Sydney Pinoy leaders grace country Grafton’s Philippine fest
By Ruben Amores
Grafton-NSW-Australia
June 27, 2019
Some of the organising committee members and performers .
“We are indeed fortunate that the Australian multicultural landscape allows us to celebrate our diversity with pride in our traditions and rich cultural heritage, and share these with the wider community.”
This was the opening statement of Dr Cen Amores, APCO Founding President and guest speaker at the Clarence Valley Filipino-Australian Community Club Inc’s 121st Anniversary of Philippine Independence at Grafton Community Centre on the 15th of June from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Part of the rural country Grafton crowd enjoying the Philippine celebration.
More than 300 guests many of them dressed in their regal Filipiniana and Barong outfits welcomed Dr Amores with her very supportive husband Ruben, travelling companions and great Grafton community supporters Rey, Shirley and son Darryl Morcilla, who was their driver. It was indeed a long 7 hours to travel 600 kms from Sydney to Grafton.
Surprise performance by Rey and Shirley Morcilla. Rey was well-loved co-organiser and supporter of the country group.
Various performances demonstrated the talents and deep community spirit of the Filipino-Australians and their friends in the different suburbs of Grafton, South Grafton, Iluka, Maclean, Yamba and Glenn Innes. The ladies even mustered their Caucasian husbands to wear Barong and participate in a folk dance.
Some Aussie husbands gamely joined their Pinay wives in some performances
At the centre of the stage was a Philippine icon bahay-kubo adorned with banana trees and flowers. Traditional food from the different Philippine hometowns accompanied the crunchy skinned lechon and various mouth-watering kakanin.
Dr Cen Amores congratulating the Grafton Filipino-Australians for a Philippine Independence celebration on their own initiative and funding.