Ang Kalatas Volume V February 2015 Issue | Page 19

THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 5 Number 5 | February 2015

Local journos lend support
to 2009 massacre victims
SUPPORTING

a campaign fund of the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to
bring justice to murdered Filipino journalists at
the 2009 massacre in Mindanao, the Filipino
Press Group of Sydney (Filpressyd) donated
proceeds from The Grace/Media Golf Cup 2014
recently.

FILPRESSYD members
Ric de Vera and Marilie
Bomediano
Eftekharhashtroudi presented an
envelope with $430 in
cash to IFJ Asia-Pacific acting director Jane
Worthington at the Redfern offices of Media Entertainment Alliance of
Australia.
In a strong announcement recently, the IFJ
joined its affiliate, the
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
(NUJP), in condemning
the murder of another Filipino journalist in Luzon
and called on authorities
to swiftly investigate the
circumstances leading to
her death.
Nerlita Ledesma, 48,
a journalist with the Bataan tabloid Abante, was
waiting for a ride to work
when she was shot four
times in the chest in Barangay Tuyo, Bataan.
The assailant, wearing sunglasses, a bonnet
and a jacket fled the scene
on a black and white motorcycle and currently remains at large.
Ms Ledesma was the
first journalist to be killed

Ric de Vera, centre, presents The Grace/Media Golf Cup proceeds
to Jane Worthington, right. Marilie Bomediano-Eftekharhashtroudi joins the presentation at left.

in the Asia-Pacific region in 2015. It is yet to
be determined whetherher murder was related to
her work.
The IFJ released its
full list of journalists and
media workers killed in
2014 on December 31.
The Asia-Pacific region
was declared to be the
most deadly environment
for media workers globally.
Ms
Worthington
said: “The Philippines
needs to take strong and
immediate action to curb
the shocking culture of
violence against journalists and the climate of impunity that continues to
weaken the state and democracy.”

On November 23,
2014, the nation marked
the fifth anniversary of
the Ampatuan Massacre
in which 58 people were
killed including 32 journalists. Not a single killer has yet been found
guilty.
In 2014, four journalists were murdered in
the Philippines.
“Nerlita Ledesma’s
death is shocking and disturbing and marks a tragic beginning for the year
for the country’s media.
“The IFJ offers its
sympathies to her families and calls on the Philippine authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice.”

Ang KALATAS Sports
By Ric de Vera

A Rebulado takes BMW Cup

A

lvin Rebulado from
Glendenning and member of Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club won the
elimination round of
golf tournament held at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, New Zealand on
January 22 for the BMW golf cup Australian Finals.
There were 99 golfers coming from
all over Australia wide Alvin was the
only Filipino-Australian. All golfers were divided into three divisions.
Namely, A, B and Ladies. Alvin was
assigned in division B and was the top
scorer.
He will now be representing Australia during the BMW International Golf
Cup world finals against forty five (45)
other countries. This will be played at
the prestigious New South Wales Golf
& Country Club from March 2 to 7.
There were no cash prizes but all expenses including accommodation and
airfare were paid for by BMW Australia. Monumental trophies were awarded
to the winners.
“I am thrilled and excited for my

win and eagerly looking forward to represent Australia in the world finals,”
said the ecstatic Alvin.

Alvin Rebulado after winning the BMW Golf Cup
Australian Finals in Millbrook, Queenstown, New
Zealand.

SPORTS

Sikaran-Arnis Masters
head back to their roots
A

team of Australia-based Pinoy
Sikaran Arnis masters heads to the
Philippines next month to attend
the ceremonial ‘Passing of the Belt’
rite in Baras, Rizal.

By: Marilie Bomediano

A TEAM of Australiabased Pinoy Sikaran Arnis masters heads to the
Philippines next month
to attend the ceremonial
‘Passing of the Belt’ rite
in Baras, Rizal.
Sikaran Arnis instructor Jose Mari ‘Jesse’ Diestro, a 9th Dan black belt,
will be joined by his proteges, national men’s champion Anthony Fias-Ayon
(5th Dan black belt) and
Chris Calingao (3rd Dan,
black belt) in the ceremony.
“Sikaran-Arnis
founder 10th dan Blackbelt) Meliton Geronimo
Sr. has finally decided to

pass his belt this year to
his son and protégé Meliton Geronimo Jr,” said
Maestro Jose Mari Diestro.
“That means, our
soon to be new master
Meliton Geronimo Jr.,
will then grade us to the
next level, except me who
prefer to remain as a 9th
Dan Blackbelt below the
master himself, to express
my loyalty.
“The only way I could
be graded as the highest
of 10th Dan Blackbelt is
if I separate from the conglomerate myself but I refuse to do so,” Maestro
Diestro said.
They will be joined by
(3rd dan Black Belt ) Si-

Jose Mari Diestro

karan-Arnis martial artist, the Ms. Pia Castray,
of West Penant Hills who
was the Red Rangers’
winner at the 16th International Sports Karate Association 2011 World Cup.
Prospective members
of the delegation include
James Barakat, (Black
Belt) and Debbie Lei,
(Brown Belt).
Sikaran is a distinct
Filipino Martial Art that
involves hand and foot
fighting.

THOUGHTS OF AN ATHLETE

Proud to be a Tamaraw
By Jaisen Felstead
Last January 31, I participated
in the 2015 Cabramatta
international 9s as my position
is front rower (prop) of Philippine
Tamaraws [rugby league team].
There were four teams which
played in The Kingsway, St Marys
League Club , and I was in Team
3.
It was a real honour putting
on the jersey and representing
the Philippines. I felt like I was
representing my mum, family,
friends and team mates. I felt a
lot of pride wearing the uniform
around for the F