The Philippine Trade and Investment Centre – Sydney (PTIC-Sydney) in partnership with Ayala Land International, hosted the CEO business roundtable, an exclusive gathering of business leaders held last Thursday, 23 February 2023 at the Republic Hotel in Sydney.During the event, key opportunities in the Philippines for Australian businesses where discussed, including opportunities in the booming property market in the country and the Philippines beingpart of the recently ratified Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement – the world’s largest free trade deal.Philippine trade r ..read more

Blacktown Councilor Allan Green will campaign to give the Blacktown community a voice in State Parliament as the endorsed Liberal candidate, said NSW Liberal Party spoke person Anne-Marie Boumerhe. Father of six adult children, Allan is married to Malu Rivera, a Filipino-Australian. He has lived in the Blacktown area for over four decades and for more than twenty of those years, Allan has served as a Blacktown City Councillor, where he has fought for the needs of the local community including initiating the construction of the Blacktown Leisure Centre.As a former high school teacher, specialis ..read more

BY WARREN DUNCAN – Children from all over Sydney will bring their talent and their culture to Darling  Harbour on Sunday March the 12th to share with the whole community at the Sydney Children’s Festival 2023. The festival at Tumbalong Park will run from 11am to 5pm with a full programme of song and dance and games. A highlight of the day is the spectacular Children’s parade in cultural costumes from around the world. The on-stage programme is likely to include performances from many cultures including Brazilian, Thai,  Bosnian, Irish, Scottish, Sikh, Indian, Japanese, Nepalese, Indo ..read more

BY DEMI ROBINSOB – The Sydney Sonata Singers choral group was selected last January 2023 as one of the 11 Senior Citizen groups that is being awarded the NSW Seniors Local Achievement Award 2023 in conjunction with the NSW Annual Seniors Festival events. The honour was presented to the Sonata Singers by the Hon. Tania Davis, MP for Mulgoa in a simple gathering of Awardees at Luddenham, NSW.  President Buddy Japon and Choirmaster Loy Tagudin were present to receive the Award on Tuesday 7th February 2023.  The award is a tribute to the Sonata Singers whose members are senior citizens ..read more

BY RIC DE VERA – Victor “Cholo” Diamonon from Bardwell Valley won the 5th Ric De Vera (RDV)Charity Golf Cup held at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club on December 28, 2022. Mr Diamonon scored 41 points using his AGU handicap of 24 under the stableford system of scoring. He was awarded with a trophy plus $150 cash prize and the privilege to engrave his name in the monumental perpetual trophy. “It was just my lucky day and very happy for it” said an ecstatic Cholo with broad smile. Division winners with their stableford scores and handicaps used were: Janel Diaz (38/16)… The post Cholo Diamonon wins 5 ..read more

   BY ED ESCULTURA – Philippine President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has no surprises for us so far. As expected, he follows the footsteps of his father. As of January 2023, Philippine foreign indebtedness has gone up from $32 billion when his father was ousted by people power in 1986, to $246.34 billion from the World Bank alone. Not included here are loans from China, Asian Development Bank and the internal debt which stands at P8.6 trillion or $151 billion. Still, BBM continues to look around for more loans. In fact, he is going to China in the next couple of weeks.… The post Where ..read more

Ang $479 milyong muling-pagpapaunlad (redevelopment) ng Ryde Hospital ay nagkamit ng isa pang mahalagang milestone sa paglunsad ng mga disenyo ng bagong ospital at mga maagang pagtatrabaho na nakatakdang magsimula sa susunod na buwan. Sinabi ni Premier Dominic Perrottet na ang mga disenyong ipinalabas ngayon ay nagpapakita ng malaking pagpapalawak at pag-upgrade ng pasilidad na susuporta sa mga pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng komunidad ng Ryde. “Lubos naming ginagawang isang makabagong pasilidad ng kalusugan ang Ryde Hospital na may mga bago at pinahusay na serbisyong pangkalusugan,” sabi ni ..read more

 Tales about one’s very important personal affiliation – the family. Accomplished educator from the Philippines, now living in the U.S, said. ” God creates the human families and grants them the ability to weave stories of their own existence. The Morada Clan of Bicol, therefore, as any family in the world, cannot claim a monopoly on life’s blessings and crucibles. But let me tell our peculiar stories just the same.” He continued.”       We are neither perfect, nor are our stories grandiose, but it’s our imperfections and their simplicity that make our storie ..read more

This week is a special week for the Filipino community in Australia. One Night Only with Kai Sotto is upon us. We are coming together to celebrate the arrival of Kai Zachary Sotto, an athletic, 7’2”, 20-year-old homegrown Filipino basketball phenomenon. Arriving in Sydney City this weekend to play the defending champions Sydney Kings, we at Coinchella and WSB Street in cooperation with the Adelaide 36ers, are privileged to bring Kai closer to our community. The upcoming event “One Night Only with Kai Sotto” is happening on December 4 at Netball Central Sydney Olympic Park. All Filipinos in Aus ..read more

BY REYNALDO NERY – Among the first of the preseason Rugby League games outside of Australia was played in the Soccer fields of the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite, Philippines. It featured the foundation club Manila Storm against the “new kids on the block”; making their inaugural 13a side game appearance the Manila-Clark Gladiators. This happened as the Rugy League season around the world came to an end on November 20th with the Rugby League World Cup finals in Manchester, England. Rugby League or in the local Philippine language Ragbi Liga was recommencing in the country with its preseaso ..read more