Events

BARRIO FIESTA

The concept for the Filipino Barrio Fiesta (Village Festival) in Darwin was developed and was successfully staged for the first time in August 1997 as the main cultural activity of the FAANT. The Barrio Fiesta project served as a grand occasion and opportunity for all Filipino-Australians in Darwin and in Australia’s Top End to showcase the artistic talents of Filipinos in all ages in performing arts and, at the same time, share the rich and diverse Filipino cultural heritage with the wider Darwin community.

The Barrio Fiesta adds colour to the Darwin festive atmosphere and multicultural diversity and lifestyle of Territorians. It creates an opportunity for the Filipino-Australians in the Top End to establish their own cultural identity through arts, crafts, education, sports and recreation in this multicultural and pluralistic society.

The Filipino Community Centre served as a meeting place for old acquaintances and to establish new friendships amongst Filipinos in other regions and with members of other ethnic groups attending the Barrio Fiesta. Above all, it served to promote and foster the Filipino spirit and sense of cooperation, harmony and unity.

As a result, the Darwin Filipino Barrio Fiesta has succeeded in promoting the image of the Philippines as the “Fiesta Islands”. There are hundreds of Fiestas in the Philippine archipelago composed of more 7100 islands and three main regions. The highlight of the Filipino festival is the crowning of the Mutya ng Barrio Fiesta (Little Princess of the Festival) or Lakambini ng Barrio Fiesta (Queen of the Festival). Such pageantry reflects the customs and traditions of village festivals as still practised in the Philippines and it is a living remnant of the legacy left behind by the Spanish regime that ruled the country for almost 4 hundred years. The list of Mutya and Lakambini crowned at the Barrio Fiesta included Virginia Mitchell in Mutya ng Barrio Fiesta in 1997; Edrianne Javier, Mutya ng Barrio Fiesta in 1998; Lezianne Viojan, Mutya ng Barrio Fiesta in 1999; Nemia Ravenwood, Lakambini and Annalee Boholst Mutya ng Barrio Fiesta in 2000; Joy Lyndale Craufurd, Lakambini ng Barrio Fiesta in 2001; and Nerissa Fenis, Mutya ng Barrio Fiesta in 2002.

The Barrio Fiesta has grown and gained a reputation as one of the five largest ethnic festivals in Darwin at the present time. The hugely successful Barrio Fiesta had attracted the largest crowd gathered at one single time at the Filipino Community Centre by far.

The Barrio Fiesta has been a catalyst for young Filipino Australians to develop their artistic talents in the performing arts. It has positively changed the self-image of young Filipino Australians about themselves. It helped them to developed their cultural identity and grow confident in recognising their heritage.

For 9 years now, the Barrio Fiesta has achieved its following objectives. It has been a great occasion for all Filipino Australians in Darwin and in Australia’s Top End to

• Display and share Filipinos’ rich and diverse cultural heritage to the wider Darwin community.
  
• Add festive colour to the ambient Darwin atmosphere through a kaleidoscope and fusion of unique Filipino artistic talents in Performing Arts.
  
• Create an avenue for the discovery and promotion of talents from all ages in our Community.
  
• Create an opportunity for the Filipino-Australians in the Top End to establish their own cultural identity through arts, crafts, education, sports and recreation in Darwin’s multicultural society.
  
• Create a meeting place for old acquaintances and to establish new friendship with other Filipinos in other regions.
  
• Share with each other the common bond of friendship, goodwill and camaraderie.
  
• Promote the Filipino spirit and sense of cooperation, harmony and unity.

Barrio Fiesta was recognised by the Darwin City Council in its celebration of Australia Day in 2002 as the “Best Community Event”.

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FAANT’s Yearly Anniversary Celebration of the Philippine Independence Day

FAANT has traditionally celebrated the Philippine National Day on June 12 at the Filipino Community Centre. Official guests made up of the NT Chief Minister, Ministers for Ethnic Affairs, Asian Relations and Trade, Director of Office of Ethnic Affairs, Darwin Lord Mayor and Darwin Lady Mayoress, Consul General of the Philippines to the Northern Territory joined the Darwin Filipino Australians in celebrating the Philippine Independence Day. The main proceeding of the Philippine Independence Day celebration evening has been dominated by the exhibition of a cultural show which depicts a blend between life and work of Filipinos in Darwin and the cultural aspects of Filipino life in rural Philippines.

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Harmony Day Youth Concert

For 3 consecutive years, FAANT has produced the Harmony Day Youth Concert which emphasises the talents and active involvement of the young generation towards the national celebration of Harmony Day in Australia.

Harmony Day Youth Concert was given the Charles See Kee Award in July 2005 as the best community project/initiative in enhancing multicultural diversity and counteracting racism in the Northern Territory by the NT Government through the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

This two-hour musical and dance extravaganza displays talents from cultural and school communities in Darwin and attracts huge crowd from the wider community.

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Business Trade Delegations to the NT Trade Exposition

Mrs. Violy Searby, Treasurer of the Philippine Australia Business Council, has been instrumental in bringing business delegates to the NT Trade Expo in Darwin. There had been an annual representation of the Philippine Trade and Business from Davao, Cebu, Manila and Bacolod to NT Trade Expo. The largest business and trade delegation from the Philippines to the NT Trade Exposition was in 2001.

Mr. Raul Hernandez also received an Asian Business Award from NT Government Department of Asian Relations and Trade for his contribution to Northern Territory business based outside of Australia in 1999. (NT Government, Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development).

The Former Philippine Ambassador, Her Excellency Delia Domingo Albert, was awarded the Asian Business Award at the 2001 NT Export Awards. This prestigious Asian Business Award is presented annually to an individual who is deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to trade and commerce in the Northern Territory. (NT Government, Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development).

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Outstanding Achievements of Filipino Australians in the Northern Territory

Present day Filipino Australians have continuously gained a well-deserved reputation as talented children not only in the arts but also in the academic field. A Philippine born Filipino, Faith Perez, topped the Secondary Schools Assessment of South Australian Examination in 1994. Many have gained placements in the Top 20 academic achievers.

Three Filipino Australians, Romena Ilad in 1997, Katherina Fehringer in 1999 and Jana Zeman in 2000 received youth awards from the NT Government for their role in the Youth Forum established by the NT Chief Minister. Their names appear in the perpetual shield displayed at the front foyer of the NT Parliament House. Julia Quinn was named the Young Achiever of the Year in Arts (NT Division) in 1996. Bernadine Crute received an award as the Young Territorian of the Year (Darwin region division) during the celebration of Territory Day in 2001 and also received the NT University Arts Award in the Young Australian of the Year 2002.

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Filipino Students at NTU

More recent Filipino arrivals are the Filipino international students who were granted students’ visas who undertake certificate or degree courses at the Northern Territory University that later became Charles Darwin University. The admission entry of most of these students had been facilitated by the Education Training and Services Australia (ETSA) under the directorship and ownership of Kym Handberg. These students had been welcomed by the Filipino Association of the Northern Territory to the community and had been presented each an honorary membership certificate as a gesture of goodwill and hospitality to enable a smooth transition to their studies. These students include Jeremy Apresto (Information Technology), Elder Pamani (Information Technology), Luis Ocampo (Information Technology), Honey Agapay (Fashion), Pamela Liwanag (Education), Donabel Macarayo (Nursing), Lorelie San Jose (Nursing), Clarivic Tuazon (Nursing), Gizzelle Gapultos (Visual Arts), Lisa Arances (Diploma in Public Health), Marlon Gillamac (Public Health), Archie Salinas (Public Health), Anthony Lee (Information Technology), Nicandro Calibud (Information Technology), Mae Atienza (Horticulture), Jacelyn Montero, Jennifer Descalso, Mary Ann Balois, Rowena Javelona, Ann Margaret Sacay, Maria Tendilla, Wilfredo Salandanan (Certificate level III in Hospitality - Asian Chinese Cookery).

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Ka-anyag Pilipinas Dance Company & Rondalla
of West Negros College, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

The Ka-anyag Pilipinas Dance Company (KPDC) in its attempt to provide deeper insights into the dynamics of Filipino culture has used the dance to portray the warm, friendly and hospitable nature of Filipinos.

Founded in 1975, the KPDC is a brainchild of the late Engr. Jose “Baby” L. Gonzaga, a philanthropist, educator and Filipinist of Bacolod City. Being known in the past as the West Negros College Dance Company, KDPC started gamering kudos when it employed the services of the former Mayor Ma. Asuncion “Girlie” Belzunce of the town of Valladolid who herself was a former member of the famous Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, Ma. Elsie Enriquez also a former member of Bayanihan Dance Company and Mr. Jose Burgos Magbanua of the Kayumanggi Dance Troupe. The late Jess Aiko, famous artist, became the artistic Director and Costume Designer.

The KPDC was first recognised during its debut at the Luce Auditorium of Siliman University in 1977 and such performance proclaimed KPDC as the “debutante of the year, the company to watch” in a New York Newsletter penned by an art critic Reynaldo Alejandro.

The name West Negros College Dance Company became Ka-anyag Pilipinas Dance Company in 1981 when it represented the Philippines in an International Festival at Port Island Exposition

(PORTAPIA ‘81) in Kobe, Japan. Amongst the 35 participating countries, KPDC was awarded with gold medal together with Bolshoi Ballet of Russia. Indeed, the company to watch became the prime mover in preserving our culture through folk dances and music.

Ka-anyag Pilipinas Dance Company continues to receive citations and awards from various civic and religious groups, professional organisations and government agencies locally, national and internationally. Among these are the 1992 and 1993 National PRISAA Championship Awards for Creative Dance Category, unbeatable champion of NOPRISSA and NOPSSCEA folk dance category, consistent winner of NOPSSCEA creative folk dance competition, cited as “Best of Negros” preserving the Filipino identity through dance by the Negros Producers Association Publication, adopted as a performing group in dance for visiting officials of government and foreign dignitaries, Bacolod City and the Province of Negros Occidental, participant Ikatlong Tagpo National Theater Festival 2004 CCP. Its cultural performance outreach program for 17 years has been serving many schools both private and public, baranggays, municipalities and religious and civic organisations of Negros Occidental from 1988-2005. Furthermore, KPDC’s cultural assistance program (1986 to 2005) for 19 years has been continually enhancing the cultural activities of the private and public schools specially those located in far-flung areas. This program has produced winners in Folk Dance Competitions in the province and in the region. Ka-anyag Pilipinas Dance Company made it as an entry in the Cultural Centre of the Philippines’ Encyclopaedia.

Today, the company has 54 dances and rondalla schollars under the Centre for Arts and Culture since West Negros College provides scholarships to poor but deserving talented students. It is always the objective of KPDC to assist and promote the cultural development programs of the school as well as those of Bacolod City and the province of Negros Occidental. KPDC is proud to have Mr. Ismael “Maeng” Java since 1987 as its Artistic Director and Choreographer added to the long list of dance authorities that worked with KPDC. Through this, the Ka-anyag Pilipinas Dance Company is taking part in sharing what is really ours - the Filipino culture.

The WNC Rondalla was founded together with the Ka-anyag Pilipinas Dance Company in 1975. If the KPDC is for Philippine dances, the WNC Rondalla is for Philippine Music. Aside from providing music for the KPDC, the WNC Rondalla has through the years, established its own name as one of the best in the land. It has proven this through is excellent rendition of Filipino folk and traditional music as well as contemporary classical Filipino music. Last March 200, its recording of Visayan Folk Dance music album entitled “Kasadyahan” was released and is now available in cassette tape, Delegate to the First International Rondalla Festival 2004.

Enjoying the consultancy of Mrs. Belzunce who finished her Bachelor of Music at the Philippine Women’s University, the WNC Rondalla was Folk Festival” as the Folk Arts Theatre. The Rondalla is at present under the tutelage of Rondalla Master Jegger C. Anjao and Ken B Heyres as an Associate Rondalla Master.

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