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Location:
MaryMac Community Centre, Annerley
616 Ipswich Road, Annerley, Qld
Date / Time:
Saturday 25 October 2008
6:30 pm
Entrance:
$12.00
Food will be available for sale.
Further information:
For more information, please phone:
The 22nd of January was the day that I had anticipated, after so long the day had finally arrived. After being crowned Ginoong Philippines Australia I was filled with eager anticipation, waiting for the day that I would finally be able to represent my family and Filipino Australians in our distant home land. Although we have come to call Australia home, in my heart I still feel Philippines is deep resonance beating at my core, it’s in my blood and constant in back of my mind.
At the air port excitement had reached a climax, I tried not to count down the days before hand because that way, I knew the day would feel like it came sooner. After a 12 hour flight with a stop over in Singapore, we finally touched down in Manila international port. As I stepped off the plane still in a limbo between dream and reality (because I hardly slept) the reality of being in the Philippines slowly sank in, the first thing that hit me was the heat, and then the aroma which was ever present everywhere around manila. Driving to the hotel where we could finally get some sleep, we were surrounded by crazy drivers, tricycles and street vendors.
After a quick nap, I was hungry, and to eat we decided to go to Makati and meet up with some family who were also visiting from America. After walking around greenbelt we came to a place called “Bubba Gump”, it was named after the movie Forest Gump, the movie which Tom Hanks starred in. The food was great; the food everywhere around the Philippines was great, we even tried botsay, the signature dish of Iloilo.
On our second day we visited the set of Wowowee it’s just like it is on TFC but without the commercial breaks, and a 360 degree view. Later that evening we had dinner with the CPU alumni, where we met some very nice people who really care about education, and then it was on to Iloilo.
Iloilo had a different ambiance compared to the rest of the Philippines, for one thing I had no idea what people were saying, because they spoke Ilonggo, and I only speak Tagalog. The Ilonggo’s do have a sense of community which seemed to lack in big cities like manila.
We stayed in the Gonzaga mansion which was on the campus of CPU it was a nice little place, we did’nt spend much time there though, we were too busy sight seeing, trying out the local cuisine and the local specialty of “batchoy”, it was pretty good.
Asilo de Molo is a home for the old and a places we visited during our stay in Iloilo, in the faces of the residents, you could tell they had wisdom from the experiences of their lives; I could not help think that each face and each person had a story or two to tell, the residents seemed to had enjoyed the visit from the Australia delegation.
The Dinagyang is something everyone should at see at least once, the colour the energy in the dance steps and drums were enjoyably overwhelming. They “tribes” were so well organised and there seemed to have been a lot of interest from around the Philippines about this annual festival.
Finally we went to my home town, the place I lived until I was 5 years old, and also the home town of Apolinario Mabini, a Filipino national hero. Tanauan, Talaga, Batangas. Driving in I was not ready from the warm reception they had prepared for me, in the town centre and in front of the school was my name and the words congratulations Mr Philippines Australia, Welcome. Not everyone can say that they were honoured in their home town. But I felt such a pride and joy because all my family and people I hadn’t seen in years turned up. It felt great donating money to the school my mother, aunties and uncles school, my grandmother had also been a teacher there, and this was my final official act in the Philippines, and something I would not trade. It is something that I would love to do again. It has inspired me to keep doing things for the community and to become a better person.
The beginning wasn’t very bright… but this trip turned into one of the most memorable experiences I will ever encounter in my lifetime. I look back and embrace each event - good and bad, knowing whatever has happened, we have touched some lives, made a little difference, we have learned and we have grown.
Our journey consisted of 3 weeks jam packed with meeting those high up in the hierarchy and those who needed our support, dinners with the educated and those who were eager to learn, road trips, boat trips and plane trips, riding in a float for a parade and being a special guest in the Dinagyang festival, and of course relaxing in Boracay. With too many experiences to write about, I would like to share one small part of my journey which left a lasting impression on me.
Travelling 18 hours by mini-bus, my group of 7, made our way from Alabang to my mother’s home town Catarman, Northern Samar. I was joined by my mum, dad, sister, tita, family friend and our driver. We arrived in Samar in the middle of the night going straight to sleep after our tiring journey.
On our second day on the island we were planned to visit St. Michaels Academy. This was the school which my grandmother, mother and aunties studied. We arrived at a large stone wall with a small door at the base opened to us by the security. As we entered the quiet courtyard, we were greeted by Sister Anacleta Arnaiz, the principal of the school. She continued to lead us through the walkway when it dawned on me -this school wasn’t as quiet as I had first imagined.
Walking into the opening, voices echoed throughout the entire grounds. Students filled the balconies and walkways of the school all waiting for our arrival. The noise was intimidating, because I had never been greeted with such excitement and enthusiasm in my life. I waved politely at the students calling my name and they giggled with excitement at my acknowledgement of them. I was in complete bewilderment at the attention we received. As we made our way to the stage, I was met by a young boy who presented me with a bouquet of flowers. I thanked him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The school broke into cheers and laughter – the boy broke into a blush. We got through the introductions and formalities, but the highlight was the performances put on by each of the year levels.
Even though the school was not like my mother had described it, I could still see they were lacking in materials. Our donation of 4 computers, 2 printers and basic software was only a small step to delivering the materials necessary to sufficiently equip the entire school.
As we toured the school it was made even more evident that these students were lacking in proper equipment and materials, like an updated atlas and encyclopaedia, furniture, media equipment and of course computers. To the end of our tour students began to crowd around to try and get photographs, autographs or just shake my hand. Their voices could be heard calling as the doors closed behind us. The amount of attention and praise we received makes me embarrassed to think about how little we actually gave. It just goes to show how much they are in need of our support.
Our short trip to Samar has left a lasting impression on me and my family. The students and teacher’s gratefulness will never be forgotten, but there is still so much that can be done. Our support abroad is needed, with no lack of appreciation for even the smallest giving.
