FREE SUBSCRIPTION
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
Celebrate! October is a busy month in the Filipino community’s calendar. It starts with Bingo ng Bayan, UP Alumni Association NZ’s annual scholarship fundraising event to help underprivileged students in the Philippines. We are expecting thousands of Filipinos gather in Auckland for the Labour Weekend’s Pistang Pilipino celebrations. Our favourite events include the crowning of the winner in the Miss Philippines-New Zealand Beauty Pageant and Pinoys Got Talent. Make sure you check the event’s website for schedules. AKLnzPINOYs launches Carabao to Sheep, a musthave for every Pinoy migrant in New Zealand. Grab a copy and join the group’s celebration on the 9th at the Ponsonby Community Centre. Filipinos in Christchuch may need a bit of cheering up – why not visit? Christchurch is one of NZ’s most charming and historic cities. Read our story on page 4 for travel ideas and inspirations. Ever felt slightly left out when our Kiwi friends excitedly talk about rugby and next year’s World Cup? Fear no more, we’ve asked a rugby fanatic to give us the lowdown and highlights of NZ’s most popular sport. Where ever you go and what ever you do this month, keep a camera handy, smile and wish everyone Mabuhay!
Editor Email mayaeditor@gmail.com
Issue 15 | Sep-Oct 2010
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
2
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
Bingo Galore! An enthusiastic and lively crowd having a great time while helping an underprivileged student from the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association’s Bingo ng Bayan, is about having fun and doing good. Now on its third year, Bingo ng Bayan is a fundraising event to benefit scholars in the Philippines. It will be held on Sunday, October 3, from 12 noon to 5 pm, at the Father Nolan Hall, Saint Joseph's School in Takapuna, North Shore. The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in New Zealand organised the event for the benefit of the Iskolar ng Bayan of the state university. The program is managed by The Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) of the University of the Philippines, which had chosen Gerundio Millo, a second year mathematics major, as the beneficiary of the NZ fundraising. Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
The tickets are $10 per booklet which contains three cards for each of the five games of bingo. Tickets are available at the gate, or through Cez Tan at 027 692 3022. There will be stalls selling Filipino foods. The top prizes are $500 cash; a buffet dinner for four at Valentines Henderson; Shiseido Beauty Pack worth $500; and a special seafood buffet dinner for two at the Langham Hotel; and $250 cash prize. There will also be raffles for a range of prizes including an autographed picture of famed Filipino boxer Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, Hoyts movie passes, gift packs from Aerial, anti-virus software from BullGuard and Kaspersky; Nokia mobile phones; FOREX-UMAC Balikbayan boxes and a gift hamper from Red Seal.
3
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
Discover Christchurch
The garden city of New Zealand – Christchurch is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in the country. Charming, beautiful, it is a city where the old meets the new. Unfortunately, Christchurch has been on the news lately for the wrong reasons. The earthquake damaged many commercial and residential buildings, even some of the city’s historic landmarks. There is much more to see in Christchurch than recent troubles. The city needs local tourism to bolster its economy, so also a helpful time for a visit.
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
4
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
Christchurch started when four ships carrying settlers arrived in December 1850. Those 792 passengers wanted Christchurch to look like their home and motherland, England. They built many beautiful civic buildings and took advantage of the meandering river. Its riverbank was dotted with parks and gardens. Many of the original buildings are still there today. They add to the charm and beauty of this great city. The original founders made sure that the city was cleverly planned so that its main buildings and river were accessible. This has made the town simple to navigate by foot, and with the addition of historic restored trams, it’s even easier today. The tram is a fantastic and cheap way to see the city. The tram takes on many of the historic buildings that are in the Cultural Precinct. The tram slowly works its way through the traffic and features a tour that is spoken to you by the driver-cumhistorian. The main buildings to watch out for in the tour are: The Art Centre. Christchurch’s original university and where Ernest Rutherford, New Zealand’s world famous, atom-splitting scientist, started his career. It is now a vibrant place with artisan shops, ever changing art scene, great food and bars. The stain glass window in the assembly hall is also amazing and worth a visit.
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
The Canterbury Museum shows the importance of Christchurch as a gateway to the South Pole in its early exploration. The Christchurch Anglican Cathedral. It’s at the heart of the town and called the Square for obvious reasons. The Church is an excellent example of Gothic architecture and the Square is often vibrant with public speakers. It’s home to the famous Wizard who is always successful in attracting a crowd. There are plans to expand the tramlines to take in even more of the city. Christchurch is often referred to as the Garden City. It has many parks which are great places to relax and unwind. Hagley Park is the city’s biggest with over 165 hectares covering the entire west side of the town. It was planned in 1850 and boasts of vast woodlands that explode with seasonal change from daffodils, flowers and blossoms in the spring to golden and red leaved trees in the autumn. The park has many sports played on it and has an 18 hole golf course, grass tennis courts, model sail boating, netball, cricket, rugby and kayaking in the river. People use the park for many reasons, whether it is to walk, jog, cycle or explore its natural surrounding, the garden will enthrall and it’s all only a kilometre from the centre of town.
5
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
The Avon River contributed to growing trade in the city. Early times saw barges and transport use the river to bring goods from all around the world. But these days, the river is a thing of natural beauty. Families sit on its riverbanks to cool down in the summer and kids enjoy feeding the ducks. If you are feeling romantic, you can take a punt on the river. Though this is an expensive trip, it is a relaxing way to spend time with your loved one, as you are treated to a unique and special view of the city from the river.
Filipinos working and living in Christchurch is growing, maybe one day soon.
Eating out is great in Christchurch with many award-winning dining experiences and quality cheaper options. A new addition to the city is the development of ‘The Lanes’. These are areas that were just back-alleys a few years ago. They have been developed to include restaurants and fashion shops. They are worth exploring in the day and at night. The bars and restaurants vary greatly from retro fish ‘n’ chip shops to modern Japanese and creative nightclubs. There is definitely something for everyone.
The Sign of the Takahe is one such grand building and laid its first stone in 1918. It was designed to replicate an English manor house and has become a premium wedding venue. It also operates as a restaurant. A walk around the grounds and visit inside the building are free.
The city is the original home of the Lone Star Cafe. So come and see how they did it before it went national and make sure you bring your appetite as the servings are big. The Art Center has a market on the weekend that has food stalls offering cheap food from all corners of the world. Unfortunately, there is no Adobo yet. But, you never know it. The number of
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
Christchurch is also close to some great places that are easily reached by car or even bike, if you are the adventurous type. The Port Hills surround the south of the city and provides a gateway to Banks Peninsula. The road that winds up the hill features a few historical buildings. They range from grand to simple and provide a panoramic view of the city.
When at the top of the hill; you have a choice to visit Lyttelton, a major seaport or head further afield to Akaroa, a french colony. The drive to Lyttelton takes in great views of the harbour and you can discover little bays such as Corsia Bay, with its quiet lapping water and small pebbles and shells. Lyttelton has some great old buildings and has a main street market in the weekend. Akaroa is an hour and a half drive from Christchurch and again, provides stunning views. But the real treat is the little town. The streets
6
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
have French names and there is a European feel to the place. Akaroa boasts that it is home to the Hectors dolphin. It is the smallest dolphin in the world and you can take a boat out and see these amazing creatures come up and say hello or kumusta. There are two main beaches in Christchurch. Brighton and Sumner. While they are not close to town they aren’t that far from it either. Brighton was a busy place in the early 80s due to it being the only place that opened in the weekend. Now, that times have changed, Brighton is not as popular as it once was. However, Brighton now has the longest pier in New Zealand. It is great for walking and there are some interesting activities such as sand art, a good fishing spot and it has a state of the art library at the entrance. Brighton
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
also has six-golf courses surrounding it. There is a large pool and athletics complex that was built for the commonwealth games in the 1970s. Sumner is the more popular of the two beaches. The town is more modern. There are also a few interesting cave walks to be explored and enjoyed. Sumner is scenic and the drive out is picturesque, being so close to the hills. So there it is, Christchurch - simply a beautiful and historical place in New Zealand. We hope you enjoy discovering it.
7
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
Pistang Pilipino 2010
By Divina Paredes
Filipinos across New Zealand are celebrating their annual reunion October 22 to 24, in the North Shore. The celebration on October 22 to 24 is dubbed “Pistang Pilipino� or Philippine Fiesta 2010, and will feature sports and cultural programmes in various venues across the North Shore and in Auckland. The celebration includes the crowning of the winner in the Miss Philippines-New Zealand Beauty Pageant.
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
8
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
Pinoys Got Talent
This year’s festivities will showcase the talent of Kiwinoys who are making waves in the performing arts. They include Tina Braganza, who played the role of Kim in Miss Saigon; Eleazar Coronado who played the lead role in Oliver and an actor in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ; Jun Samblaceno, a member of the Royal New Zealand Ballet for 20 years; O’Neal Mendoza, a member of the Royal New Zealand Opera and Viva Voce; and Alyx Ty, an award winning salsa dancer who has performed across New Zealand and overseas. The celebration is the most anticipated event among Filipinos in New Zealand. New Zealand is now home to close to 40,000 of our kababayans, with an estimated 10,000 of them living in the North Shore. Previous reunions have attracted more than 8,000 spectators from various cities in New Zealand and the number is expected to be bigger this year as Filipinos comprise one of the fastest growing communities in the country, says Bert Ricacho, a lecturer at Unitec and the coordinator of this year’s event. The celebration is organised by the North Shore Filipino Community under the auspices of the Federation of Filipino Organisations, Societies and Clubs Inc. The public is invited to watch the sports competitions to be held primarily at the North Shore Events Centre and other venues in West Auckland. Full details of the sports schedule and venue can be found in www.pistangpilipino.co.nz. There will be food stalls selling Filipino delicacies in the venues for the events. Tickets to the cultural programmes on Saturday and Sunday are available at Ticketek.com.
Highlights
Mark your Diary: Pistang Pilipino 2010 during the Labour Day Weekend Oct 22 to 24 www.pistangpilipino.co.nz
New Zealand Beauty Pageant. This will be held at the AMI Complex on 44 Northcote Road in Takapuna. On the second day, October 23 (Saturday), there will be a cultural programme and showcase of Filipino talents at the Aotea Centre, The Edge in Auckland City. The program includes the talent portion of the Binibinang Pilipinas-New Zealand pageant. On the third day, October 24 (Sunday), there will be a Filipiniana and Pageant Night, also at the Aotea Centre. Filipino heritage from the preHispanic to the contemporary period will be featured through song, dance and drama. The programme will be capped by the crowning of the Bb Pilipinas-NZ winning candidate.
The celebration starts with a warm welcome to Filipinos all over the country by North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams. The guests will also be welcomed by embassy officials, representatives of the different Filipino organisations under the Federation umbrella, Western Union officials as well as the candidates of the Binibining Pilipinas-
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
9
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
Party your way to the 2011 Rugby World Cup What you need to know to survive the Rugby World Cup fever
Ok. The Rugby World Cup is fast approaching and the whole of New Zealand is excited and ready to party. Here’s a crash course on New Zealand’s national sport. We’re not going into the finer points of the game but this will give you enough of an overview to get you ready for action, somehow involved and not feeling a bit left out in your office’s water cooler conversations.! Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
10
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
All Blacks - the pride of New Zealand
The Game The game of Rugby was invented in England when a soccer match got a little aggressive and a young lad called Webb Ellis picked up the ball and tried to run with it. (This is the reason the World Cup prize is called the Webb Ellis trophy.) From its humble beginnings, many rules were set that are still confusing to today’s most seasoned rugby watcher. So let’s forget the rules - they are impossible to understand, even encyclopedic in its scope – so let’s just get to the very basics of the game. There are two teams. There are 15 players on each team. The object is to hold the oval shaped ball so your team can make its way from your side of the field to the opposition’s try line and place the ball over it. This gets the team a total of five points and the opportunity to try and kick the ball between the ‘H’ shaped posts for an extra two. Also during the game there will be other opportunities to score points by kicking the ball again between the posts. These opportunities arise when the opposing team is penalized for some reason (again, too complicated to explain). The result of a successful kick gives the team three points. The team with the most points after two 40-minute halves wins. Simple.
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
Another All Blacks victory
The All Blacks This is our national team. The All Blacks are more important to New Zealanders than most else. We are a very good team and often win our games. As the World Cup is an affirmation of our standing in the world of rugby, it is taken very seriously by Kiwis. The loss of a game, especially a World Cup loss, causes great heartache to the nation. A win will mean dancing in the streets and hopefully right the sadness of previous World Cups where the nation was plunged into deep depression for weeks after losing vital matches.
Other important things in the game The game of rugby is about controlled aggression. A player can really hurt another on the opposition, which the crowd loves. You might have heard of Jonah Lomu. He was a famous All Black that could run over the opposition, leaving them wondering if a train had come onto the field. Looking at his YouTube views when he did just that to an English player in the 1995 World Cup shows that a squashing is very popular. Jonah was an awesome sight that gets most Kiwis hearts swelling with pride. Even though we didn’t win the World Cup due to some ‘suspicious’ food poisoning, this was a definite highlight. South Africa eventually won and the story was made into the Clint Eastwood movie Invictus.
11
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
The social aspect Rugby is about mates getting together, heaps of yelling and showing some national pride. The highlights of any rugby match where the All Blacks are involved is the Haka. It is a traditional Maori war dance that the All Blacks perform before any match. It is done with great emotion and quite an exciting experience to watch. So, if nothing else ,watch the Haka and feel the team’s strength, love and passion for the game.
Going to the Game Being there is very different to watching it on TV. The different smells, the feeling of cold air on your face, the taste of greasy food and beer, and the feeling of togetherness with your fellow supporters make for a thrilling and memorable night out.
Conclusion So, for Pinoys to be part of World Cup fever, it is really very simple. If you note these following points you can’t really go wrong: • Experience the drama of the Haka and the opposition’s reaction to it. • When going to the game watch the crowd’s willingness to yell ridiculous and sometimes helpful terms and jeer the efforts of the opposing side. You can join in the Mexican wave and even chant ‘All Blacks!’. This crowd participation is often much more interesting than the game itself. • The All Blacks. Players of note. Richie McCaw, captain and incredibly big. Dan Carter, kicker and pretty good looking. Brad Thorn, a forward with a bone crunching tackle. • The big tackles, the crowd loves to hear the thud of bodies as they crash into each other at high speed, and will make noises like ‘ooooh!’, ‘ouch!’, ‘that would have hurt’. • The final score. Hopefully favouring the All Blacks.
Rugby is about mates getting together, heaps of yelling and showing some national pride.
With this knowledge you can be part of the action and the party. Good Luck.
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
12
Issue 15| Sep-Oct 2010
I ! NZ
Summer is almost here! Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
13