Filipino-Australian leaders at ZEST Awards 2019

 
By Edgar Escultura
Sydney-Australia
March 2, 2019
 


The Members Room of the Sydney Olympic Park Stadium was transformed into a hub of multicultural community leaders given public recognition at the ZEST Awards Ceremony organised by Western Sydney Community Forum on 15 February 2019. ZEST awards are given annually in recognition of the individuals, projects and organisations for their outstanding services to the Greater Western Sydney community. This year, there were 141 nominees who vied for the 15 award categories.



Two active organisational members of the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO): the Filipino Lesbian and Gay Community (FLAGCOM) and Plaza Filipino were among the nominees in the Outstanding Project Promoting Social Cohesion and Community Harmony.

 Meanwhile, Dr Cen Amores, the only Filipino ZEST Ambassador and the 2013 ZEST winner of the Most Outstanding Community Leader on a Voluntary Capacity was among the special guests who presented the awards to the Exceptional Community Business Partnership category. Before she announced the winners, Dr Amores emphatically said, “When the community effectively partners with business, exceptional outcomes are achieved”.For her continuing support to ZEST Awards over the years, Dr Amores received 10 VIP/Complimentary tickets which she shared with the hardworking APCO members.

Among the Filipino attendees are some of the officers and members of APCO:  President Violy Escultura, Junior Vice President Charles Chan, Secretary Carmen Fraser, Treasurer Dr Jaime Lopez, Directors Albert Prias, Emma Braceros, Glorina Papaioannou, Cora Bojarski, Nora Howell and Public Officer Ruben Amores who was also a ZEST awardee some years back. Other officers and members of FLAGCOM and Plaza Filipino who were present were: Michelle Baltazar, Cleo Jordan, Violi Calvert, John Calvert, Bobby Reyes, Tess Chuck and Criz Guce.