Filipino News 168

23
YEARS
in print
&
online!
Issue 168: PH INDEPENDENCE DAY EDITION
TE WAKA PIRIPINO MANENE
Print. Web. Tablet. Mobile. FB. YouTube.
Pick up a
F R E E
copy or
read
online.
FILIPINO NEWS
filipinonews.nz
filipinonews@
xtra.co.nz
FB: Filipino News
JOBS BOARD
trabaho.nz
trabaho@
xtra.co.nz
FB: www.trabaho.nz
MIGRANT NEWS
migrantnews.nz
migrantnews@
xtra.co.nz
FB: Migrant News NZ
filipinonews.nz, trabaho.nz, filipinoheroes.nz | E: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | M: 027 495 8477 | Facebook: www.filipinonews.nz
Alexis Jasmine and daughter
Cataleya in Hamilton.
Photo / Stanley Chan.
125th Philippines
Independence Day
Mabuhay!
THE MONUMENTAL LEGACY
OF JOSE RIZAL RECEIVES
RECOGNITION ... pg 2
pgs 2 & 4
Embracing the
richness of
Filipino culture
pg 4
WELLINGTON - On the 18th of June the vibrant city of Wellington came alive
as it hosted the grand celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence
Day at the Sky Stadium. The event, which commemorated the Philippines’
historic journey towards freedom, attracted a diverse range of attendees,
who gathered to honour the significant milestone in Philippine history. With
a variety of activities and special guests, the festivities showcased the rich
culture and traditions of the Philippines.
The event was graced with the presence of notable figures such as the
new Philippine Ambassador Her Excellency Kira Christianne D. Azucena and
National Party Deputy Leader Nicola Willis, which added prestige to the
occasion.
The event was graced with the presence of notable figures such as the
new Philippine Ambassador Her Excellency Kira Christianne D. Azucena and
National Party Deputy Leader Nicola Willis, which added prestige to the
occasion.
Immigration
JOBS BOOM
FOR OFWs
KALINGA
GROUP
SMASHES
GUINESS
RECORD
Budget 2023
SUPPORT
FOR CHILD
CARE COSTS
WELL
RECEIVED
pg 9 pg 11
pg 14
The 7th Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards 2023, Auckland
The nationwide search is on for Filipino-Kiwis who are outstanding in their fields of endeavour and also
have a passion for community service. If you would like to nominate an individual, group or organization
please contact Filipino News NZ at email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz or text: 027 495 8477
7TH FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS 2023

BUHAY
NZ
02 ISSUE 168 FILIPINO HERO AWARDS | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.trabaho.nz | mob: 027 495 8477
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
AUCKLAND - Jose
Rizal holds the distinction
of being the most renowned
individual of Filipino
descent and is widely
regarded as the national hero
of the Philippines.
Today his legacy is honored
through an unparalleled
number of monuments
throughout the Philippine
archipelago and in various
locations worldwide.
In an effort to promote the
significance of Jose Rizal’s
contributions to Philippine
Independence, the late
Graeme Dabb, former
Honorary Consul General of
the Philippines for Auckland
and the North Island region
for nearly 3 decades, pushed
for the creation of a memorial
reserve for Jose Rizal here
in New Zealand.
“Graeme was instrumental
in the naming of an
Auckland reserve after Dr.
Jose P. Rizal, a Filipino
national hero,” said
Delamar Solivio Middleton,
a Filipino community
leader, in her message on the
Facebook page of the
Ilonggo Integrated Association.
Another member of the
Filipino community in
Auckland, Rani Sharma
Dela Cruz, noted on
Facebook that: "There is a
Rizal Reserve in Auckland,
New Zealand, close to
Corregidor Place (can't get
more Filipino than that and
yes, there is a street named
Corregidor in Auckland). A
joint effort of the Auckland
Filipino community and the
Council … a place to honour
our national hero, Jose
Rizal.”
Found in the heart of the
Rizal Reserve in Avondale is
The monumental
legacy of Jose Rizal
receives recognition
in Auckland
By Ricky Matthew
a memorial dedicated to
Rizal. It was put in place by
the Auckland City Council,
the Philippine Embassy,
and Hon Consul-General
Graeme Dabb. It serves as a
tangible monument for
Filipinos to admire as they
remember Rizal’s commitment
on Philippine
Independence Day every
year.
The Filipino community
and the members of the
Knights of Rizal come
together at the Rizal Reserve
every year for a wreath laying,
prayer, a commemoration
of Jose Rizal and
remembrance of the years of
hardship before finally
achieving independence in
1898. The purpose is to foster
a sense of pride in the
heritage and history of the
Philippines.
A Filipino primary school
teacher in Auckland, Ian
Galvan, spoke about his
pride in having a tangible
memorial for Jose Rizal that
he, and other Filipinos, can
easily visit. “I am proud,
indeed! It's truly remarkable
to witness the profound
impact of Filipino culture
and history reaching distant
corners of the world. The
presence of a memorial dedicated
to Dr. Jose Rizal, one
of the Philippines' most
revered national heroes, is a
testament to the enduring
legacy he left behind.
“This memorial serves as
a reminder of the values
Rizal embodied, such as
(above:) Members of the Filipino Society Inc at the wreath laying ceremony at Rizal Reserve in Auckland on 11 June 2023.
(right:) Flordeliza Skinner and family at the Filipino Society Inc lunch on 11 June 2023.
BACKSTORY: On June 12, 1898, Filipino revolutionary
forces, led by General Emilio Aguinaldo, publicly
read the Act of the Declaration of Independence
in Kawit, Cavite, that proclaimed the sovereignty and
independence of the Philippines from the colonial rule
of Spain, following Spain’s defeat at the Battle of
Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.
Dr. Jose Rizal, often referred to as the national hero
of the Philippines, played a crucial role in the country's
journey towards independence. Born in 1861,
Rizal was not only a talented writer and intellectual,
but also a passionate advocate for the rights and welfare
of his fellow Filipinos under Spanish colonial
rule.
Rizal's influential writings, such as his novels 'Noli
Me Tangere' and 'El Filibusterismo', exposed the
injustices and abuses committed by the Spanish
authorities. Through his works Rizal awakened the
consciousness of the Filipino people, instilling in them
a sense of national identity and pride.
The efforts of Rizal extended beyond his literary
achievements. According to the Chapter Commander
of the Knights of Rizal in Auckland, Sir Roy
Boquiron, “Rizal established the La Liga Filipina on
the 2nd of July, 1892”. It was a progressive organization
that aimed to promote political and social
reforms peacefully. Although the organization was
short-lived due to government suppression, it laid the
groundwork for future revolutionary movements.
love for country, dedication
to education and the pursuit
of truth. It also symbolises
the cultural connections
between the Philippines and
New Zealand, fostering
understanding and appreciation
for Filipino heritage in
the local community. The
(left:) Sir Roy Boquiron, Knights of Rizal, Auckland
(right:) Ian Galvan, primary school teacher
existence of such a memorial
creates an opportunity for
people to learn about Rizal's
life, teachings and the rich
history of the Philippines.
“Moreover, having a Jose
Rizal Memorial in New
Zealand enhances cultural
diversity and promotes
inclusivity within society. It
provides a space for
Filipinos living in New
Zealand to feel a sense of
belonging and it encourages
the exchange of cultural
experiences between different
communities. This
memorial becomes a place
of unity, where individuals
from various backgrounds
can come together and celebrate
the enduring legacy of
Dr. Jose Rizal.
“For younger generations,
their presence is vital in carrying
forward our heritage
and in nurturing the values
instilled by our ancestors.
Embrace the opportunity to
learn from the past, appreciate
our roots and forge a
brighter future for both the
Filipino community and
New Zealand as a whole.”
“I'm very proud that we
have a memorial for our
national hero in Auckland,”
says Flordeliza Skinner (a
former president of the
Filipino Society Inc.), who
has been living in New
Zealand for over 35 years.
“Jose Rizal’s legacy should
be recognized.
“My only disappointment
is that Filipinos here are not
united - there should only be
one Independence Day ceremony
in Auckland with the
participation of all the
groups.
“Furthermore, parents
should encourage the whole
family to participate so
there's a continuity after the
older generation is gone.
That's why I brought my
daughter-in-law and my
granddaughter with me to
the Filipino Society’s commemoration
of Independence
Day.”
2023
The Filipino-Kiwi Hero
Awards is organised
exclusively by
Filipino News NZ.
For more information and
sponsorship enquries
please contact us at:
filipinonews@xtra.co.nz
mob: 027 495 8477
History of the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards.
The inspiration for the Filipino-Kiwi Heroes hall of fame comes from a similar
honours roll in the Philippines conferred by the Philippine Inquirer Newspaper.
For a more detailed list of award winners over the years please visit the official
website: www.filipinoheroes.nz
We welcome nominations for the next Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards.
email: filipinonews @xtra.co.nz

New PH envoy pledges to bolster
relationship with Aotearoa
By Ricky Matthew
ISSUE 168 | PH EMBASSY | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | 03 BUHAY
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
NZ
WELLINGTON – The
newly appointed Philippine
Ambassador to
Aotearoa, Her Excellency
Kira Christianne D.
Azucena, has vowed to
strengthen the diplomatic
ties between the two countries.
“New Zealand is a very
important partner of the
Philippines,” she noted.
“We have so many things
that we're working together
on and I hope that we
can continue this good
relationship."
Having previously
served as the Assistant
Secretary for the United
Nations and International
Organizations at the
Department of Foreign
Affairs, Azucena brings a
wealth of diplomatic experience
to her new role.
Azucena's ambassadorship
promises to forge closer
ties between the
Philippines and Aotearoa,
leveraging her deep understanding
of international
affairs and passion for fostering
bilateral relationships.
She succeeds the
esteemed Jesus “AmbaGary”
Domingo,
whose ambassadorship
concluded in July 2022
and who now serves as
Undersecretary for
Civilian Security and
Consular Affairs of the
Department of Foreign
Affairs.
On June 13th, after a
Powhiri (a traditional
Maori welcome) and
an inspection of the
New Zealand Defence
Force Guard of
Honour, Ambassador
Azucena presented her
credentials to the Rt. Hon.
Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM,
QSO, Governor-General
of New Zealand.
She praised the ceremony,
particularly highlighting
the inclusion of Maori
elements, which she appreciated
deeply.
Azucena also serves as
the envoy to Pacific islands
close to New Zealand,
including the Republic of
Fiji, the Kingdom of
Her Excellency Kira Christianne
D. Azucena
Tonga, the Independent
State of Samoa and the
Cook Islands.
In her first ever New
Zealand media interview
with Migrant News at the
125th Philippine Independence
Day celebration in
Wellington, Ambassador
Azucena expressed her
enthusiasm about assuming
her ambassadorial
duties. "I have been looking
forward to arriving in
New Zealand and assuming
my work since last
year.”
For Azucena this
marks her maiden
appointment to represent
the Philippines as
an ambassador. "This is
my first opportunity to
serve as an ambassador
of the Philippines in a
foreign country. But
this is the fourth country
where I have served
as a Philippine diplomat,"
she said.
Emphasizing the significance
of the Filipino
community in New
Zealand, the third
largest ethnic community
in the country,
Azucena expressed her
delight at their unity and
“meaningful contributions
to the social and economic
landscape of New
Zealand”. She expressed
her commitment to supporting
and uplifting the
Filipino community during
her ambassadorship.
Regarding her initial
impressions of New Zealand,
Azucena described
the country as: “A very
orderly and quiet place.
But even then, I see so
many activities that celebrate
our culture.”
In response to inquiries
about the Filipino population
in New Zealand, she
mentioned that while the
exact number is yet to be
BACK STORY:
determined, she estimates
it to be close to 100,000.
Efforts are underway to
obtain a more accurate figure
from the New Zealand
government and other collaborative
partners.
As she assumes her new
role, her dedication to
serving both nations and
supporting the Filipino
community is set to bring
about greater heights of
cooperation and prosperity.
Ambassador Azucena was born and raised in
Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.
Graduating from Silliman University with a
Bachelor of Mass Communications, Azucena
embarked on her diplomatic career in 1995, serving
in key roles in New York, Hong Kong and Rome,
including as Charge D'affaires and Deputy
Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the
United Nations in New York.
Additionally, she was elected Chair of the Special
Committee on the Charter of the UN and on the
Strengthening of the Role of the Organization,
demonstrating her expertise and leadership in the
international arena.

BUHAY
NZ
04 ISSUE 168 PH INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | MOB: 027 495 8477
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
By Ricky Matthew
WELLINGTON - On the
18th of June the vibrant city
of Wellington came alive as
it hosted the grand celebration
of the 125th Philippine
Independence Day at the
Sky Stadium.
The event, which commemorated
the Philippines’
historic journey towards
freedom, attracted a diverse
range of attendees, who
gathered to honour the significant
milestone in
Philippine history. With a
variety of activities and special
guests, the festivities
showcased the rich culture
and traditions of the
Philippines.
The event was graced with
the presence of notable figures
such as the new
Philippine Ambassador
Her Excellency Kira
Christianne D. Azucena
and National Party Deputy
Leader Nicola Willis,
which added prestige to the
occasion.
The event kicked off with
a solemn mass led by Rev.
Father Ron Bennett, the
Otari Parish Priest. This was
followed by a reflection on
the struggles and triumphs
that led to Philippine independence.
Throughout the day the
celebrations continued with
a series of captivating performances
and showcases.
The Wellington Filipino
Choir mesmerized the audience
with their melodic harmonies,
showcasing the
musical prowess and cultural
heritage of the Filipino
people. Meanwhile, sports
enthusiasts engaged in the
super six 3x3 basketball
pop-up tournament, a testament
to the Filipinos' love
for the game.
Damien Ekenasio, the
General Manager at
Capital Zone Basketball
Trust and a former 17-season
player with the
Wellington Saints, expressed
his excitement about the
competition. "There were
about 10 teams today. The
big turnout is because
Filipino people love their
basketball," he acknowledged,
highlighting the
sport's popularity within the
community. “Filipinos are
very fast and aggressive.
Passionate is the word. And
Jubilant atmosphere and
chance to embrace the
richness of Filipino culture.
Top: Kate McCray - “I love Filipino food”
Above: William and Marie were here
“because it's the Philippine's anniversary
and to give our little one a feel for the culture."
they make up for their lack
of height with a lot of heart.”
Another highlight of the
event was the variety show,
featuring renowned Filipino
comedy duo Ang Diva At
Ang Pilya. Composed of
Jhong Diva and LJ Pilya, the
duo delighted the crowd
with their musical performances
and a trivia contest.
Jhong Diva expressed his
excitement to perform at the
event as he had experienced
an unexpected two year stay
in the Philippines due to
travel restrictions caused by
the pandemic, only returning
last year. “I went back home
to the Philippines before
Covid and I was stranded
there for two years,” he said.
“Now that I am back we are
excited to be putting on
shows to remind people that
we are still here.”
Throughout the
day interviews
with attendees
provided insights
into their personal
connections
with Filipino culture
and independence.
E l e n a
Taraeka, a half-
Filipino attendee,
expressed her
reasons for
attending the
event. "To experience
a bit more of
my culture, you
know, because I
am not around it
all the time," she shared.
Having visited the
Philippines twice before, she
acknowledged the expense
of travel, but found solace in
events like this that brought
the essence of her heritage
closer to home. She eagerly
looked forward to indulging
in the Filipino cuisine, a
highlight of the event, as she
mentioned. "I only have
Filipino food at special
events like these. My mum
also cooks Filipino food."
Top: Elena Taraeka attended the event "to
experience a bit more of my culture.”
Above: Jhong Diva and LJ Pilya put on a
riveting variety show.
Kiwi-European Kate
McCray, who harbours a
deep fondness for Filipino
cuisine, was thrilled to be
part of the celebrations. "I
love Filipino food," she
exclaimed. When asked
about her favourite dish, she
replied: "I like the Filipino
BBQ." Although she had not
yet visited the Philippines,
Kate expressed her desire to
explore the country and
learn more about its vibrant
culture. Her partner, hailing
from Manila, has provided
her with the basics of
Filipino traditions and she
has taken an active interest
in learning Tagalog.
Amidst the festivities,
William and Marie, a
European and Filipina couple
and proud new parents,
found themselves captivated
by the jubilant atmosphere
and the opportunity to
expose their
child to Filipino
culture and heritage.
"I'm here
because it's the
Philippine's
anniversary and
to give our little
one a feel for
the culture,"
W i l l i a m
explained.
As the day
unfolded attendees
immersed
themselves in
(left:) The Wellington
Filipino Choir
mesmerized the
audience with their
melodic harmonies.
(above:) A cultural
display presented
by the Filifest
Dance Group.
Photos / Migrant
News
the cultural
extravaganza;
cherishing the
music, performances, cuisine
and the palpable sense
of camaraderie and patriotism.
The 125th Philippine
Independence Day celebration
in Wellington served as
a testament to the enduring
spirit and rich heritage of the
Filipino people, fostering a
sense of patriotism and
appreciation for those who
fought for Philippine
Independence 125 years ago.
BACKSTORY: The
Philippines was initially
colonised by Spain in the
16th century, enduring over
300 years of Spanish colonial
rule. As the Filipino
people grew increasingly
discontented with Spanish
oppression, uprisings and
rebellions emerged throughout
the archipelago. Notable
figures like Jose Rizal and
Andres Bonifacio played
pivotal roles in awakening
national consciousness in
the Philippines.
Every year in the middle
of June, Filipinos across the
world celebrate the patriotism
and cultural pride that
Rizal and Bonifacio ignited
in the Philippines. This celebration
extends even to distant
places like Wellington,
New Zealand, halfway
across the globe.
Regional Food
Products
event dates and venues on our website
and facebook www.halohalo.nz
Services
Employers

ISSUE 168 | SPORTS HERO | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | 05 BUHAY
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
NZ
Sports hero nurtures
a new wave of Kiwi
table tennis athletes
By Ricky Matthew
AUCKLAND – In the
world of sports there are
certain individuals whose
journeys go beyond the
ordinary to make a lasting
impact on the sporting
landscape. A fine example
of this is Kiwi-born
Filipino, Alfred Dela Peña,
23 – a bona fide legend of
his sport.
For over a decade this
young and vibrant talent
has honed his skills in the
fast-paced world of table
tennis. Starting at the tender
age of ten, he found his
passion ignited within the
walls of Waitemata Table
Tennis Club. Fast forward
to the present and he not
only represents his club on
the national stage, but also
represents his country on
the international stage.
Alfred is no stranger to
winning. He has proudly
represented New Zealand
at the highest level for several
years, competing in
prestigious events such as
the World Junior Championships,
2023 ITTF
World Championships
Finals, ITTF World Senior
Championships and in
numerous domestic tournaments,
including winning
a gold medal at the
North Island open.
Alfred has moved up in
the latest ITTF World
Ranking List. At #95 he is
the first Table Tennis New
Zealand male player to
ever make the top #100 in
the world.
Alfred exemplifies the
unwavering commitment
to excellence and the dedication
needed to achieve
remarkable success.
However, his story goes
beyond personal accomplishments.
Alfred has
been coaching and inspiring
young table tennis talent
in Auckland for the last
few years and is a key figure
in the Waitemata Table
Tennis association.
In an interview with
Migrant News Alfred
talked about his passion
for table tennis and about
raising a new generation of
stars.
“I have been playing
table tennis for 13+ years
now. It was my father that
got me into table tennis. He
plays casually.
“I started playing
around the age of ten for
my club, Waitemata Table
Tennis and later I represented
my high school,
Liston College. Now I am
actually the facility manager
at my club, I am on
our club committee and I
am the association’s head
coach.
“I have been playing at a
national and international
level. I’ve been to three
World Junior Championships
and I’ve been a representative
of the men’s
team for 4 or 5 years now.
“At the moment I play
mainly as an individual.
But when it comes to team
events, we do have a team
that plays at national and
international events.”
In order to compete at
such a high level, table tennis
has become “a full-time
job”. He reveals that “on
Alfred Dela Pena - Filipino-Kiwi ‘Sportsperson of the Year’
average, I’d probably
spend about two to three
hours training each day”.
Despite his achievements
and training regimen, his
passion goes beyond personal
accomplishments. He
is dedicated to inspiring
young talent to help them
reach the level that he has.
“To give back to the
community, I’m actually
coaching a lot more than
training now. I have junior
coaching groups weekly,
four times a week. And I’m
also an individual coach.
“I don’t think that there
are many Filipinos getting
into table tennis here. I
found a few Filipinos in NZ
who enjoy table tennis
here. However, there are
many more enthusiastic
people who like to play
table tennis in the
Philippines.
“When it comes to selection
for national teams I
think that Filipinos can
fare better.
“Compared to basketball,
height is not such an
important factor. It is
speed, skill, hand-eye coordination
and
reflexes that
really matter.”
Having a
key role in
the table
tennis community, Alfred
has seen the number of
players and opportunities
grow in the recent years.
“I know that table tennis
is now growing in our community,
which is good. I
think that there’s a good
opportunity for people out
West to do well, given that
we had a new stadium built
and a player like me
around who’s very keen to
coach.”
Alfred indicated that he
sees himself continuing to
focus on table tennis. “I do
see myself continuing in
the sport for many more
years. I mean, at the
moment, I’m still pretty
young, so I think I still
have a few more good
years in me.”
Keeping fit is the name
of the game. “Well, apart
from table tennis, I do like
to play different sports as
well. I enjoy going to the
gym and playing basketball.”

BUHAY
NZ
06 ISSUE 168 MAGANDANG BALITA | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | MOB: 027 495 8477
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
‘Joy in turning pages,
rather than just
looking at a screen.’
By Ricky Matthew
AUCKLAND – In the last
ten years there has been a
seismic shift in the reading
habits of children and adults.
People are spending much
more time fixated on a
screen searching for information
and have less time to
get stuck into reading books.
The good old days when
the whole family used to
troop into a library to borrow
a stack of books to read are
fast disappearing. So much
so that Auckland Libraries
has taken a step to encourage
reading by eliminating the
penalties imposed for late
return of books.
Migrant News sought the
views of three Filipino book
distributors and a supportive
parent on whether the reading
culture is diminishing in
their community.
Ezra Paz, Kiwi Nanay,
facebook.com/kiwinanay,
kiwinany@gmail.com, 021
0477373.
What is your view on the
opinion that Filipinos
don’t read?
I beg to disagree. I love
books. Growing up, I did not
have access to many books.
However, when I did have a
book, I would read it over
and over.
Being able to come to
New Zealand has given me
the opportunity to go to the
library. I really love it. Being
able to pass that onto my
children is a real joy.
I have also brought my
collection of Filipino books
from home.
My aunty is a children’s
book illustrator. She illustrated
some of the books we
are selling, such as ‘All
About the Philippines’. I
grew up with her giving me
books.
When I got married she
continued to send me the
books that she illustrated or
wrote. That gave us a collection
of Filipino books in
New Zealand.
Other mums were asking
for Filipino books and I said,
“you can borrow mine”.
They responded, “why don’t
you sell some”. That’s how it
all started.
I am also selling some art
prints that are also made by
my aunty. They bring me
back home as they are very
nostalgic. I want to pass that
onto my children.
I want to show children
and families that there is a
joy in turning pages, rather
than just looking at a screen.
Jade-Ceres Munoz, The
Filipino Children’s Library,
https://www.facebook.com/filipinochildrenslibrary.
I’ve always been into literature,
because I grew up
with books and both my parents
are writers.
When I moved to New
Zealand it was very difficult
to find Filipino books and
books in general.
My daughter is the one
who inspired me to sell
books.
Over the years I started
importing books to New
Zealand from the
Philippines. I was working
with the embassy at the time.
Then Covid happened and
the Filipino children’s
library started. I wanted to
digitize the stories and make
them available to children
who were looking for
Filipino stories, but didn’t
have access to them.
How have Filipinos
reacted to having access to
these books?
People are looking for
books. However, they don’t
always use books to teach
their children. This is reintroducing
them to the concept
that reading is such a
good experience for kids to
grow up with.
It takes one step at a time
to get people to be more
involved with reading.
Donna Dacuno, Matatas
Bookstore, www.matatas.
co.nz.
Why did you open your
bookstore?
Matatas means fluent in
Filipino. We have established
this bookstore to give
resources to parents, friends
and homecare providers to
allow them to facilitate the
teaching of Tagalog, English
and regional languages as
|Donna Dacuno
well.
We offer bilingual
Tagalog-English children’s
books. We also offer Bisaya-
English and Chavacano-
English.
We know that in New
Zealand almost 50% of
Filipinos are non-Tagalog
speakers. If we go to
Facebook groups, then there
are lots of Bisaya speaking
people.
What we are trying to do is
to provide resources to their
kids to learn their own languages.
We are not just focusing
on the stories, but on how
they are constructing their
sentences.
For now we focus on providing
picture books,
because they are better for
introductory purposes for
the children based here in
New Zealand. It will help
them to associate
the
word with the
picture. There
are no big
sentences,
just phrases
that they can
easily grasp.
What is
your target
age group?
At the
moment it is
0-9 years old.
The next step
is 9 plus. We
are trying to
move up to
higher ages,
because we
also have
other bookstores
that are offering age
0+.
We are engaging with
schools about offering books
because we have lots of new
migrants that would like to
continue learning Filipino
languages.
What are you doing to
encourage reading in the
community?
We want to promote the
concept of incorporating a
Saturday program in
libraries. This would attract
more Filipinos to the library.
It would be an area that
Filipinos can go on a
Saturday with the family.
We first did this at the
Auckland City Central
Library on April 1st. We
want this to be picked up by
other libraries.
Our next step was at the
Batang Pinoy event on 15th
April, where we had a storytelling
of ‘The Monkey and
the Turtle’ by Jose Rizal.
Hopefully we will have
more of this.
Would you say
that Filipinos in the
Philippines and
Filipinos here are
different in terms of
their interest in
reading?
For the 1.5 generation,
the ones that are
brought here at an
early age and don’t
have much access to
Filipino materials,
there is a difference.
When they move
here they want to
assimilate and integrate
with the Englishspeaking
New Zealanders.
In that process they lose
some of their knowledge
from the homeland.
Books from the
Philippines are no longer
relatable here in New
Zealand. The Philippines is
so far away and it's almost
‘mystical’ already. That is
what we want to change.
I have a half-Filipino son
|Carl Chua, Supportive Parent.
and I want his friends or
future friends to be able to
speak Filipino together. It
may be through interacting
with books or activities.
I’m based in West
Auckland, but we ship to the
whole of New Zealand, to
Australia and to the Islands.
Carl Chua, Supportive
Parent.
We bought a book called
'The Adventures of Gabby
Ghas' (a story about the journey
of a grain of rice from
the farm to a hungry boy’s
plate). My son picked it out.
It looks interesting to him.
I also saw that the subheadings
were quite interesting.
'Palay, bigas, kanin'.
(Sidenote: all three words
mean rice. Palay refers to
unmilled rice, bigas refers to
milled uncooked rice, kanin
refers to cooked rice.)
Can he read Filipino?
No, but we are teaching
him how to.
He loves reading books.
Find information about Filipino and Asian
food festivals and events at: www.halohalo.nz
and www.travelgalore.nz

BUHAY
NZ
08 ISSUE 168 MAGANDANG BALITA | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | MOB: 027 495 8477
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
By Ricky Matthew
AUCKLAND – On the occasion
of Mother's Day, Igorot
heritage events took a pause,
allowing the spotlight to shine
on the celebration of mothers.
In a dazzling display of flamboyance
and tropical fashion,
members of OCNZ (Organisation
of Cordillerans New
Zealand) came together in
Auckland to put on a Gatsby
and Hawaiian themed party.
For once the ‘gangsa’ (brass
gongs) and the traditional tribal
dance made only a brief appearance.
Instead there was a lively
band for dance music and
amazing singers serenading, as
well as exciting contests with
prizes for the best dressed
mums.
As the focus was on mums
they also got to be fed first. The
splendid traditional feast provided
by community leaders
was served by men to their partners.
The event was a testament to
the vibrant spirit and unity
among the community members.
Myriam Benito, president
of OCNZ, expressed her excitement
and gratitude for the occasion
to celebrate mothers within
the Cordilleran community.
"My heart is filled with gratitude
as we come together to celebrate
our Cordilleran culture
and the incredible growth we
have achieved as a community,"
said Myriam. "This event is a
reflection of our shared values
and the bond that unites us all."
Myriam highlighted the
importance of community support
and unity, stating that: "It
is through our collective efforts
that we can ensure the preservation
of our rich heritage and
pass it on to future generations."
The importance of preserving
Cordilleran traditions and
engaging the younger generation
is uppermost in the minds
of parents. "Our culture is our
Igorot heritage
events take
a pause for
Mother’s Day
(left) Eileen Cutaran. (above left to right) Alberto Balag-ey, Myriam Benito, Sheila Mariano and Maribeth Malubay.
Photo / Migrant News
Myriam Benito, president of OCNZ
Photo / Migrant News
foundation and we must ensure
its continuity by involving our
youth," Myriam emphasized.
OCNZ has established a 'Next
Generation' leadership group to
provide opportunities for
younger community members
to actively participate in cultural
events and take on responsibilities.
Myriam also spoke about an
upcoming event that aims to
create opportunities for Igorots
in different countries to connect
and learn from each other.
"We are privileged to be hosting
the 14th Igorot International
Consultation in Auckland
next year. This consultation is a
significant milestone for our
community, as it brings together
Igorots from around the
world to strengthen our bonds
and promote cultural exchange,"
she explained.
In addition to the consultation
OCNZ actively supports community
projects. Myriam mentioned
the organization's collaboration
with the Igorot Global
Organization to provide scholarships
for university students
in the Cordillera region. She
also emphasized their involvement
in health and dental missions,
bringing essential services
to remote areas.
BACKSTORY:
The OCNZ,
founded in 1995,
has been actively
promoting Cordilleran
culture in New
Zealand.
(left:) Princes Macay
Photo / Migrant News
The Cordilleran community
in New Zealand is a successful
and rapidly growing one, says
Myriam. "Our community in
New Zealand is diverse, comprised
of individuals with various
occupations and skills. We
have professionals, nurses, furniture
makers, linemen, beekeepers,
farmers, builders and
IT engineers among us."
She highlighted the growing
presence of Cordillerans in the
dairy farming industry, with
community members successfully
venturing into managerial
roles.
Marcos attends
royal reception
MANILA – President
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
graced the royal reception
hosted by King Charles III at
Buckingham Palace, on the
eve of the latter’s historic
coronation, at Buckingham
Palace in London, the United
Kingdom.
The President was accompanied
by his wife, First
Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos,
clad in an elegant Filipiniana
dress. (PNA)
More news stories at: www.
filipinonews.nz
FILIPINO NEWS NZ
(23rd Anniversary)
www.filipinonews.nz
HERO AWARDS
filipinoheroes.nz
FILIPINO JOB BOARD
www.trabaho.nz
TRAVEL GALORE
www.travelgalore.nz
Print • Web • Tablet • Facebook • Instagram
MIGRANT NEWS
(33rd Anniversary)
www.migrantnews.nz
Facebook: Migrant News
Facebook:
Filipino Migrant News
Filipino News NZ
Pinoy NZ Life
www.halohalo.nz
Publisher:
Sheila Mariano
Managing Editor:
Mel Fernandez
Reporter:
Ricky Matthew
Advertising:
027 495 8477
Published by:
SM Publications Ltd
filipinonews @xtra.co.nz
Please email your
Community News, Photos
and Feedback to:
filipinonews@xtra.co.nz
text: 027 495 8477
Views expressed in the above mentioned publications and websites do not necessarily reflect that of the publisher.
Copyright Matters, Terms &
Conditions of Publication
All material (including ads) appearing in
FILIPINO NEWS, MIGRANT NEWS
and it’s related websites:
filipinonews.nz, migrantnews.nz,
travelgalore.nz,filipinoheroes.nz,
and halohalo.nz is COPYRIGHTED and
cannot be reproduced unless written
permission is given by - S M
Publications Ltd and Migrant
News Ltd.
The publishers do not accept any
responsibility or liability for views and
claims in the editorial matter or
advertisements appearing in the above
mentioned publications and related
websites.
Our Community Partners
Filipino News is proud to be the media partner of:
• The Filipino Society Inc (Auckland)
• Filipino Children’s Library (Auckland)
• Southland Filipino Society Inc (Invercargill)
• Organization of Cordillereans in NZ
• Kalinga Organization of NZ
• Igorotak NZ (Palmerston North)
• Mina De Oro (Mindorenos in NZ)
• Alpha Phi Omega (Auckland)
• Pinoy Adventurers NZ (Auckland)
• Banyuhay Aotearoa (Auckland)
• New Zealand Philippines Business Council
• Multicultural Association Hawke’s Bay Inc

ISSUE 168 | EVENTS | www.filipinoheroes.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | 09 BUHAY
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
NZ
Kalinga smashes
world record for
gong players and
‘banga’ dancers
AUCKLAND
– On February
15 of this year
the resounding
clanging of
thousands of
brass gongs in
the land locked
province of
Kalinga, in the
heart of the
Cordilleran
Mountain region in
Northern Luzon, heralded
two Guinness Book of
World Records for the
Philippines.
During its 28th founding
anniversary celebrations
the region made history
when it was listed as having
the largest male gong
ensemble and the largest
number of female banga or
pot dancers at a grand
spectacle at the Kalinga
S p o r t s
Complex.
Dubbed as a
'Call of a
Thousand
Gongs, Dance of
a Thousand
Pots', a total of
3,440 men
played gongs,
while 4,681 women
danced with pots
called 'banga' balanced
on their
heads.
The indigenous
people of Kalinga,
which is one of six
provinces of the Cordilleran
region, are well represented
in New Zealand.
“The women living here
are employed as nurses or
office staff and some of the
men are builders, dairy
farmers and landscapers,”
says Conie Sokkong, an
elder of the community.
“We have our own community
organization with
more than 300 members in
the North Island and lots
more in the South Island.”
On the 8th of April the
By Ricky Matthew
group congregated for the
2nd Kalinga Day celebration
in Henderson, Auckland.
“Kalinga Day is celebrated
in early February
when villagers join together
to feast and show their
culture and traditions,”
says Conie. “But in New
Zealand we hold the event
in April as we don’t have
enough lead time to organize
it.
“When the Kalinga
brass gongs are beaten it is
an invitation to everybody
to celebrate with us. We
love to wear our traditional
costumes and present
our music and dance at
weddings and festivals.
“We always wear our
costumes when we dance
or present to visitors. The
typical Kalinga clothing
for men is called the
‘bahag’ (loincloth) while
women usually wear the
‘kain’, or a colourful garment
that covers from the
waist down,” shares Conie.
“The cloth for the cotton
garments is hand woven.
“We have original
‘bunge’ heirloom beads
from Kalinga. They can be
worn on the head or as a
necklace called ‘ong-ong’
or as a long
necklace -
‘apogee’.
“These are
passed on
from our
grandparents.
Kalinga Day celebration in
Henderson (above left) and
Conie Sokkong, elder (above).
They give them to us as
treasures.”
The Kalinga Organization
of New Zealand has
been nominated to receive
the Filipino-Kiwi Hero
Award for Community
Group of the Year 2023.
More details at: www.
filipinoheroes.nz.

10 ISSUE 168 TRABAHO | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.trabaho.nz | Facebook: Filipino Migrant News
MIGRANT NEWS - www.migrantnews.nz : New Zealand’s first Migrant community newspaper. Published since 1991. Print. Online. Social Media.
Students working part-time
being exploited verbally,
abused by their bosses
New Zealand Asians bravely speak out
about their own experiences of exploitation.
Every person who chooses
to leave their home for
New Zealand’s shores
comes in pursuit of the
same dream, a dream of a
better life.
Migrants arrive in a foreign
environment that has
a different language and
culture, knowing that pursuing
this dream will
inevitably involve many
challenges. They work
hard, study diligently and
persevere, hoping that they
will receive fair treatment
for their contributions and
efforts.
How difficult can the
journey be?
Asian Family Services
(AFS) was established in
1998 to provide services to
people of Asian background
who are affected
by gambling harm, addiction
and mental health
issues.
AFS also offers gambling
prevention and harm minimisation
services under a
Ministry of Health contract
and operates a
national telephone service
(Asian Helpline) for Asian
individuals and families.
Our services are offered
in Auckland, Wellington
and Christchurch by qualified
counsellors, social
workers and public health
practitioners who speak
English, Cantonese, Mandarin,
Korean, Vietnamese,
Japanese, Hindi and
Thai.
Throughout the years
AFS has fostered strong
relationships with various
stakeholders and communities
and has gained the
trust of the Asian and
migrant communities.
The organisation has
witnessed a significant
increase in demand for
support services from the
Asian migrant population.
Notably, the number of
calls received by the Asian
Helpline has tripled, with a
remarkable surge in
inquiries from migrant
workers seeking assistance
due to unfair workplace
treatment.
In response to this growing
trend AFS has directed
their team to conduct an
investigation into the experiences
of migrant employees,
aiming to gain a deeper
understanding of their
unique challenges and
needs.
Four interviewees of
Asian descent have bravely
shared their stories,
describing the hardships
they encountered in pursuit
of their dreams.
Students exploited and
paid less than the minimum
wage while working
part-time
Interviewee A: “When I
was studying, I worked
part-time in a restaurant.
My boss told me the hourly
rate was $12 cash after tax.
At the time I had just
arrived in New Zealand
and didn’t know anything,
so I worked there for a
while. It wasn’t until later
that I discovered that was
not true.”
Constantly working
overtime without compensation
Interviewee C: “In my
first official job after graduation,
although the boss
paid me the minimum
wage and legally taxed me,
I was made to work overtime
non-stop. The longest
I ever overworked was one
time when I was supposed
to finish at 5 in the afternoon
but didn’t leave the
office until 11 at night.
When I asked my boss how
we calculated pay for overtime
he very confidently
told me that there wasn’t
any.”
“I’m a designer, but felt
like I was hired to do odd
jobs.”
Interviewee D: “The
position I applied for was
that of a designer, but the
boss asked me to do everything,
including working
reception at the front desk
and driving and delivering
goods. After delivering
some goods I applied to the
boss for a reimbursement
of gas expenses. The boss
said that I was “way too
lacking in team spirit” for
making such a fuss about a
little bit of money and said
that if I asked again, then I
would be fired.”
Demoralised and verbally
abused by the boss
Interviewee D: “Shortly
after I started working in
the company, the boss told
me that with my work ability
and poor English no
western company would
want me. He would try to
brainwash me and my colleagues
like this almost
every day. I had good
grades when I graduated,
but after working in that
company where my selfconfidence
was beaten
down by the boss every
day, I felt worthless.”
Conned into doing illegal
work
Interviewee C: “I came to
New Zealand from the
Philippines to study in
2013. At that time I was
introduced to a company
for work. There was no
interview, no contract and
no salary negotiation,
which I found very
strange.
“Later, I was taken to
the place of work by my
boss - a parking lot. The
boss told me to ask the people
who parked there if
they had filed a tax refund.
If they were interested, I
could give them the company
flyers,
they
would give
us some
money
and we could help them.
But the boss told me “If
you see the security guards
coming, run away.”
“The whole rest of that
afternoon the boss left me
there alone to familiarise
myself with the work. I
was only 20 at the time so
this was terrifying to me
and I felt like the boss was
trying to get me to do
something illegal.
“Later that day I went
back to my rental and
shared the experience with
my Kiwi flatmate who was
living with me. He told me
not to have anything to do
with them anymore and
said that it sounded really
dangerous.
“The next day I went
back to school and found
the person who introduced
me to the job to let them
know that I was quitting.
He told me “You should
really tell the boss and
resign formally, because
you’ve only just come to
New Zealand and no good
will come from offending
the boss.” I didn’t listen to
him and cut all communication
with the ‘boss’.
When I look back now, I’m
glad I did.”
Reflecting on their own
experiences during the
interviews, all the interviewees
expressed that having
been fully informed
regarding Employ-ment
rights and laws prior to
entering New Zealand
would have prevented people
from being treated
unfairly. The experience of
unfair treatment at work
doesn’t stop with the
financial health of the person,
this also affects the
physical and mental wellbeing
of the person, therefore,
it is also helpful for
New Migrants to receive
prior knowledge of different
health services that
they can access in a timely
manner.
Asian Family Services
are here to assist you if you
or someone you know has
experienced migrant
exploitation and needs
emotional or psychological
support, then call our
Asian Helpline on 0800 862
342 for help.
We can provide professional
and confidential
psychological support. Our
helpline is available in
Mandarin, Cantonese,
Korean, Japanese, Hindi,
Vietnamese, Thai and
English and is open
Monday to Friday 9am to
8pm.
Everyone working in
New Zealand deserves to
be treated fairly, irrespective
of their identity, ethnicity,
age, or gender. The
rights and support the
New Zealand government
provides are accessible to
all, ensuring equity for
everyone. To ensure fair
treatment, the first step is
to know your rights and be
informed of the available
support the New Zealand
government offers all
workers. This information
can be easily accessed at
www.employment.govt.nz,
where comprehensive
resources are available to
promote equity and to
ensure that all workers
receive the fair treatment
they deserve.
If you think that you are
being exploited, then you
can make a complaint by
contacting Employment
New Zealand on 0800 200
088, where they can provide
language assistance.
They are open Monday to
Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm,
or access their website and
complete the online complaint
form at www.
reportmigrantexploitation.employment.govt.nz/

The one and only
Filipino Job Board
www.trabaho.nz
Employers - list your jobs here
at very affordable rates!
Job-seekers, check out new job listings.
mob: 027 387 7680
trabaho@xtra.co.nz
migrantnews.nz
33
YEARS
O N L I N E
E D I T I O N .
A n d a s
a m o n t h l y
p u l l - o u t
i n F i l i p i n o
N e w s N Z .
F R E E
• NZ’s first Multicultural Newspaper •
Circulation
migrantnews@xtra.co.nz | mob: 027 495 8477
SCAN THIS QR CODE
on to your mobile
phone and be up-todate
on Migrant News
www.migrantnews.nz
JOIN OUR
MAILING LIST
Get a link to the
latest editions of
Filipino News and
Migrant News
emailed to you.
email:
migrantnews@
xtra.co.nz
Immigration:
Policy changes
spell a jobs boom
for overseas
foreign workers
By Ricky Matthew
WELLINGTON – New
Zealand is rolling out the
red carpet to recruit highly
skilled foreign workers to
help fill labour shortages
in critical sectors of the
economy. Fortunately, the
response to this recruitment
drive is gaining
momentum as the current
surge in job opportunities
is attracting a large contingent
of Filipino workers to
our shores.
In a bid to address the
ongoing labour shortage
and to attract highly
skilled workers to New
Zealand, the government
has announced significant
changes to the Skilled
Migrant Category (SMC)
Resident Visa and Accredited
Employer Work Visa
(AEWV) systems.
The reforms, which will
come into effect on
October 9, 2023, aim to
provide clarity and faster
pathways to residence for
skilled migrants, while also
ensuring that employers
can access the talent that
they need.
One of the significant
changes is the removal of
the cap on highly skilled
workers, which eliminates
an artificial constraint that
previously limited the
number of residence places
available each year. This
change allows skilled
migrants to settle in New
Zealand based on the actual
demand for their skills.
Former Immigration
Minister, Michael Wood,
acknowledged the urgent
calls for these changes.
Labour Attaché
Angel L. Borja Jr.,
“We know that many
industries are calling for
workers as the global
labour shortage bites. The
new skilled migrant settings
will help attract and
retain skilled migrants to
fill medium-to-long-term
skills needs that would
take more time to be filled
by workers already in New
Zealand.”
Under the new system
the current points-based
SMC visa will be replaced
with a simplified points
system that establishes a
clear threshold for residence.
“Highly skilled people
will have a faster route
to residence and others will
have a clear route to residence
if they work for a
certain period in New
Zealand,” explained
Wood.
The previous requirement
of 6 points to apply
for the visa will remain
unchanged. However, the
updated system allows
applicants to claim points
from their New Zealand
occupational registration,
qualification (bachelor’s
degree or higher), or
income from their job or
job offer. Applicants can
earn between 3 to 6 points
from these indicators, but
they cannot combine
points from multiple indicators.
Additionally, applicants
can claim 1 point for each
year of skilled work in New
Zealand, up to a maximum
of 3 points. These points
can be combined with
those earned from occupational
registration, qualification,
or income. The new
system ensures that highly
skilled individuals have a
faster route to residence,
while also providing clarity
for temporary workers
about their eligibility for
residency.
In an exclusive interview
with Migrant News,
Labour Attaché Angel L.
Borja Jr., who heads the
Department of Migrant
Workers (formerly known
as the Philippine Overseas
Labour Office for NZ and
the Pacific), described the
SCAN TO VIEW
www.trabaho.nz
impact that this will have
on the Filipino visa holders
in New Zealand.
“Right now we have
almost 40,000 Filipino
work visa holders in this
country. They range from
construction workers to
nurses, healthcare workers,
Dairy farmers, IT and
others.
“Filipinos are quite
happy to find themselves
jobs in this country and
now it is clearer whether
they qualify under the criteria
of Immigration New
Zealand by virtue of the
new accredited employers
work visa.”
Another expert in the
field, Augencio Bagsic,
Director/Barrister and
Solicitor at Bagsic Law
Ltd, which specialises in
immigration, observed
that the lifting of restrictions
has eased the process
for individuals to apply for
work visas, but has introduced
further processes
for employers.
“With the new system of
applying for work visas, I
think it’s much easier now
for a person to be accredited,
which is a good thing.
And then job checks as
well are a lot easier.
However, it has introduced
extra hurdles for the
employers. But if you pass
JOBS BOARD
Job seekers check out this
popular jobs board for
new listings.
Employers don’t delay -
list your jobs today. Low
cost. Targeted.
Augencio Bagsic,
Bagsic Law Ltd,
all those hurdles, then
everything will be smooth
for both parties.”
Bagsic proceeded to provide
an estimate of the
time it takes to go through
the entire process, from
application to arrival,
under the revised system.
He explained that the timeline
can vary significantly.
“If the employer is accredited
and if they have a job
check, then we can be
approved in anything from
a week to a month. It’s just
the preparation for the
employee which takes a lot
“This JOBS BOARD trabaho.nz is
a fantastic way of attracting quality
staff. They are easy to work with,
fast and effective, giving almost
instant results.”
Monty Stewart, Kaiwaka Clothing.
of time, but for
the work visa it is
much faster.”
The construction
sector continues
to be a
magnet for
numerous overseas
Filipino
workers, Bagsic
n o t e d .
“Carpenters are
still in high
demand, because
one company can
need 10 to 50
carpenters.
Dairy farms only
need one or two workers,
but construction companies
need many carpenters.”
One of these construction
companies seeking
Filipino migrant workers
is Kiwi-owned and operated
Platform Homes.
Johnny Taione, a construction
consultant at the company,
indicated that
around 95% of their 400-
strong team is made up of
Filipinos.
“We bring in Filipinos as
workers and we bring in
workers from other international
countries. We are
looking for more Filipino
workers at the moment.
We also do recruit here in
New Zealand, so we do
both domestic and international
recruitment.”
New Zealand has once
again joined the race to
lure foreigners to help fill
labour shortages and it
appears that skilled workers
from the Philippines
are responding to the call
in droves.

BUHAY
NZ
12 ISSUE 168 | TRABAHO | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.trabaho.nz | MOB: 027 495 8477
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 120 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino News NZ.
Filipino university friends reunite in Aotearoa
From a country of 115
million to small-town
Aotearoa. After meeting at
university in the Philippines,
four friends have ended up
in Canterbury together as
CrestClean franchisees.
Joy and Nilo Pombo and
Ian and Vivian Abuyabor
met in the early 2000s when
they were studying veterinary
science, at what was
then known as the Visayas
State College of Agriculture
(now Visayas State University).
Little did they know that
20 years later they would all
be in a different country and
on a different career path!
Ian was the first to emigrate
to New Zealand, in
2007, after being offered a
dairy farming job while
working for the Department
of Agriculture in the
Philippines.
Later that same year, Nilo
followed and by 2010 both
their wives and children had
joined them.
They all worked in the
dairy industry until 2018,
when Joy and Nilo bought a
CrestClean franchise in
Ashburton, becoming the
first Filipinos in the region
to do so.
After seeing their friends’
South Canterbury franchisees and friends:
Nilo and Joy Pombo, Vivian and Ian Abuyabor
success, it wasn’t long
before Ian and Vivian also
bought a franchise, in
Waimate.
Joy now works fulltime in
their business, while Nilo,
who qualified as a Hard
Floor Care specialist with
CrestClean’s Master Cleaners
Training Institute, continues
to work as a farm
manager during the day,
doing floor cleaning jobs in
his spare time.
Ian and Vivian also manage
a dairy farm in tandem
with their CrestClean business.
Their long-term plan is
to grow their business to the
point where they can go full
time with CrestClean.
You could say that things
have come full circle! It was
Ian who gave Nilo a referral
for the job that brought him
to New Zealand and then
Nilo and Joy introduced Ian
and Vivian to CrestClean.
“We saw Joy in Ashburton
wearing a CrestClean uniform.
That’s how we knew
she was with CrestClean.
She encouraged us to join as
well,” says Ian.
“When we were at university,
we didn’t expect that
we would all end up in New
Zealand together! I came
here because I wanted to
explore a new place and a
new opportunity. It’s a good
place to raise a family.
Vivian and I are still working
on the dairy farm and we
also do cleaning. We are
always together. This year
we are building a house - we
are very happy here.”
Automotive
Technician / Mechanic
Prodcution Workers
Receptionist /
Housekeeper
Experienced
Residential Painters
Blind Assembler
Roofing
Geotechnical
Driller
Joy says that she feels
there is a ‘connection’
between her veterinary science
studies and working in
the cleaning industry.
“I studied things like
microbiology, cross-contamination
from one place to
another and how to get rid of
bacteria. I am using some of
the same knowledge,” she
says.
“It’s a very nice job; you
manage your own time. I can
drop the kids off at school
and pick them up and in the
evening Nilo has them while
I do my cleaning work. The
flexibility works well, unlike
factory or office work where
you have to start at a certain
time.
“We are very happy in
New Zealand. It’s a very
nice country, with nice people.”
Rob Glenie, CrestClean’s
South Canterbury Regional
Master Franchisee, says that
www.trababo.nz
more than half of the company’s
franchise teams in the
region are originally from
the Philippines.
“All of them are not only
amazing business owners,
but amazing people. They
take a lot of pride in their
work, provide great customer
service and are really
friendly and fun,” says Rob.
“I love seeing people succeed
in business and in life.
These two families have not
only settled in a new country,
but they are both building
successful businesses.
What’s more, they have a
wonderful friendship and
support each other in their
businesses.”
- Supplied.
Leading Hand
Carpenters
Hammerhands
Skilled Upholster
Layout Artist
(Indesign)
Event Organiser
Furniture Maker
Warehouse Officer
Customer Care

ISSUE 168 2003 CENSUS | www.migrantnews.nz | email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | Facebook: Migrant News 13
MIGRANT NEWS - Immigration News, Settlement Support ... New Zealand’s first Migrant community newspaper. Published since 1991. Print. Online. Social Media.
By Ricky Matthew
AUCKLAND – Asian
communities deserve recognition
for their outstanding
response to the 2023
Census, say community
engagement advisors.
Apparently the grassroots
strategy of census collectors
has been instrumental in lifting
Asian people’s participation
in this census.
Official response rates
come out next year, but Stats
NZ is keeping track of the
rate of return of individual
census forms. As of 16 May,
819,700 people of Asian ethnicity
had returned a form,
which equates to 91% of the
estimated Asian population
in New Zealand. This is a
better response than other
ethnic groups in New
Zealand, with much lower
participation seen from
MÇori and Pacific communities.
A high level of participation
could be attributed to
several factors, such as the
growing awareness of the
importance of the census
among Asian communities
and the availability of
resources and support in various
Asian languages to help
with completing the census
forms.
It is also worth noting that
the Asian population in New
Zealand is quite diverse,
with different ethnic groups
having different response
rates. For example, in the
2018 Census, the response
rate for the Indian ethnic
group was 89.5%, while the
response rate for the Chinese
ethnic group was 96.2%.
Information about what this
looks like for the 2023
Census won’t be known
until 2024, when data and
statistics from the 2023
Census will be released.
Overall, while there may
still be some barriers to census
participation for some
members of Asian communities,
the high rate of participation
suggests that many
Asian New Zealanders see
the census as an important
tool for ensuring that their
needs and interests are represented
in government decision-making.
With time running out
before the New Zealand census
comes to a close in June,
census officials are working
hard to reach out to as many
Asian communities deserve
kudos for their outstanding
census response rate
people as possible and to lift
response numbers in areas
with lower rates of participation.
They are leaving no stone
unturned, attending community
events and even offering
incentives such as grocery
vouchers and Warrior’s
rugby league tickets to
encourage people to complete
their census forms.
The hope is that more people
will respond and that the
data collected will accurately
reflect the needs and characteristics
of New Zealand's
diverse population.
Simon Mason, Deputy
Government Statistician and
Deputy Chief Executive
Census and Collection
Operations, spoke about the
importance of filling out the
census.
“Data gathered through
the census is used by communities,
iwi, councils, businesses
and government to
make important decisions
about where to fund and
locate services and infrastructure
across the country.
“Census data is used to
make important decisions
that impact every person and
community in Aotearoa New
Zealand. The opportunity to
be part of the census only
Eva Chen, Senior Advisor - Community Engagement - 2003 Census
comes round every five
years. It is our chance to represent
ourselves, our families,
whanau, and communities
in order to create
change.”
Stats NZ has deployed
Community Engagement
Teams in a ‘grassroots’
approach to working with
communities and supporting
priority response groups to
take part in the census.
Migrant News spoke with
Rochelle Lee, Stats NZ, Community Engagement Advisor
Community Engagement
Advisor Rochelle Lee, who
is a part of this grassroots
plan of action to bring up
respondent numbers
before the census
closes. Rochelle is
part of the Auckland
North team, which
spans from Onehunga
in the South all
the way to Wellsford
in the North. There
are eight teams
across the nation,
working hard to
reach as many people
as possible
across all ethnicities.
“We are supporting
as many events
as we can manage,
to help people to
complete their census
forms so we can
lift the census
response and deliver
data for the country.
We will still do events until 4
June. For example, I just got
invited to a Telugu Mother’s
Day event. We think that is a
little bit of a low response
area so we will go there and
work our magic.
“The census will wind
down in June, with some
collection activities and
events still going in
Auckland. The 0800
helpline will remain open for
the whole country until 30
June. And people will need
to make sure they mail back
paper forms so they arrive
with Stats NZ no later than
29 June.
“We want everyone to be
counted, so future funding
for communities is correct
and people can benefit from
good quality data. The population
count is important for
things such as wait times at
hospitals and school builds
and the location of parks and
public transport. These decisions
come from local councils
and central government
agencies. When you stop and
really think about it, census
data is vital for our everyday
lives.”
BACKSTORY:
Information on the factors
that may prevent ethnic
communities from participating
in the New Zealand
census can be found in various
sources such as academic
research papers, government
reports and news
articles. We detail below
some of this data.
Language barriers:
Some ethnic communities
may have limited proficiency
in English, which can
make it difficult for them to
understand the census questions
or complete the forms.
This can be a significant barrier
to participation, especially
if there are no
resources available in their
native language.
Lack of awareness: Some
ethnic communities may not
be aware of the census and
its importance. This could be
due to a lack of outreach and
education on the part of the
government or community
organisations.
Mistrust of the government:
Some ethnic communities
may have historical or
current reasons for distrusting
the government, which
can lead to reluctance to participate
in the census.
Fear of repercussions:
Some ethnic communities
may be fearful that providing
personal information on
the census form could lead
to negative consequences,
such as deportation or discrimination.
Mobility: Some ethnic
communities may be highly
mobile or transient, making
it difficult for them to participate
in the census if they are
not in one place long enough
to receive or complete the
form.
Accessibility issues:
Some ethnic communities
may face accessibility barriers,
such as physical disabilities
or lack of internet
access, which can make it
difficult to participate in the
census.
The 7th Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards. official website: filipinoheroes.nz
Over 120 super heroes honoured to date. To nominate your hero for 2023 please contact us at: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz
AUCKLAND • WELLINGTON • CHRISTCHURCH

14 ISSUE 168 BUDGET 2023 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.migrantnews.nz | Facebook: Migrant News
MIGRANT NEWS - www.migrantnews.nz : New Zealand’s first Migrant community newspaper. Published since 1991. Print. Online. Social Media.
Support for childcare costs brings
immense relief to migrant families.
AUCKLAND –
During the current
cost-of-living crisis
migrants are finding
that childcare costs
are adding to their
financial woes. This
can be attributed to
the fact that more
migrants have children
under the age of
five than people born
in New Zealand,
according to the 2018
NZ Census.
In addition, growing
migrant communities
are increasing
the demand for early
childhood education,
which has already
seen prices rise alongside
the cost of living.
The findings of a
recent survey suggest
that New Zealand’s
childcare is among the
most expensive in the
world, according to
Dr Aisling Gallagher,
a Senior
Lecturer in Social
Geography at Massey
University, who
wrote an article on the
subject in ‘The
Conversation’ in
March this year.
Against this backdrop
migrants are
responding positively
to the government’s
'no frills' budget announced
on the 18th of May. One of
the key measures in the
budget is an increase in
funding for early childhood
education. The increase will
ensure that early education
remains affordable and
accessible for all families.
“This Budget helps ease
cost of living pressures by
significantly reducing the
cost of early childhood education
for parents by extending
20 hours free ECE, that
is currently only available to
3-5 year olds, to two year
olds,” said Education
Minister Jan Tinetti.
“Childcare is one of the
biggest costs families face,
so extending 20 hours free
ECE to two year olds will
make a big difference.
“Based on average costs in
2023, families who were not
previously receiving childcare
subsidies would save an
estimated $133.20 a week in
childcare costs if a two year
old child attended ECE for
BUDGET
2023
at least 20
hours a
week.”
T h e
extension of
the 20
hours free
ECE subsidy
comes
at a cost of
$1.2 billion over four years
and will be available from 1
March 2024.
Migrants working in the
early childhood education
industry can also look forward
to an increase in funding
to lift the pay for teachers.
The new funding will
address the pay disparity
between early childhood
education workers and their
counterparts in kindergartens.
“We are also making an
additional $322 million
available to ECE services to
lift the pay for teachers to
help them move towards
parity with their counterparts
in kindergartens,” Jan
Tinetti said.
“In some circumstances
this could amount to an
increase of $14,762 or 18.6
percent.
“This is not just an issue
of fairness. The sector has
told us that inequitable pay
between comparable roles
causes a range of issues for
(top to bottom)
Nanette Carillo,
Ezra Paz and Kamal
Prasad Shrestha.
By Ricky Matthew
education and care services,
such as teacher shortages
and staff retention,” Jan
Tinetti said.
There was a positive reaction
to the 20 hours free ECE
subsidy amongst ethnic
community leaders who
attended a Post Budget
Forum on 2nd June at the
Fickling Convention Centre
in Auckland. Many believed
that the subsidy would bring
immense relief for migrant
families.
“Things have changed in
the Nepalese community in
Aotearoa,” said Kamal
Prasad Shrestha, President
of the Nepalese Cultural
Centre NZ Inc. “Unlike in
the past, kids are now being
sent to
kindergartens.
One reason
is
because
some parents
have
to work.
The other
reason is
that parents
feel
that it is
good that
children
go to the
kindergarten as they can
learn a lot there to broaden
their knowledge.”
Nanette Carillo, a council
member of the Asian
Network Inc., echoed these
feelings. “Most families will
welcome this support from
the government. Many parents
are struggling to find a
reliable person to look after
their children. They believe
that childcare centres offer
their kids a safe and healthy
environment.”
A participant at the Forum
put forward an alternative
suggestion to the Labour
Ministers at the Forum. “So,
don't you think that instead
of decreasing the age for eligibility
for childcare to two
years old, we could have
increased the number of
hours offered to kids
between three and five
years. Instead of the current
20 hours available to this
age group, it could have
been increased to 25 or 30
hours.
“That would make more
sense and it would have
been very well received by
the ethnic communities.
Because, from my understanding,
in the ethnic communities
we like to keep our
kids in a bubble up to the age
of three.”
The Minister of Ethnic
Affairs, Priyanca Radhakrishnan,
responded by
saying that many women
have mentioned to her that
the high cost of childcare
has been a barrier to choosing
to return to work. “So,
there is a clear benefit that
also pertains to women from
our ethnic communities as
well.”
“Migrants are giving the
thumbs up to the government’s
support for childcare
costs,” says Sheila
Mariano, a Filipino community
leader. “If only this
level of assistance was available
when my children were
growing up. The high cost of
childcare prevents mothers
from getting back into the
workforce to supplement the
family income.”
Some mothers, like Ezra
Paz, feel that the allocation
of the funds could have been
more flexible. “I really
believe that children should
spend more time with their
parents,” says Paz. “I really
do. I think that if I were to
have a choice, if they give
the money to the mum then
I’d look after the child as
long as I can. Because that’s
how it should be. To remove
them from their mother at a
younger age is not realistic.
“When you are a mum and
you’ve been working all day,
you get home and you
haven’t got anything left for
your family. My relationship
with my husband suffered. I
was working as a relief
teacher full time and I would
come home tired and I
would have nothing left for
my family. Why have children
when you don’t look
after them at home?”

FILIPINO-KIWI BUSINESS DIRECTORY Mob: 027 495 8477 : filipinonews@xtra.co.nz
Rey Ann
Filipino Superette
Shop for a wide range of Filipino
groceries and other imported goods - tin
food, condiments, frozen goods (bangus,
longanisa, tocino) essential ingredients,
and lots, lots more ...
9.30am - 6.30pm
09 570 1116
Facebook:
reyannfilipino
MONEY
TRANSFER
Western Union
& Ria
2a Basin View Lane, Panmure, Akld
www.travelgalore.nz
The online Asian travel, food
& events website.
To enter text: 027 495 8477
filipinonews@xtra.co.nz
www.halohalo.nz
(the online food & events website)
Introducing
Carmela Laylo:
Your Trusted
Insurance and
Mortgage Advisor
Are you looking for a reliable
professional to guide you through
the complexities of insurance and mortgage?
Look no further than Carmela Laylo, an
experienced Life and Health and Mortgage Advisor at
Futurisk Insurance and Mortgage - a leading brokerage
company in Palmerston North.
Experience the difference with Carmela Laylo as your
insurance and mortgage advisor. Trust her to
navigate the complexities of the industry, protect your
assets, and help you achieve your dreams.
Contact Carmela today and discover why she is the
trusted choice for countless individuals like you.
Phone: 021 150 7915
178 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
website: www.futurisk.co.nz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/charmlaylo?
mibextid=ZbWKwL
From glittering sequins to romantic draping, Stellar Backdrops
love to create one-of-a-kind backdrops, flower walls, custom
signs and decoration to celebrate your special occasion.
We also provide fun booths, great gift options and event
styling service. It is our aim to provide our clients a memorable
experience through our creations and deliver a stellar service.
What do we offer?
• Flower walls and backdrops for hire
• Event decorations for hire
• Signages for hire
• Custom made signages
• Interactive photo booths for hire
• Affordable event packages in collaboration
with NZ local businesses
• Gift options such as Floral Frames
Auckland and Waikato. Mobile: 021 141 0525
info@stellarbackdrops.com
www.stellarbackdrops.com
TRADITIONAL FILIPINO CUISINE • DELICIOUS CAKES & DESSERTS
1 West Coast Rd, Glen Eden, Auckland
Reservations & Orders, Tel: 818 9929, Mob: 0210 227 6388
Email: goldribbonfoods@yahoo.co.nz, facebook: GoldRibbonFoods

16 PH INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | Mobile : 027 495 8477 | https://facebook.com/filipinokiwi/