COMMUNITY
Alumni spruce up on CleanUp Australia Day
EAGLESBLUE , better known as members of the Ateneo Alumni Australia , joined the CleanUp Austalia Day campaign on Sunday , June 25 .
A team of nine started the day off at 10am with treeplanting on Clarkes Point Reserve in Woolwich .
At 11am the team moved to Betts Park and surrounding area to clean up the shoreline , bush , and run-off from Gladesville Reserve .
Hunters Hill Council staff provided the team with tools , gloves , garbage bags , and seedlings for the day . The staff also prepared the plant beds for the Ateneans . “ We left the bags of rubbish at the Carkes Point Rdserve carpark for Council pick up the following day ,” said AAA president Tiffi Avila .
The team comprising Avila , former president Arlene Amor , Karen Calayag , Demi Robinson , Mike Alvarez , Dan Umali , Jomark Sto Domingo , Perry Peralta , and Alric Bulseco held a picnic at Betts Park after the cleanup at 12pm . •
Actor-director playwright Giovanni Ortega ( standing , third from left ) with workshop participants . The workshop was a project of the Philippine-Australian Arts , Culture & Innovation Central ( ACI Central ).
But what started out as a training exercise turned into a cathartic experience as each participant revealed intensely personal stories about themselves during the storytelling session . One of the participants spoke about domestic violence , another spoke about losing a father and several participants reminisced about the teachings of their grandparents .
" It was an amazing week , giving voice and a platform for our heroes and our lolas ( grandmothers )," said singer Marcus Rivera , one of the workshop participants .
Ortega promises to be back in 2018 to host more workshops . A prolific Fil-Am actor , he originated the role of former President Ferdinand Marcos in Imelda , The Musical ( East West Players ). As a playwright , he wrote Criers for Hire , which became the highest grossing world premiere play for East West Players Theatre in his homebase of Los Angeles .
" We were delighted to host Giovanni ' s workshop at ACI Central . He ' s an incredible talent . We look forward to hosting him again next year ," said Jimmy Lopez , one the volunteers at the venue . •
Filipina in The Voice Final
FASIKA Ayallew , 20 , became the first Filipino-Australian to make it to the finals of Channel 9 TV ’ s singing competition , The Voice .
CLEANING UP at Betts Park , from left , Arlene Amor , Karen Calayag , and Tiffi Avila .
Theatre workshop breathes life into migrant stories
From storytelling to stage acting , ordinary Fil-Aussies got a taste of theatre in a workshop hosted by LA-based playwright and actor , Giovanni Ortega , who was in Sydney last month .
Titled ' Katawan : Creation of My Body ', the workshop ran over two Sundays ( June 25 and July 2 ) at performance space and art gallery ACI Central in Campbelltown .
" This workshop was an exploration of the human body as a vessel . We discussed the challenges of taking on various " skins " while being comfortable with your own ," explained Ortega . He said that participants would be taught the fundamentals of acting and the art of storytelling to dispel prejudices around class , race and religion .
Aiming for a small class of seven to eight participants , Ortega ended up teaching a mixed crowd of 20 individuals including aspiring actors , singers , journalists , former school teachers and a few retirees .
Seniors save on gas , electricity
ENERGY retailer AGL will offer Seniors Card members a 25 per cent guaranteed discount off electricity usage and 19 per cent guaranteed discount off gas usage charges on a two-year energy plan .
The NSW Government has secured a two-year partnership with one of Australia ’ s biggest energy suppliers , ensuring seniors continue to have access to exclusive discounts on their gas and electricity .
Minister for Ageing Tanya Davies and Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith said energy retailer AGL starts offering new discounts to NSW Seniors Card members from July 1 , 2017 .
More than 1.5 million older people in NSW have a Seniors Card .
More than 5600 businesses now offer Seniors Card discounts , up from 1600 in January 2015 .
“ The NSW Government has been working to secure competitive discounts for seniors ,” Davies said .
“ Older people have worked hard all their lives and given so much to NSW , so I am both thrilled and proud to be able to announce the renewal of a partnership that eases the cost of living pressures for them .”
Mr Notley-Smith said the NSW Liberals and Nationals are committed to doing everything they can to reduce the cost of living and ensure that our seniors are supported in retirement .
“ Our community is better and more inclusive thanks to the contributions made by older people . When they are active and involved in community life , everyone benefits ,” Mr Notley-Smith said .
AGL chief customer officer Melissa Reynolds said : “ The program can give seniors peace of mind and help them with household budgets .
“ We ’ re committed to offering customers competitive deals as well as improving transparency on energy prices .” •
Judges had poured praise on Fasika ’ s performances at various stages of the competition this year .
Fasika , a law student , did not make it to the grand final but commented after hostess Sonia Kruger announced the two grand finalists : “ At this point , I am so happy to that I reached this far . “ I never thought that I could do something like this in my life . “ I am so happy for the two boys ( grand finalists ). “ I would like say thank-you to everyone , the production crew , to my family and to everyone who voted and thank you for believing in me when even I didn ’ t myself , and lastly , thank you to Kelly ( her mentor ), you ’ ve done more for me than you could imagine , so thank you ." •
Forex marking 20 years in Oz
FOREX marks 20 years of operation in Australia this month .
What was once founder Ines Campos ’ vision to assist Filipinos in Australia who needed to send packages and money to loved ones in the Philippines has grown to be one of the most reliable and trusted Filipino brands in Australia today .
Although Mrs Campos passed away years ago , her family has continued to carry her passion for bringing Forex service that the community can rely on .
To celebrate company ’ s 20th anniversary , Forex is giving away one free Micro Tactical Flashlight for every Forex box a customer sends in the month of July 2017 . This is an exclusively limited offer . Customers ’ boxes will be picked up throughout
July . •
www . kalatas . com . au AK NewsMagazine , Vol 7 No 10 | JULY 2017 15