Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO)
By Edgar Escultura
NSW-Australia
March 2, 2019
“Putting up such a wonderful celebration with only two weeks preparation is a testament to the very strong leadership, high level of teamwork and resourcefulness put in by the ASCON’s organising committee!” That was one of the many feedbacks from the guests who attended the recent Multicultural Seniors Festival held at Berala Community Centre on 16 February 2019.
Some of the multicultural crowd who attended the Seniors Festival.
Led by Dr Cen Amores, current President of Auburn Small Community Network (ASCON) Inc and founding president of the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO), the Centre was filled to capacity with two very dynamic guest speakers, The Hon Lynda Voltz, NSW Shadow Minister for Sports and Veterans Affair and Sydney Alliance Community Organiser, Thuy Linh (Vivien) Nguyen delivering their inspirational talks. APCO Junior Vice president, Charles Chan was joined by Mehdi Hamidpour from Sri Om Foundation and Saada Abdikarim of Somali Welfare Cultural Association as emcees.
In her welcome speech, Dr Amores, highlighted the importance of the occasion: “Today’s Multicultural Seniors Festival is primarily aimed to pay tribute to the seniors from diverse cultural backgrounds for their generous contributions to the Cumberland local government area in particular and the Australian society in general. This event is an effective platform to reach out to isolated seniors and people with disabilities, promote inclusion and celebrate diversity. We have prepared a multicultural entertainment and food for all of us to share!”
Filipino attendees to the Multicultural Seniors Festival welcomed candidate for Auburn MP Lynda Voltz.
The Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO) performed a traditional Filipino dance, Kapit-bahayan Cooperative Ltd’s Gilda Pagaduan belted out two Filipino love songs, an instrumental Bosnian music was played using an accordion by Azra Hadzismajlovic of the Bosnian Seniors & Disability Association, a typical traditional dance was performed by the Cumberland Tamil Society Inc and a chorus was performed by the Bosnian Seniors & Disability Association Choir Group. Acknowledgement Speech and Closing Remarks were delivered by Nava Sangarapillai, and Izeta Zecevic, ASCON Vice President and Secretary respectively.
Multicultural food and drinks were donated by the following organisational members of ASCON: Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO) Kapit-bahayan Cooperative Ltd, Sri Om Foundation, Somali Welfare Cultural Association Inc, Bosnian Seniors & Disability Association, Cumberland Tamil Society, Iraqi Renaissance Inc and Diompillor Kissia NSW Association Inc. Private donors of food and drinks included the Hon Lynda Voltz MLC, Arun Arunasalam and Daisy Dang of Sastra Pty Ltd.
APCO leads Multicultural Seniors Festival
By Edgar Escultura
NSW-Australia
March 2, 2019
“Putting up such a wonderful celebration with only two weeks preparation is a testament to the very strong leadership, high level of teamwork and resourcefulness put in by the ASCON’s organising committee!” That was one of the many feedbacks from the guests who attended the recent Multicultural Seniors Festival held at Berala Community Centre on 16 February 2019.
Some of the multicultural crowd who attended the Seniors Festival.
Led by Dr Cen Amores, current President of Auburn Small Community Network (ASCON) Inc and founding president of the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO), the Centre was filled to capacity with two very dynamic guest speakers, The Hon Lynda Voltz, NSW Shadow Minister for Sports and Veterans Affair and Sydney Alliance Community Organiser, Thuy Linh (Vivien) Nguyen delivering their inspirational talks. APCO Junior Vice president, Charles Chan was joined by Mehdi Hamidpour from Sri Om Foundation and Saada Abdikarim of Somali Welfare Cultural Association as emcees.
In her welcome speech, Dr Amores, highlighted the importance of the occasion: “Today’s Multicultural Seniors Festival is primarily aimed to pay tribute to the seniors from diverse cultural backgrounds for their generous contributions to the Cumberland local government area in particular and the Australian society in general. This event is an effective platform to reach out to isolated seniors and people with disabilities, promote inclusion and celebrate diversity. We have prepared a multicultural entertainment and food for all of us to share!”
Filipino attendees to the Multicultural Seniors Festival welcomed candidate for Auburn MP Lynda Voltz.
The Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO) performed a traditional Filipino dance, Kapit-bahayan Cooperative Ltd’s Gilda Pagaduan belted out two Filipino love songs, an instrumental Bosnian music was played using an accordion by Azra Hadzismajlovic of the Bosnian Seniors & Disability Association, a typical traditional dance was performed by the Cumberland Tamil Society Inc and a chorus was performed by the Bosnian Seniors & Disability Association Choir Group. Acknowledgement Speech and Closing Remarks were delivered by Nava Sangarapillai, and Izeta Zecevic, ASCON Vice President and Secretary respectively.
Multicultural food and drinks were donated by the following organisational members of ASCON: Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO) Kapit-bahayan Cooperative Ltd, Sri Om Foundation, Somali Welfare Cultural Association Inc, Bosnian Seniors & Disability Association, Cumberland Tamil Society, Iraqi Renaissance Inc and Diompillor Kissia NSW Association Inc. Private donors of food and drinks included the Hon Lynda Voltz MLC, Arun Arunasalam and Daisy Dang of Sastra Pty Ltd.