Association of Golden Australian Pilipinos Inc
By Evelyn A. Opilas
NSW-Australia
March 20, 2019
Over plates filled with rice, lechon, and pancit, members of the Association of Golden Australian Pilipinos Inc (AGAPI) marked St Patrick’s Day 9 March, at the same time extending well wishes to the group’s March birthday celebrants.
The ladies of AGAPI including Virgie Pineda, Nita Tingson, Delia Purisima, Francisca Magsalin
“Dress up in something green,” suggested AGAPI president Dorothy del Villar to her team, to which they readily obliged.
Left photo: AGAPI officers Dorothy del Villar and Babes Cordoba; Right photo: Birthday celebrant Estelita Quiaot (left) with Maria Singh, Cora Resurrecion and Ollie Reyes
Varying shades of green coloured the Rooty Hill School of Arts as Emma Pontenila and Faith Montecillo led the opening dance exercises while deejay Leo Onato ensured continuous musical accompaniment.
Left photo:Nards Purisima & AGAPI Elder Minerva Paguyo; Right photo: Lito and Severina de Laroya with an AGAPI member
Over the din, chatter, and laughter of the occasion, AGAPI members learned who St Patrick was and why Australia celebrates all things Irish on March 17, his feast day.
The feast day commemorates the saint’s life, chiefly for his introduction of Christianity to Ireland.
AGAPI members including Fred & Nita Sentinellar, Chit Serra, Laurie & Sara Dawson happy in their corner
Many Australians remember Irish settlement and culture on St Patrick’s Day, the Irish being among the first Europeans to settle in Australia.
Femi Aquino, Nanita Hidalgo, Emma Mudie and Francisca Limjap enjoying the occasion
Internet sources indicate the Irish “comprised a portion of the convict settlement population in the late 1700s. More than 300,000 other Irish settlers (not convicts) migrated to Australia between 1840 and 1914. Many Irish immigrants came to Australia to escape famine in their homeland. About 30 per cent of Australians are believed to have some Irish ancestry today.”
Left photo: Edna & Leo Onato at the deejay’s table; Right photo: Dorothy with AGAPI members
Sydney hosts a festival and a parade, where it is tradition to wear green. Those who don’t wear green are pinched, the practice stemming from Irish folklore.
Legend has it that leprechauns are known to be devilish tricksters, adept at sneaking up and pinching unsuspecting revellers. Wearing green, however, renders a person invisible to the impish creature, thus protecting them from being pinched.
There also seems to be political roots to the green outfit.
According to Paul Finnegan, executive director of the New York Irish Center, green attire is symbolic of the Irish Republican movement from the 18th century which saw the nation achieve independence. When Irish soldiers battled against Britain, they wore green to oppose the Brit’s red and reportedly sang The Wearing of the Green .
The gentlemen of AGAPI
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. Up until the 1970s, Irish laws dictated that pubs be closed on March 17. From 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day as an occasion to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the world.
AGAPI dons green on St. Patrick’s Day
By Evelyn A. Opilas
NSW-Australia
March 20, 2019
Over plates filled with rice, lechon, and pancit, members of the Association of Golden Australian Pilipinos Inc (AGAPI) marked St Patrick’s Day 9 March, at the same time extending well wishes to the group’s March birthday celebrants.
The ladies of AGAPI including Virgie Pineda, Nita Tingson, Delia Purisima, Francisca Magsalin
“Dress up in something green,” suggested AGAPI president Dorothy del Villar to her team, to which they readily obliged.
Left photo: AGAPI officers Dorothy del Villar and Babes Cordoba; Right photo: Birthday celebrant Estelita Quiaot (left) with Maria Singh, Cora Resurrecion and Ollie Reyes
Varying shades of green coloured the Rooty Hill School of Arts as Emma Pontenila and Faith Montecillo led the opening dance exercises while deejay Leo Onato ensured continuous musical accompaniment.
Left photo:Nards Purisima & AGAPI Elder Minerva Paguyo; Right photo: Lito and Severina de Laroya with an AGAPI member
Over the din, chatter, and laughter of the occasion, AGAPI members learned who St Patrick was and why Australia celebrates all things Irish on March 17, his feast day.
The feast day commemorates the saint’s life, chiefly for his introduction of Christianity to Ireland.
AGAPI members including Fred & Nita Sentinellar, Chit Serra, Laurie & Sara Dawson happy in their corner
Many Australians remember Irish settlement and culture on St Patrick’s Day, the Irish being among the first Europeans to settle in Australia.
Femi Aquino, Nanita Hidalgo, Emma Mudie and Francisca Limjap enjoying the occasion
Internet sources indicate the Irish “comprised a portion of the convict settlement population in the late 1700s. More than 300,000 other Irish settlers (not convicts) migrated to Australia between 1840 and 1914. Many Irish immigrants came to Australia to escape famine in their homeland. About 30 per cent of Australians are believed to have some Irish ancestry today.”
Left photo: Edna & Leo Onato at the deejay’s table; Right photo: Dorothy with AGAPI members
Sydney hosts a festival and a parade, where it is tradition to wear green. Those who don’t wear green are pinched, the practice stemming from Irish folklore.
Legend has it that leprechauns are known to be devilish tricksters, adept at sneaking up and pinching unsuspecting revellers. Wearing green, however, renders a person invisible to the impish creature, thus protecting them from being pinched.
There also seems to be political roots to the green outfit.
According to Paul Finnegan, executive director of the New York Irish Center, green attire is symbolic of the Irish Republican movement from the 18th century which saw the nation achieve independence. When Irish soldiers battled against Britain, they wore green to oppose the Brit’s red and reportedly sang The Wearing of the Green .
The gentlemen of AGAPI
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. Up until the 1970s, Irish laws dictated that pubs be closed on March 17. From 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day as an occasion to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the world.