APCO News Updates

APCO helps protect Sydney water

By Ruben Amores
Sydney-Australia
July 22, 2014



At the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations, Inc (APCO) Board meeting held on 16 July, the Board unanimously approved to actively support the campaign to protect Sydney’s water catchments from irresponsible mining developments.

This decision is an offshoot of the attendance to the launch meeting of ‘Our Land Our Water Our Future’ movement held at Granville Youth and Community Centre on 10 July by Ruben and Dr Cen Amores, current president and founding president of APCO, respectively.

The meeting was jointly sponsored by Lock the Gate Alliance, Nature Conservation Council and Parramatta Climate Action Network. Resource speakers composed of Michael McNamara, Board of Directors of Lock the Gate Alliance and Julie Sheppard, Water Catchment Expert enlightened the audience with their honest to goodness presentations on the adverse impact of irresponsible mining to our land, our lives and our future. Their graphic presentations were alarming.

It is envisaged that the campaign to demand no go zones for coal and gas mining in our water catchment areas, residential areas and farm agricultural farmlands will continue through to the March 2015 State Election. Dan Robins, one of the organisers emphasised that ‘we want to protect our iconic wild places and allow communities to say no to irresponsible mining developments’.

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PCYC Belmore partners APCO’s humanitarian project

By Ruben Amores
Sydney, Australia
July 22, 2014

On 25 June 2014, upon the invitation of Senior Constable and Youth Case Officer Chris Ambat of PCYC Belmore, APCO Founder, Dr Cen Amores  and Director Glorina Papaioannou witnessed the turnover of $4000 cheque donations from Masonicare and Sir Joseph Banks Freemasons Lodge to ‘Belmore Gives Back Program’- part of the Belmore  PCYC Crime Prevention Program .

It was during this occasion that Senior Constable Ambat announced that PCYC Belmore will partner with the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations, Inc in its humanitarian project. He said, “part of the donated clothes to the ‘Belmore Gives Back Program’ will be sent over to the Philippines to assist the typhoon Haiyan Relief efforts.

Ambat has been teaching the youth in life skills by getting them to do washing clothes, drying and folding them. ‘The response from the community donating used clothes has been very positive’ Ambat said. ‘Washed clothes are then distributed to the homeless and the disadvantaged people throughout the Inner and Metro Sydney areas’.

Ambat is a Filipino-Australian who is very passionate in making a difference in the lives of young people. He provides case management, life skills training and a variety of sports activities such as: basketball, boxing, tae kwon do and weights (gym). Several programs that he has successfully run for the youth have been featured in the local newspaper.