Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc.(NSW-Australia)

APCO gives thanks and celebrates 120th years of Freedom and Progress

By Richard J. Ford Auditor for APCO Inc.
Bosley Park-NSW-Australia
July 8, 2018  


Bosley Park-June 24: The APCO Thanksgiving and Celebration was held at Club Marconi 121 Prairie Vale Rd, Bossley Park NSW 2176 on the 24th June 2018 starting with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass. The Mass was officiated by the Filipino Chaplin for Sydney, Father Nards Mercene, assisted by the acolyte Jun Tekiko from Fil-Oz Liverpool and Districts Inc.



The Master of Ceremonies was the effervescent Jhun Salazar, former President and Public Officer of APCO Inc., who as always keep the event interesting so that everyone enjoyed the afternoon’s celebration. The event was held to commemorate the Declaration of the Philippine Independence from Spain 120 years ago, with APCO Inc. also saying thank-you to all their supporters who supported the organisation for the last 8 years since it was founded in 2010.

Everyone enjoyed the sumptuous buffet, with the wonderful serenading voices of the Sydney Sonata Singers performing in the background. Later the Sydney Sonata Singers set the mood for the event with a stunning performance of the Philippine and Australian National Anthems.

The Opening address was given by the Vice President Senior Corazon Paras on behalf of the newly elected President of APCO Inc. Violeta Escultura. The guests speakers were the newly appointed Philippine Consul Hon. Emmanuel Donato K. Guzman present with his lovely wife Jean and daughter Maya, and the Vice President of Club Marconi Maurice Ligata, speaking on behalf of the President of Club Marconi Vince Foti.





The entertainment was headed by the Sydney Sonata Singers, and the ever coloratura soprano Linda Trinidad, who also perform a duet with the indomitable voice of tenor Brian Lorenz. Mr Lorenz perform a mini-concert singing some of his favourite songs to the great delight of the audience and special guests. Also singing was the talented Jazar Brillantez.  







The dancers performing for the event were the talented Fil-Oz Dancers who performed the Tango and the Tatlong Bibe while the APCO and Friends Dancers danced in the backdrop for Linda Trindad, then separately they danced the Dahil Sayo, with a roar of cheers from the guests. A special guest performer was Joven Estigoy who has been teaching members on how to play the mandolin style instrument, the ‘bandurria.’

The bandurria is a plucked chordophone from Spain, similar to the mandolin, primarily used in Spanish folk music, but also found in former Spanish colonies. The Filipino bandurria is used in an orchestra of plucked string instruments called Rondalla. It is tuned a step lower than the Spanish version, that is, low to high: F# B E A D G. His performances were warmly welcomed as the mesmerising tunes brought back memories to those present.  



Final acknowledgments were from immediate past President for 2016-2018 Pet Storey and Jimmy Lopez the President of NARRA Inc. and the initiator of ACI Central, the new Philippine Arts and Culture Centre, who spoke about the recent successful APCO Inc. event held on the 16th June 2018, at the PIA in Homebush, the second “Pista Sa Nayon.  

During the event, Jhun Salazar also talked about the recently successful overseas humanitarian outreach program of the Visayan Association of Australia, Inc. which included distribution of school supplies and feeding underprivileged school children in four areas of the Visayas – Tacloban, Ormoc, Palompon and Pilar; distribution of high quality seeds to the farmers in Albuera Leyte under the ‘Seeds for Life’ project with WAND Foundation; funding the lunch voucher system for the SARDO (Students At Risk of Dropping Out) at Carrigara National High School and visiting the Visayas State University to meet with students supported by VAA’s Scholarship program.



Drawing of raffle prizes followed by public dancing headed by the musical talents of Neil and Company brought the event to a pleasant close.