Inauguration of the Phil-Aus Arts, Culture & Innovation Central

MESSAGE
It is with great pleasure and honour to welcome you all to the Inauguration of NARRA-Plaza Filipino Centre for
Culture and the Arts and to the Recognition Night for the Tribute to Fathers and Mothers in September 2016.
My fellow officers and members of our associations join me in expressing our huge happiness that our dream
is now a reality, after having many years of commitment and hardships in raising the needed funds.
The two major fund raising events gave us more Legacy supporters boosting our Cash in Bank balance to $
104,612.05 and the Subscribed Capital Stock to $154,800.00 for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2016. On 26
September 2015, Reynaldo Morcilla was named the Father of the Year 2015 while Ester Arador was awarded
Mother of the Year 2015. Likewise, on 7th February 2016, we had Dr Raul Amor and Carmenchu Gresham as
Ambassadors for Culture and the Arts 2016.
We continue to promote our talented members grandstanding the rich and beautiful Filipino Culture by holding
concerts and talk shows. Our special thank you to Roanne Monte (Star of Miss Sagon) and Dex Villa (Star of
Jesus Christ Superstar) for their very impressive performances during the Ambassadors for Arts & Culture
night. We actively supported the well-attended Marcus and Michelle Shows on November 2015 and April 2016.
More recently, we were lucky to receive the Volunteers Grant of $5,000.00 from Department of Social Services.
for the purchase of computer equipment, sound system, camera and other equipment. Our members can now
enjoy the benefits of our Savings and Loan facility of NARRA Co-operative Limited, helping them in times of
financial needs.
Special commendation to Daisy Ann Gonzalez Cumming and Ted Cumming for sharing
their home as NARRA’s Headquarter, showcasing our Filipino Arts and Culture.
Another milestone is the approval of our application to Australian Charities and Notfor-Profit
Commission. This is in addition to our Charitable Fundraising Authority
Number CFN23092 which was renewed for another 5 years by the Office of Liquor
and Gaming.
Once again, I would like to thank all the honourees, my co-officers and members,
and our family and friends. With your continued and unselfish support, we will soon
be able to pay in full our NARRA-Plaza Filipino Centre for Culture and the Arts.
(Sgd) Jaime R Lopez, PhD, CPA
President, NARRA Co-operative Limited
President, Plaza Filipino Inc 2003-2005
Historical Background of NARRA Co-operative Ltd
It started in a simple birthday celebration at the Rocks , Sydney in 2012 where officers of Philippine Australian
Community Foundation (PACF) were present. Jimmy and Myrma Lopez were also invited and had a discussion
with PACF Chairman of the Board Manny Villon about buying a portion of the 2.2 hectares land owned
by PACF. Initial consultation lead to a Memorandum of Agreement where Plaza Filipino paid $10,000 and
donated a painting worth $5,000, in exchange with the right of Plaza Filipino to construct a Tennis Court.
When a vacancy occurred, Jimmy Lopez was appointed as the Treasurer of PACF. As a new Treasurer, Jimmy
took the initiative to look at ways how to help in the repayment of the loan of $300,000. He proposed to the
Board the formation of a Co-operative with shares, where the funds coming from the Donors and Pledgers will
be given shares of stocks in exchange of their Donations. The proposal was not accepted.
As the papers for the formation of a Co-operative were finalised, Jimmy offered it to Plaza Filipino who
accepted the proposal for the formation of a new Co-operative, Non-profit with Shares of Stock. The Officers
of Plaza Filipino at that time agreed to be the Formation Officers, electing Jimmy Lopez - President; Daisy Ann
Cumming - Vice President; Elizabeth Escandor - Secretary; Reynaldo Morcilla - Treasurer; Manny Roux, Max
Canoy and Maria Bock– Directors.
National Affiliation of Respectable and Responsible Associations (NARRA) Co-operative Ltd was registered
with Fair Trading on 20 November 2013 Co-op Number NSWC31887. Other registration details: Office of
Liquor and Gaming: 06 Jan 2014 (Charitable Fundraising Authority Number CFN2392), Australian Taxation
Office 27 Feb 2014 (ABN 20 633 411 572), Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission – 9 July 2015