From
left: Ross Manuel, Lita Camacho, Orly Victuelles, Liz Honey,
Rene Tamoro, Ellen C. Oftial, Mario Dumrigue, Resy Lim, Manny
Asuncion, Tess Ragel, Mac Pagdanganan, Cheryl de Leon, Roy
Carbungco, Mario Magbiray
The Philippine Fiesta Victoria 2008
The Philippine Fiesta of
Victoria Inc. ( PFVI)
is celebrating its 26th anniversary on 29-30
November 2008. The Philippine Fiesta
is indeed the time of the year that the Filipinos all
over Victoria and our ‘kababayan‘
from different
states of Australia convene and celebrate one of the biggest and
joyful Filipino-Australian
events.
Headed by
Ross Manuel (the present Fiesta’s chairperson), this year’s
Fiesta theme veers from the
usual Filipino cultural motif,
but instead focuses on global orientation
- the staunch support for the worldwide protection of
nature and
environment .
Currently,
the Philippine Fiesta executive committee is busy planning and
working for the coming
of the two-day celebration. This active and dedicated
group sees to it that the Fiesta this year will be bigger,
busier and merrier with invited young actors gracing the
occasion with the complement of
ABS-CBN.
Within its
26 years of existence, the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria has
come a long way. It started in the summer of November 1982 when
a group of
enthusiastic Filipinos, with a fervent desire to relive the
colorful festivity from home, celebrated the first Philippine
Fiesta ever at
the Caribbean
Garden, at Knox City, Victoria, Australia.
The first
Fiesta was spearheaded by the Federations of Filipino
Associations of Victoria (FFAV) and
the group was composed of officers and members of the
Filipino Tradesmen Association (FILTAV), Filipino Community
Welfare Service (FCWS), Filipino Association of Victoria (FAV),
University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA), Silayan
Dance Troupe (SDT) and the Filipino Friendship Society (FAF).
Due to the
success of the initial celebration, the FFAV organized another
Fiesta in 1983 at Foostcray
Park, a western suburb of Melbourne.
Thus, the fiesta became an annual event
because of the active participations of other
Filipino-Australian organizations and the attendance of the
growing Filipino-Australian populace in
Victoria. For five successive year
(1983-1988), the Philippine Fiesta organized by FFAV and FCW
were held at
Foostcray
Park..
In 1987, the
Philippine Fiesta of Victoria
Inc (FPVI) was formally established and was duly
incorporated through the efforts of the of the committed leaders
and members of different
community organizations in Victoria. During this
period, the
Philippine Fiesta Constitution was made and an
executive committee was formally elected.
For years
Philippine Fiesta had been celebrated in the different suburbs
of Melbourne,
but in 1994. the Fiesta executive committee purchased a
sprawling property of 1.92 hectares in Laverton which becomes
the permanent site of the annual festivity. The place was the
former Laverton
Primary School and is
close to public transport which makes the Fiesta more accessible
to a number of people. The
site becomes
a Philippine community centre wherein a number of
Filipino-Australian activities are held.
True to its
primary objective in promoting the Filipino arts, culture and
traditions, the Philippine Fiesta,
during its two-day celebration,
features exhibits, paintings, songs, sports and dances
that showcased the richness of our cultural heritage.
Through the
years, the annual Philippine Fiesta has grown into a bigger
proportion with people
looking forward to meet friends, taste an array of
delicious Filipino cuisines and enjoy live entertainment
provided by local Filipino-Australian talents and famous
luminaries from the Philippines. Every year, the number
of people attending the fiesta has increased. Last year’s
attendance has escalated to more than 8,000.00 individuals
The coronation of Miss and Mrs Philippine Fiesta of
Victoria Quest, which greatly assists to maintain the Fiesta,
add to the gaiety and glamour
of this
yearly festivity.
Thanks to the committed members of the Philippine Fiesta
Victoria Inc. especially to the Filipino leaders, community
organizations, volunteers and individuals to the success of this
festive occasion and in keeping the
spirit of the Philippine Fiesta forever burning in Australia. Indeed, the Philippine
Fiesta has been the truly icon of the Filipino community in Victoria.
Isang Mabunying Pasasalamat
Sa ika-dalawampu’t limang anibersaryo ng Philippine Fiesta of
Victoria, malugod po naming pinasasalamatan ang mga tao, samahan
at negosyanteng tumulong at sumuporta sa ating natatanging
pagdiriwang taon-taon.
Lakip po ang aming taos-puso pasasalamat, bilang punong- abala
ng pasinayang ito sa mga kandidata, pamilya, at mga samahang
umakbay sa Miss and Mrs Philippine Fiesta sa mga nagdaang
panahon. Isa pong malaking tulong ang kanilang ginawa sa
pananatili ng ating pagdiriwang lalong –lalo na po sa
pagtataguyod ng ating Philippine Community Centre.
Gayun din po sa mga taong boluntaryong naghandog ng kanilang
taunang tulong sa pagsasaayos ng ating taunang selebrasyon. Ang
mga taong nagpinta, nagpukpok, nagluto naglinis, nag-asikaso sa
mga bisita, at sa iba pang di-mabilang na gawain upang ang
pasinayang ito ay maging maayos at matagumpay. Saludo po ang
Management Community sa ginawa ninyong pagtulong.
Siyempre pa, sa ating mga lokal at galing pa sa ibang estadong
panauhing nagpamalas ng kani-kanilang kakayahan sa pagasayaw,
pag-awit at sa pagtugtog. Sa ABS CBN na nagpapadala ng mga
piling artista mula sa Pilipinas na nagdulot nang di matatawarng
ningning sa pasinaya at di-matingkalang aliw sa mga taong
nagsipagdalo.. .
At
higit sa lahat, sa mga tao, pamilya , mga kaibigang walang
sawang nakibahagi at tumangkilik sa ating maligayayang
pagdiriwang.
Ang
Philippine Fiesta of Victoria po ay isang pasinayang
nagtatanghal ng kulturang Pilipino. Tangkilikin po natin ito
sapagkat ating-atin po ito.
Mabuhay ang Philippine Fiesta of Victoria. Mabuhay po tayong
lahat.
Ang Philippine Fiesta Management Committee..
AKBAYAN – The Spirit of the 25th anniversary of the Philippine
Fiesta
By Manny G. Asuncion
It’s hard to believe that the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria is
celebrating its 25 years! It was just like yesterday that a
small group of determined Filipinos convened together at the
Caribbean Garden to relive a colourful festivity away from home
– the Filipino fiesta!
From then on, the Philippine Fiesta becomes a much a waited
event for the Filipino-Australian Community in Victoria. The
Philippine Fiesta becomes one of the icons of our community.
As
the years go by, the Fiesta goes from strength-to-strength with
the sheer determination and effort of its officers, members,
individuals, families, organizations and business entrepreneurs
to keep its celebration flame burning.
The
succeeding years witnessed the Philippine Fiesta turned into a
big celebration and finally has its own place to call its home
in Laverton – the Philippine Community Centre. This centre does
not only become an annual venue for celebration of the
Philippine Fiesta but also becomes a hubbub for
Filipino-Australian gatherings; like meetings, forums,
workshops, rehearsals, parties and other religious activities.
Looking back, it’s heartwarming to reminisce the joy, the pain,
the triumph and the drama that people experienced working with
the Philippine Fiesta. These are the unsung heroes of the
community who worked the whole year round without any
remuneration in order to make this annual celebration a success;
and most importantly, to make the fiesta not just fun, but a
celebration of Filipino culture with its substantial themes,
entertainment, exhibitions and a cornucopia of local cuisine.
This
year’s theme definitely fits the aura of the Philippine Fiesta –
AKBAYAN - a Filipino euphemistic word for support and
partnership. The theme focuses on the recognition of the
unselfish assistance accorded by countless individuals,
associations and business establishments for the past years. It
is in this true spirit AKBAYAN that keeps the Philippine Fiesta
of Victoria going. .
Looking Back
The Philippine Fiesta Management Committees
1982 – 2003
Several months away before the Fiesta, a group of people always
convenes at the Philippine Community House in Laverton to plan
the activities for a much-awaited annual event – The Philippine
Fiesta of Victoria.
These are the people who meet every week to organize the festive
scenario, create committee, ask for council’s permit, do the
souvenir program, monitors the progress of festival and do
multifarious tasks relevant to the Fiesta.
These people are the executive officers and directors or the
Management Committee of the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria
Incorporated (PFVI) who are the perennial KAAKBAY or
hard-working partners of PFVI since its establishment in 1982.
Elected every two years, the Management Committee is the
backbone of the PFVI that plans, organizes, monitors executes
and evaluates the over-all blue prints of the events. Along with
other volunteers and member organizations, the Fiesta Management
Committee made the fiesta visible and viable to the
Filipino-Australian community and to other Australian
multi-cultural groups.
Within its 25 years of existence, the members of the Philippine
Fiesta Committee has undergone several changes but the spirit of
‘dedication’, ‘fortitude’. ‘industry’ and ‘sincerity’ among the
succeeding leaders remain constant to the goals and objectives
of the Fiesta – a truly KAAKBAY of this auspicious event.
more>>
