2011 APCO Freedom Ball

ALLIANCE OF PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS (APCO, INC.)
OFFICE BEARERS & DIRECTORS 2011-2012
Dr. Cen Amores
PRESIDENT
Jhun Salazar
SR. VICE PRESIDENT
Mariam McCauley
JR. VICE PRESIDENT
Raquel Pellero
SECRETARY
Violetta Miguel
TREASURER
Emylee Tuzon
AUDITOR
Richard Ford
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
Vivian Brewington
DIRECTOR
Lee Meekan
DIRECTOR
Nick Meissner
DIRECTOR
Gloria Papaioannou
DIRECTOR
Ruben Pasion
DIRECTOR
Rudy Reyes
DIRECTOR
Linda Trinidad
DIRECTOR
Lourdes Wilman
DIRECTOR

What is APCO?
The Alliance of Philippine Community
Organisations, Inc (APCO) was formed last March
2010 by most of the organisations who were victims
of the hastily-declared/ambush suspension without
any right of appeal on the day of PCC-NSW AGM
and election of officers - thus disenfranchised from
voting by these same candidates who eventually
declared themselves winners in the non-election as
the opposition walked out in protest.
Those organisations that did not approve of the above
dirty community politics joined the suspended
organisations in forming APCO as a better
alternative community peak with social conscience
and democratic procedures. At present, there are
now more than forty organisations and hundreds of
individual members belonging to APCO.
The objectives of APCO Inc are:
1. Establish a solid collaboration amongst
member affiliates, individuals and
community groups in the areas of culture,
social, political, environmental religious,
sports and recreation.
2. Enhance community capacity-building
by assisting affiliates to be more effective in
managing their respective organisations.
3. Advocate for the socially vulnerable
sectors of our
community such
as the sick, elderly,
women, children,
homeless, refugees and newly–arrived
migrants.
4. Provide moral, material and financial
assistance to the needy Filipinos in
Australia and the Philippines especially
in times of crisis and calamities.
What makes APCO different from other
organisations is the way members treat one another
in genuine friendship, mutual respect and caring. It
is also shown in its social awareness and orientation
for more community development projects, the
wider social integration to CALD and mainstream
society and open and sincere collaboration with
other ethnic organisations.
Organisational matters are dealt with in a
democratic, business-like and organised manner
and with greater transparency and social inclusion.
The following are some of the projects and activities
done by APCO in its initial year:
Arts and Culture Promotion:

Dinner
7. participated in preparing the mural for
the Regents Park Community Hub
8. performed at Regents Park Centre’s
Mural launch
9. performed at PACC’s Pista sa Nayon
10. supported WOW Blacktown festival
and won “The Largest Delegation” award
1. participated and performed at the
International Food Festival’s ‘Flavour of
Auburn’
2. represented community in Oprah
Winfrey’s Sydney tour
3. performed at Auburn Festival
4. performed at Chinese Lunar Asian
Festival
5. performed at Sri Om Foundation’s
fundraising in Parramatta
6. performed at Auburn Seniors’ Week
Capacity building:
1. members undertook media workshops
with Jimmy Pimentel, community
journalist
2. members attended workshops on
successful grants application with
ASCON
3. actively supported all affiliate
organisations’ projects and functions
Humanitarian Emergency and Livelihood
(HEAL) Program:
1. provided financial assistance,

community credit union with Plaza
Filipino and KCL
3. supported GK’s Hapag fund-raising
presentation
4. assisted in organising the Leumeah and
other ethnic co-ops
Integration to mainstream community and other
ethnic groups:
accommodation and health care to a sick
overseas contract worker and his family
2. provided financial assistance to
Queensland Filipino flood victims
3. provided financial assistance to the
Queensland Premier’s flood appeal
4. provided financial assistance to
Philippine flood victims
5. active financial supporter of the
Nourish the Children International Fund
6. conducted dementia awareness info
sessions
7. attended and supported other
organisations’ fundraising events
1. represented the community in various
LGA’s public consultations
2. active membership to Auburn Small
Community Organisations Network
(ASCON)
3. represented community in Festival of
Lights
4. represented community in African
Festival
5. represented the community in
memorial to the late PM Gough Whitlam.
Social Welfare advocacy:
1. organised Community Housing fora
with the Kapit-bahayan Co-op
2. currently organising the first Filipino
APCO AFFILIATE ORGANISATIONS
ABRA ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA • AGOENIANS ASSOCIATION • AUSTRALIA PHILIPPINES NETWORK
INC (APN) • AUSTRALIAN FILIPINO BUSINESS & WORKERS CLUB • ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINO AUSTRALIAN
ACCOUNTANTS • ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINO TEACHERS AND ACADEMICS • BAGUIO COLLEGES
FOUNDATION ALUMNI ASSOCIATION • BULAKENOS AND FRIENDS • CAGAYANOS ASSOCIATION •
CALAPENOS AND FRIENDS • CAVITENOS AND FRIENDS • CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP • CLUB
FILIPINO ILLAWARRA INC • CONCERNED CITIZEN FOR OVER 50’S • EX DBP EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
OF AUSTRALIA • FILIPINO AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS • FLAGCOM AND FRIENDS
• FILIPINAS-PETALS • FIL-OZ LIVERPOOL& DISTRICT • GLOBAL ILOCANOS AUSTRALIA INC • GLOBAL
ILONGGO AUSTRALIA • ILLAWARRA FILIPINO & MULTICULTURAL WOMEN’S GROUP • ILLAWARRA FATIMA
DEVOTION GROUP • KALINGAWA CULTURAL DANCE COMPANY • KAPIT-BAHAYAN COOPERATIVE LIMITED
• LEON AGUILA ASSOCIATION • MAHARLIKA INC • MINDANAO ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA • MINDANAO
ETHNIC DANCE GROUP • MINTO PRAYER GROUP • MPC CUMBACHEROS • NEWCASTLE PRAYER GROUP
• OVERSEAS FILIPINO STUDENTS ASSOCIATION • PHILIPPINE TALENT SOCIETY • PILIPINO CLUB OF
AUSTRALIA • PLAZA FILIPINO INC • PRAISE FAMILY APOSTOLATE • PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FILIPINO AUSTRALIANS • RYTHYM IN PARTNERS • SEDGWICK COOPERATIVE • SUNDAY HARMONY
DANCE • SURIGAONON • THE FILIPINO AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER • THE ISABELA ASSOCIATION OF
NSW • UNITED PANGASINAN ASSOCIATION • UST ALUMNI ASSOCIATION • VISAYAN ASSOCIATION OF
AUSTRALIA INC • WATTLEGROVE PRAYER GROUP • HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Best Wishes!!!
CROWN
SUPERMARKET
Dumaresq Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560
Contact:
Thomas Tran
02 4620 4346

The APCO Board
Seated from left: Director Linda Trinidad, Treasurer Violy Miguel, Secretary Raquel Pellero, President Cen
Amores, Snr VP Jhun Salazar, Auditor Emylee Tuzon, Director Lourdes Wilman. Standing: PRO Richard
Ford, Director Nick Meissner, Director Vivian Brewington, Director Glorina Papaioannou, Director Ruben
Pasion and Director Rudy Reyes. Not in photo: Jnr VP Mariam McCauley and Director Lee Meekan.
Reception & Ushering Committee
Seated from left: Glorina Papaioannou (chair), Myrma Lopez, Ethel Singzon, Mariana Uru, Mita
Batongbacal, Delia Purisima and Nilda Ruiz. Standing: Marx Canoy, Jean Javillonar, Flor Barton,
Sunshine Batongbacal, Marie de Luna and Julius Obungen.

Program & Invitation Committee
Seated from left: Linda Trinidad, Emma Braceros, Cen Amores (chair), Emylee Tuzon and Michelle
Baltazar. Standing from left: Charles Chan, Jhun Salazar, Brian Lorenz Babon and Albert Prias
Promotion & Souvenir Program Committee
Seated from left: Victor Valdez, Dolly Bhorbe, Mellie Connelly, Raquel Pellero, Emma Braceros,
Josephine Bonto, and Jhun Salazar. Standing: Richard Ford (chair) Nards Purisima, Albert Prias,
Ruben Amores, Charles Chan, Rudy Reyes and Brian Lorenz Babon. Not in photo: Bob Brewington
and Gerry Musa.

Solicitation Committee: Seated from left: Juliet Vella, Violy Miguel, Sarah Salazar, Lourdes Wilman (ch
Edna Voros, Dian Ford and Vivian Brewington. Standing: Linda Trinidad, Maria Reyes, Inday Phurner, Da
Cumming, Jimmy Lopez, Rey Morcilla and Cora Perez

Participants to the production number:
Seated from left: Dolly Bhorbe, Emma
Braceros, Violy Miguel, Glorina Papaioannou,
Cen Amores, Raquel Pellero, Emylee Tuzon,
Lourdes Wilman, Mariana Uru and Vivian
Brewington. Standing: Dian Ford, Juliet Vella,
Maria Reyes, Cora Perez, Myrma Lopez,
Cleo Baltazar, Ethel Singzon, Tessie Canoy,
Edna Voros, Inday Phurner, Jo Bonto, Dory
Meissner, Julie Teodoro and Mellie Connelly.
Third row: Ruben Amores, Richard Ford,
Marx Canoy, Rudy Reyes, Charles Chan,
Albert Prias, Jimmy Lopez, Brian Lorenz
Babon, Jhun Salazar, Julius Obungen, Nick
Meissner, Rey Morcilla, Larry Perez, Victor
Valdez and Roberto Sacillotto.
air)
isy
Logistics & Security Committee: Seated from left: Nick Meissner (chair) Dory Meissner, Julie
Teodoro, and Larry Perez. Standing: Roberto Sacillotto and Lito de Luna. Not in photo: Ruben
Pasion, Michael Teodoro, Joe Caballero, Carlos Aloda, Mick Miguel and Brillo Amores.

Production Number: Luzon Group
Seated from left: Dolly Bhorbe, Mariana Uru, Myrma Lopez and Dory Meissner.
Standing: Julius Obungen, Roberto Sacillotto, Jimmy Lopez and Rey Morcilla
Production Number: Mindanao Group
Seated from left: Ethel Singzon, Jo Bonto, Cora Perez, Maria Reyes, Julie Teodoro,
Emylee Tuzon. Standing: Victor Valdez, Inday Phurner, Juliet Vella, Mellie
Connelly, Larry Perez, Emma Braceros, Dian Ford.

Production Number: Visayas Group
Seated from left: Juliet Vella, Ethel Singzon, Tess Canoy, Edna Voros and Cleo
Baltazar. Standing: Marx Canoy, Inday Phurner and Ruben Amores.

Program Management & Performers
The EMCEE Michelle Baltazar is an author, editor and publisher
focusing on finance and multicultural affairs. She
is the Head of Media & Publisher of Financial
Standard, a leading industry publication for fund
managers, financial planners and superannuation
professionals in Australia.
She is also the editor and publisher of The
Australian Filipina Business and Lifestyle magazine,
a new online magazine www.australianfilipina.com,
dedicated towards empowering the Philippine-
Australian community through inspirational
stories on business, arts, lifestyle and culture.
In 2008, Michelle received a Global Filipino
Youth Award for achievements in media. She
was previously a TV correspondent for ABS-
CBN Australia and currently co-hosts a Filipino
community radio program, Radio Sandigan, on www.radio2rdj.com.
Charles Chan – stage
actor, singer, assistant
choreographer
Albert Prias – singer,
host, arts instructor,
program director
The M-Seven Band -
(clockwise from lower left)
Trece Lambatan - Bass Guitar,
Jesse Banez - Piano/Keyboard,
Matet Concon - Vocal, Danny
Garcia - Vocal, Rey Aguilar -
Keyboard, Nono Remotigue -
Guitar and Jerry Ico - Drums.
Albert Dimarucut
– International
Dance Competitions
Winner, Celebrity
backup dancer and
Instructor
The BCA Choir - Hannah Natoli,
Jorefhe Tabares, Hansel Carbellido,
Lagmar Lavistre, Javes James Lepon
and Pretcel Tampus - are the alumnus
and alumna of the renowned
University of the Visayas Chorale
who visited Australia in 2004, 2005
and the World Youth Day in 2008.

Linda Trinidad (left) is a coloratura soprano who graduated
at the UST Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Prof.
Irma Potenciano. She was a winner of Tawag ng Tanghalan
and a soloist of Manila Symphony Orchestra and had been
performing in various musical venues in Australia and the
Philippines. Linda regularly joins several church choirs and
is actively involved with the Filipino-Australian community.
Brian Lorenz Babon (right) – Winner of various Talent
Quests in Sydney, Silver Medalist – Cologne Dance Sport
Fest
Cleo Baltazar (left) is an award-winning singer who performs
regularly at community events, concerts and festivals. She
has performed in Australia, Germany and the US and has
been a supporting act to various famous artists from the
Philippines.
Louise Nuss (right) – Upcoming young singer, Star Magazine’s
Most Popular Female Singer
Mindanao Ethnic Dance Group
Standing from left: Vivian Brewington, Ethel Singzon, Emma Braceros, Emylee Tuzon, Dian
Ford and Glorina Pappaioannou. Seated: Jimmy Lopez. Not in photo: Mellie Connelly, Juliet
Vella and Ellen Villarin.

Board of Judges: Filipiniana Contest
Councillor Jess G. Diaz
is the first Philippineborn
and first Asian
elected Councillor of
Blacktown City. Jess
is recognized for his
commitment to the
needs of his clients
and his service to the
community. Atty. Jess G.
Diaz, is the first Filipino to be admitted as a
Barrister in Australia.
He is also active in the community and is
founder of several community groups such
as; Founding President of PCC-NSW, and
Philippine Sydney Jaycees.
Councillor Jess Diaz, was appointed
The Chairman of the Filipino Languages
Syllabus Committee, NSW Board of Studies
by the NSW Government’s Department of
Education, after lobbying for approval of
Filipino to be included for study in the Higher
School Certificate curriculum. Filipino was
made an approved HSC language in 1995.
Bhajune Malonzo is
a hair and make up
artist extraordinaire.
He owns and manages
two beauty shops
“Bhajune Hair and
Make-up Artist” in
Westfield Parramatta
and Mt Druitt. A very
supportive tutor to
fellow Filipinos who are starting their career
in the beauty industry, Bhajune attributes
his success to excellent customer service and
keeping up with the trends in the industry.
For many years, he has been consistently
supporting community events and charities
through his generous sponsorships.
Neria Nidea-Soliman an
author of 4 books: Bicol and
Filipino Recipes, Cooking
with Neria, The Chef’s
Best Mate and Magayon,
a Taste of Bicol and A
Touch of Class. She won
the Filipino Master Chef
Contest of Multicultural
Communication Australia,
lectures on Pink of Health
and writes on Healthy
Cooking. Neria was
president of the PCC-
NSW Inc in 2005, founding chairperson of
St. Scholastica’s Alumnae, a member of Hot
Mamaz, BICOL Inc, ADOLP and Couples for
Christ. A very stylish dresser and a ballroom
aficionado Neria is also a certified marriage
celebrant and a member of the Liberal Party
and Toastmasters Intl.
Daisy Ann
G o n z a l e z
Cumming - The
Artist: A free
spirit, passion for
life and individual
expression has
always been the
driving force for
Daisy Ann. As
an artist, her aim
has always been
to push the boundaries of her artistic
uniqueness. Imbued with a desire to search
beyond traditional art confines, Daisy Ann’s
life continues to be an enduring and artistic
exploration. It is this passionate search that
led to her unique style that combines her
mastery as a portraitist with her proficiency
as an artist. The truth is that Daisy Ann’s
work is an original, a creation of her private
world on canvas.

Mabuhay APCO Inc for organising this great Freedom Ball 2011!
from
Australian-Filipino Business
and Workers Club, Inc

Acknowledgments
T
he officers and members of APCO, Inc. thank all our guests, advertisers, donors, ticket buyers and
all those who attended the Freedom Ball and who in one way or another collectively made this
113th Philippine Independence Ball celebration memorable!
We especially thank Daryl Melham MP, Laurie Ferguson MP ,Victor Dominello, MP and James Parker,
MP for their presence.
To our performers Brian Lorenz Babon, Louise Nuss, Linda Trinidad, Cleo Baltazar, the BCA Chorale,
M7 Band and Mindanao Ethnic Dance Group. All our hardworking committee members and production
number participants.
The FLAGCOM program directors, our souvenir magazine team Ruben Amores, Raphael Amores, Jhun
Salazar and Doddie Batac and other support crew.
Our prize donors: Dennis Monte ($4,000 painting), an anonymous donor (plane ticket to the Philippines),
Bhajune Salons of Westfield Parramatta and Mt Druitt, Salon Julieth of Rockdale, Vicky Mar Boutiques
of Fairfield, V Hair and Beauty Salon of Fairfield, CINITY of Fairfield, MyKababayan Take- away,
Kabayan Filipino Grocery of Campbelltown and Star Buffet Restaurant in Campbelltown RSL.
In return, APCO shall remain active and committed in promoting, strengthening and providing the
best values, skills and characteristics of the Filipino-Australians and contributing those social capital
toward further development of the Australian quality of life.