Liverpools Visayan Association celebrated its 10th year Anniversary and its 4th Mrs Visayas Australia and Charity Queen Beauty Pageant for 2013
By Richard Ford JP
PRO for VAA Inc.
Liverpool-NSW-Australia
September 5, 2013
The Visayan Association of Australian Inc. based in Liverpool celebrated its 10th year Anniversary on the 24th August and at the same time held its 4th Year annual Mrs Visayas Australia and Charity Queen Beauty Pageant for 2013 at the All Saints Catholic Church Hall Liverpool.
Winners L-R Ma Eleanor Foster Padilla-Mrs Visayas-Australia and Charity Princess, Mrs Congeniality and Best in Filipiniana, Brenda de la Sala -Mrs Visayas-Australia Charity Queen, and Best in Gown, then Isabelita Salazar Badel - Mrs Photogenic also from L-R is Albert Prias - Pageant Co-ordinator with Jhun Salazar - President of APCO Inc, and VAA Inc., also Sidney Perez - Singer and Emcees with Edna Voros - Past President VAA Inc. and Charles Chan -Emcee.
In attendance were special guests the Federal MP for Fowler, Mr Chris Hayes and the State MP for Liverpool, Mr Paul Lynch, both regular guests, with also the Peoples Ambassador Dr Cen Amores and her husband Ruben Amores the President of Kapit-bahayan Cooperative Ltd. The other special guests were the esteemed judges, Ms Paola Llorando, a Health, Beauty and Weight Management Consultant, with Ms Carol North-Samardzic, the President of the Liverpool Justices Association and Secretary-Trainer of Liverpools Radio Station 89.3 2GLFand of course the delightful Lillian delos Reyes, the much popular Filipino singer in Australia. Overall there were some 250 people present to help celebrate this glittering occasion, which also included an array of Filipino Cuisine.
The entertainment for the night was provided by the talented Fil-Oz Dancers and the Visayan Dance Group, with lovely performances by Sharlene Gamo, Diedre Padolina who performed a singing and dance act followed by their younger siblings Demelza Padolina and Rezelle Gamo, in another dance performance, a very delightful team they were. But the night would not be complete without the voice of the Queen of Visayan Song,
Gloria King and her delightful voice to entertain all. The highlight of the night of course was the crowning of the Mrs Visayas Australia and Charity Queen Beauty Pageant Contestants. The judges really had a hard decision to make, for age did not dim the beauty of the three contenders for the titles.
The winners were:
1. Ma Eleanor Foster Padilla: Mrs Congeniality, Best in Filipiniana, Mrs Visayas Australia Charity Princess and Mrs Visayas Australia 2013.
2. Brenda de la Sala: Best in Gown and Mrs Visayas Australia Charity Queen 2013
3. Isabelita Salazar Badel: Mrs Photogenic
The Beauty Pageant is a charity night that is held to help raise funds for a Sponsorship Program to provide educational assistance to underprivileged students to be given the chance to undertake and complete tertiary studies at the Visayas State University in Leyte, Philippines.
The Emcees for the night were Charles Chan and the delightful Sidney Perez an entertainer who performed the opening number, assisted by the ever much talented Jhun Salazar the current President of the Visayan Association (VAA Inc.) and the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc. (APCO).
During the successful night maybe attendees expressed a desire to assist further in donating towards the charitable cause of assisting their fellow Kapitbayan underprivileged students for a very much needed education, which highlights the greater awareness of how much we take for granted the privileged education we receive at all levels in Australia compared to the Philippines.