THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 7 Number 8 | MAY 2017
COMMUNITY ROUND-UP
9
Knights of Rizal
awarding ceremony
Knights of Rizal ANZO Region Sydney Chapter Members with Sir Ambassador Jesus “Gary” Domingo, KGOR (Phd),
Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand
Pinoys join
ANZAC DAY rites
The City of Blacktown RSL Sub
Branch conducted a solemn ANZAC
Day Dawn Service last month for the
community which included many
Filipino-Australians from around
Blacktown city area.
Blacktown City Councillors and members of the Knights
of Rizal and Lady. (from L-R ) Councilor Sir Jaime Diaz,
KOR; Councilor Lady Linda Geronimo Santos; Councilor
Sir Jess Diaz, KGOR.
The Knights of Rizal
Sydney Chapter held
its awards ceremony
last month at the
Pabico Club 55 in Mt
Druitt in a programme
attended by Philippine
Ambassador to New
Zealand Jesus ‘Gary’
Domingo, KGOR.
Awardees were Sir
Angel (Bing) Raña, KCR,
Distinguished Service Cross and
Lifetime Membership; Sir Floro
Sir Bing Rana, KCR Past Regional Commander
receiving his Lifetime Membership and as recipient of
Distinguished Service Cross Medal with certificates
assisted by Lady Josie as substitute to Lady Pat.
Quibuyen, KCR, Distinguished
Service Cross; Sir Ralph
Posadas, KCR, Distinguished
Service Star; Sir Fiel Santos,
KCR - Distinguished Service
Star.
Also conferred with
awards in another programme
last February were: Sir Philip
Rañoso, 4th Degree Knight
Grand Officer of Rizal; Sir Cesar
Bartolome, KCR, Distinguished
Service Star. Sir Danny
Peralta, KCR, Distinguished
Service Medal and Sir Max
Encomienda, KCR, 3rd Degree
Knight Commander of Rizal &
Lifetime Member.
Consul Marford Angeles
delivered an inspirational
speech and took the occasion
to express his goodbye to
his fellow Knights as he
finishes his Sydney post in
October. Entertainment was an
intermission by Chad Peralta,
KCR of YAPAK Band with
closing remarks delivered by Sir
Jess Diaz, KGOR, Past Regional
Commander.
The programme was led
by Sub-Branch President
Major Tom Baena Jr. who
was joined by war veterans
and other dignitaries that
included, Michelle Rowland
Federal MP, John Robertson
State MP and Councilor
Tony Bleasedeale who laid
the wreaths to commemorate
Anzac Day.
“It gave me great honour
and pride to lead the Anzac
Day memorial to remember
to all those who had suffered
as a result of war in order to
protect the freedom that we
enjoy now,” said Major Tom
Baena.
“Those who suffered
includes families, friends
and the whole community
in losing a husband, a son, a
brother, or a father as a result
of war.”
Earlier, the Blacktown
RSL Sub Branchalso
attended Brush Farm
Corrective Services
Academy for an ANZAC
Service. Representing
Blacktown RSL was the
Sub Branch President Major
Baena and Sub Branch
member Lieutenant Robert
Castor Philippines Air Force.
The Service was held at
the BFCSA Cenotaph that
contains the names of WW
I and WW II Servicemen
who were members of
Corrections Services NSW
before joining the AIF. Both
Tom Baena and Robert
Castor laid a wreath on
behalf of Blacktown RSL.
By: Marilie Bomediano