Pista sa Nayon in APCO Phil Independence Day 2018 Celebration
By Ruben Amores
Sydney-Australia
July 25, 2018
Sydney-June 16: In a very meaningful and memorable way, the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO) organised an open-free-to-the-public Pista sa Nayon at the PIA grounds, Sydney Olympic Park last 16 June 2018 to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence.
The Welcome to the Pista committee with some VIP guests
Left photo: APCO founding president Dr Cen Amores escorting NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister Ray Williams into the Pista ; Right photo: The Flagcom team of Albert, Chuck and Charles were responsible for the Pista Program
NSW Labour Party leader MP Luke Foley at the Pista with APCO and PIA big wigs
MP FOLEY with some multicultural leaders at the Pista
Among the VIP guests were: The Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP Premier of NSW, The Hon Luke Foley MP Leader of the Opposition, The Hon Ray Williams MP Minister for Multiculturalism,The Hon Kevin Conolly MP Member for Riverstone, the new Consul General Maria Teresa Latino Taguiang Philippine Consulate General of Sydney, Mr Justin Wang CEO PIA, Mr Tom Nance WSCF, Mr Siddique Panwala Treasurer FECCA, Mr Abbas Alvi President WEEF. Mr Padmanabhan Karamil President, Lions Club of Sydney India Inc. Ms Maggie Wu Director MCC, Mr Berge Okosdinossian Adviser Premier’s Office, Ms Rosa Stathis Senior Adviser, Multicultural Minister’s Office, Ms Denise Bradley Director, Office of the Premier and Mr Taylor Gramoski Adviser, Office of the Premier, Mr Kublai Millan Exhibiting Mindanao Artist, Dr Rojim Sorrrosa House of Hope and Ms Anathea Chua Mindanao singer/songwriter.
Phil Congen Ma Teresa Taguiang was met by APCO officers led by President Violy Escultura at Pista
Kublai Millan and Maan Chua featured artists from Mindanao with Noemi
The whole day Philippine village–like festival that attracted a massive multicultural audience started at 12 noon with a parade of colours participated by Filipiniana and Barong attired representatives of various Filipino-Australian community organisations of the state who are affiliated with APCO Inc, followed by a marathon of cultural performances in singing, dancing, traditional children’s games, Filipino martial arts, beauty and fashion displays, lipsynch contest and traditional games. Meantime, simultaneously held were activities such as: arts, crafts and painting exhibits, sale of Philippine food, products and services promotional displays throughout the courtyard, auditorium and corridors of the Property Investors Alliance.
Carmen Frazer teaching the children Filipino traditional games
In her speech, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reminisced her recent official visit to the Philippines which she described as very joyful and memorable and commended the APCO organisers. Multicultural Minister Ray Williams came with a media crew and later released a public video featuring the Pista. He also confessed that every time he attends a Filipino event he feels like going into a beauty contest!
The new Consul General Maria Teresa Latino Taguiang, who just planed in to assume her Sydney consular assignment that week, expressed her joy in being a witness to a massive promotion of Philippine culture at the heart of multicultural Sydney and congratulated the very active members of APCO headed by President Violeta Escultura, VP Charles Chan, Directors Albert Prias, Cora Bojarski, Ralph Improgo and Gloriana Papaiannou, Assistant Secretary Carmen Fraser and advisers Dr Cen Amores, Jimmy Lopez and Ruben Amores and other hardworking members of the working committees.
Marathon entertainment featuring local, multicultural and visiting talents at the Pista
From the thousands of Pista attendees, we gathered that the public wanted more of this kind of celebration where the Filipinos share the benefits of freedom freely to the general public through an unadulterated display of its immense cultural wealth and warmth as a people.
----------------------------------------
(Photos courtesy of Bob Reyes)