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

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MESSAGE My heart is filled with pleasure that this is not just another day for Plaza Filipino-Narra Arts and Cultural Centre. This is the day your organization has realised the dream of having your own home in the City of Campbelltown. Allow me to go back in time and tell you that during a most difficult time in the life of Philippine Australian Community Foundation Inc (PACF), your organization through the leadership of Mrs Daisy Ann Cumming and Dr Jimmy Lopez, generously extended assistance to us. Although PACF had fully paid back the loan, we can never fully pay back this debt of gratitude. “Ang utang na pera ay mababayaran, pero and utang na loob ay walang kabayaran”. I am also honoured to have been given the opportunity to be one of the Legacy donors. It is my own personal contribution to help promote Filipino arts and culture through your organization. There would have been many obstacles that were strewn along your path before today’s happy event. It is my belief that just as the positive and negative components of electricity produce light, the negatives thrown your way propelled this organization to succeed. The root of your success is synonymous to the word HOPE – Hold On Positive Ending. Plaza Filipino – Narra Arts and Cultural Centre had a dream, dared to make that dream come true – and succeeded. Congratulations and Mabuhay! (Sgd) Mansueto (Manny) Villon Chairman, Board of Trustees – PACF Inc MESSAGE Today, we celebrate the inauguration of the Philippine-Australian for Culture and the Arts and Innovation Central, a project initiative of NARRA Co-op Ltd. and Plaza Filipino, Inc. Such an effort seeks to advance the continued bilateral relations between Australia and the Philippines, which is now in its seventh decade. Guided by a vision of “Filipino culture as the wellspring of national and global well-being,” NARRA Co-op spearheads the acquisition of this Centre led by our devoted community leader, Dr. Jimmy R. Lopez. The Centre is the first iteration in the acquisition of a $4M Community Centre—an achievable dream where we can showcase and share our rich cultural heritage, the arts, and innovation as potent instruments for improvement and inspiration in the lives of others. Likewise, the Centre seeks to offer truths, document human struggles, express various human experiences, and deliver important messages, with the focused goal of empowering us as a people. Indeed, our journey has been a meaningful one, as we have surmised that we are all creative and spiritual beings with human experiences that serve as realizations of our purpose. There were insurmountable challenges we faced along the way, but our faith in God has supported us in all our undertakings. We serve with humility and love towards our fellowmen with the belief that we belong to one Spirit. Finally, we hold the steadfast belief that God’s love will continue to unite us to pursue this valuable effort, which will serve as our contribution to humanity. (Sgd) Daisy Ann Gonzalez-Cumming Vice President, NARRA Co-op Ltd President, Plaza Filipino Inc 2013
MESSAGE As early as 1996, the grounds of the Multi-Purpose Centre at Rooty Hill acted as a nursery for the ambitious seed that is to be Plaza Filipino Incorporated. Figures taken from the Australian Bureau of Statistics as of January 2000 showed that the population of Australia was 19,000,000 of which there were 199,800 Filipinos. Of the 6,422,000 Australians in New South Wales 101,800 were Filipinos. The bulk of Filipino migration in Australia was centred in New South Wales with a staggering ratio of 51% . Clearly there was a need to have another place somewhere in Sydney where Australian-Filipinos could call their “home away from home”. That home took thirteen years to reach and we finally have reason to celebrate. The home is where the heart is! The blood that keeps it alive is the people who shared the vision with us. On this day of our greatest achievement, the Inauguration of the Philippines Australian Arts, Culture and Innovation Central (a NARRA - Plaza Filipino Incorporation initiative) we honour the men and women of Plaza Filipino Incorporated past and present, the Philippine Consulate Sydney, the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA), the Philippine Community Council, New South Wales (PCC, NSW), the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations (APCO), the National Affiliation of Respectable and Responsible Associations Co-operative Limited (NARRA Ltd), politicians of all spectrum of the Australian society, religious ministers and the various sponsors who kept faith with us through these years. Maraming Salamat po at Mabuhay! Manuel G. Roux President, Plaza Filipino Inc 2006-2007 MESSAGE “Dream big. Work hard. Celebrate.” As you read this, I hope you imagine me jumping with joy and beaming in happiness. The dream that took 12 years in the making has finally come true. As you read this, you are standing on the ground we can call our own - our very own space where we can nurture and showcase our rich Filipino heritage. As you read this, you are most likely surrounded by the very same people that built the dream and started working hard towards achieving it, despite the trials and tribulations. They have triumphed against all odds, thanks to the support of the association members, their family, friends and well-wishers. They are the reason that this dream has become a reality. I would like to reiterate Plaza Filipino’s mission statement when 55 founding members signed a pact on the 8th of August 2003. At the time, they agreed that the association will become a symbolic centrepiece of Filipino life through the promotion of Philippine literature, music, performing arts, visual arts, crafts, design, film, video, television, radio, community arts, Aboriginal arts and movable cultural heritage. The list is long but I wanted to share it in its entirety to show how all-encompassing the mission statement was all those years ago and how the inclusion of video, Aboriginal arts and movable cultural heritage shows the group’s vision and ambition. As you read this, we begin yet another exciting chapter in the association’s history. A new beginning that wouldn’t have been possible without the community’s leaders, officers and members. A special mention goes to all their family and friends who have supported the association’s fundraising events. It is through their generosity that we now have a place where we can provide resources, mentorship and assistance to our present and future crop of artists, entrepreneurs, innovators and, perhaps, philanthropists. On behalf of the past and present board of directors of Plaza Filipino, I would like to thank everyone who made this dream a reality. We thank you for your trust and wish you and your family more blessings in the future. This is just the start. There’s still a lot to do and we hope you will continue to support us in our future endeavours. Success doesn’t come without sacrifices and with sacrifices comes success. As you read this, your sacrifices have borne fruit. The Philippine culture and arts will flourish in Australia because of you. Mabuhay ang ating inang bayang Pilipinas! (Sgd)Michelle Baltazar President, Plaza Filipino Inc 2016
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Inauguration of the Phil-Aus Arts, Culture & Innovation Central

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