philippines.

Kapag pumanaw ang isang overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sa ibang bansa, may mga hakbang na kailangang sundin sa pagbalik sa Pilipinas ng mga labi ng OFW, ayon sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Buong artikulo sa GMA News, http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/264426/pinoyabroad/ofwguide/ofw-guide-mga-dapat-gawin-ng-pamilya-para-sa-ofw-na-namatay-sa-abroad.


Enjoy!

Multicultural performances opportunities

Multicap Festival 2012

Multicap Festival is looking for multicultural performances.

Join the 6th annual Multicap Festival on Saturday, 21 July 2012, from 10:30-2:30PM, at 303 Padstow Road, Eight Mile Plains.

All the family favourites are returning, and this year is not one to be missed!

Last year saw approximately 1,200 people come along and enjoy the day and this year is set to be better than ever with new and improved workshops on the day as well as our traditional favourites, market stalls, face painting, fair rides, and more.

Workshops will being at 10.30am and include saori weaving, drumming, painting and making flying animals.

The celebrations help increase awareness of Multicap, strengthen our community links, and raise vital funds for the people we support. This year all funds raised from the Festival will go towards Multicap's Opportunities4Life program, for people with high needs disabilities.

Entry to the festival is free, so why not bring the whole family down and support the 2012 Multicap Festival; it is sure to be an incredible day.

If you would like to perform, contact Tahnee Anderson, Marketing and Event Intern, phone 07 3340 9000, email TahneeA@multicap.org.au, www.multicap.org.au

Andrew and his family. Andrew is a resident at Multicap, 269 Padstow Road, Eight Mile Plains, QLD.

Contesting Church's argument that gay sex is wrong because it is unnatural

A comic strip from 'The Green Lantern: Rebooted' from thehollywoodgossip.com

Let's tackle this issue head on.

According to the Catholic church and a majority of Christian churches, gay sex is immoral because it is unnatural. Gays could be accepted into the church but gay sex should be condemned because it is not natural.

But what is being natural? Where do we base our notion of the 'natural' from which we consider the act to be  unnatural?

John Corvino, a philosopher, an essayist and a professor of Philosophy from Wayne State University, USA, presents the nature arguments on homosexuality. He argues that the term 'natural' is, in itself, ambiguous.

So he philosophizes on the things that are considered unnatural and puts to test gay sex if it confers in any of the ideas:

1.        What is unusual or abnormal is unnatural.

2.        What is not practiced by other animals is unnatural.

3.        What does not proceed from innate desires is unnatural.

4.        What violates an organ's principal purpose is unnatural.

5.        What is disgusting or offensive is unnatural.

He finds that all of the above arguments are inadequate. The first one fails because many things are unusual but are not necessarily wrong, besides, there is no neutral definition of the 'abnormal'.

The second point fails because animals exhibit homosexual behaviour and humans do many things that animals don't do without being thought 'unnatural'.

The third argument fails because we have innate desires that we do not believe should be catered to (at least indisciminately — e.g., sexual intercourse) and behavior that is self-chosen that we see as uncontroversial (e.g., one's choice of religion). 

The fourth argument fails because it is unclear what principal purposes organs have; most organs have (or can be used for) many purposes. 

The fifth argument Corvino has termed elsewhere the "ick" argument, but he points out that we do lots of icky things (e.g., eat snails) and that many people used to be offended by practices like interracial marriage that were seen later as being 'unproblematic'.

Read Corvino's article 'Why shouldn't Tommy and Jim Have Sex: A Defense of Homosexuality. Click on this link.

Another pervasive perception that homosexuality is wrong is because it harms people. Does it? Here are Corvino’s counter-theses:

1.        Homosexuality causes mental illness (depression, suicide).  [Duh.  You try growing up gay.]

2.        Homosexuals are promiscuous.  [Correlation doesn't prove causation.  And in any case, fidelity is hard even for heterosexuals;   you try having relationships under the social opprobrium of being gay.]

3.        Homosexual behavior spreads AIDS, bringing risk to both homosexuals and society as a whole.  [The same could be said for heterosexual sex.]

4.        Homosexuals' practice of anal sex is damaging to themselves.  [So is tobacco use;  so is "rough sex".  But we don't outlaw those.]

5.        Homosexuality threatens children.  [No, pederasty threatens children.]

6.        Allowing homosexuality gives children the message that homosexuality is o.k.  [This is a silly argument, because it is circular:  premised on the assumption that homosexuality is wrong, which is the issue we're trying to settle in the first place.]

7.        Homosexuality threatens society, since homosexuals cannot reproduce.  [First, homosexuals can (and do) reproduce — just not with each other.   Second, people who choose celibacy and people who are sterile cannot reproduce, yet we do not see them as threatening society.]

8.        [There is a further argument he does not mention here (although he does in other work), namely:]  Homosexuality offends most people [especially the person advancing the argument], and majority rules.  [This argument goes back to the "harm principle" and even further back to the roots of classical liberalism, which sees a realm of individual liberty that exists apart from the majoritarian inclinations of popular feelings.]

Read Corvino's article 'Why shouldn't Tommy and Jim Have Sex: A Defense of Homosexuality.' Click on this link.

This posting is mostly taken from the University of Minnesota website. Share us your thoughts by clicking on the 'comments' link below.