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Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
The Freedom Issue This month, we celebrate General Emilio Aguinaldo’s Proclamation of Independence in Kawit, Cavite one hundred and eleven years ago - the national flag was formally displayed, a local marching band played the national anthem and the Republic of the Philippines was born. The Filipino community in Auckland celebrated in a big way - two weekends of sporting events and a two-day cultural shindig involving hundreds of volunteers and performers. Trisha Tan reports on the daylong festivities in North Shore, Auckland. Louis Tan captures all the action in Barangay Pinoy. I attended the solemn wreath laying ceremony in Rizal Reserve. Sports contributing editor Sam Dignadice covers Pinoy Basketball sa Auckland’s Ambassador’s Cup and Pinoy Golf Club’s Independence Day Cup. He is also proud to introduce one of the club’s most promising talents, Lance Go just 15 years of age and already making a mark in the Fusce mollis secondary schools’ golfing tournament circles.
tempus Guest writerfelis. Sheila Siar takes a break from the big city and shares with us her travel experience as she discovers one of New Zealand’s sunniest spots, Napier. Here’s an issue with heaps of sunshine and doses of patriotism, everyone!
Editor mayaeditor@gmail.com twitter.com/mayanz
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Issue 8 | June 09
Issue 8 | May 09
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Issue 8 | May 09
Fe Suyat celebrates the Philippine Independence Day by taking her family to the Rizal Reserve in Avondale, Auckland
Rizal in NZ By Louella Docot “Never forget your past. Honour the greatest Filipino hero that ever was.” Former Honourable Consul General of the Philippines Graeme Dabb’s patriotic words echoed in the hearts of Filipinos present at the Rizal Reserve Independence Day wreath laying ceremony. Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
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Issue 8 | May 09
Virginia Araneta Russell
Filipinos from all over Auckland came together to remember Dr Jose Rizal’s life and his work to free the Philippines from more than three hundred years of Hispanic colonial rule.
“Never forget your past. Honour the greatest Filipino hero that ever was.” Honorary Consul General Emilie Shi congratulated the Filipino community for keeping the spirit of patriotism alive in New Zealand. Virginia Araneta Russell, with the assistance of former Consul General Graeme Dabb, led the Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
Former Honourary Consul Graeme Dabb
community in securing the re-naming of the reserve, formerly called The Esplanade Reserve, to be named after Dr Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. In August 1997, the Avondale Community Board approved the re-naming. Three years later, The Filipino Society of Auckland started the annual Independence Day wreath laying ceremony. His Excellency Bienvenido Tejano, Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand, asked the community to honour Rizal through unity and familial love. Filipinos must strive to respect each other and to support and work together. He called out to Filipino leaders to put aside their differences and unite to lead a stronger community in New Zealand.
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Photos 1 His Excellency Ambassador Bienvenido Tejano (second from right) and Honourable Consul General Emilie Shi (centre) with guests 2 The Filipino Society of Auckland 3 Father Nilo Resco 4 Members and officers of The Council of Auckland Philippine Organisations and The Federation of Filipino Associations and Societies of New Zealand
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
“I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome it - and forget not those who have fallen during the night.� Dr Jose Rizal 5
Issue 8 | May 09
History and
culture
in a day
By Trisha Tan
The Council of Auckland Philippine Organisations’ (CAPO) Independence Day celebration in North Shore, Auckland was more than just a community event. It was an opportunity to re-discover our culture. Many of the organisers and their guests were dressed in Philippine national costumes. It was a beautiful sight to see ladies wearing elaborate Filipiniana dresses and men in the traditional Barong Tagalog. Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
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Cultural presentations from different Filipino organisations showcased regional dances and songs. The performers of The Organisation of Cordillerans in NZ danced to the rhythmic sound of authentic native gongs from the northern provinces of Cordillera. Samut-Sari Performing Arts Guild performed four colourful dances: the Muslim Suite Dance, Subilan, Tinikling and Habanera de Jovencita. Elmer Basilia and Claudia Menchavez of KBNZ wowed the audience with their flirtatious and playful Kuratsa. The young generation of Kiwi Pinoys performed as well. JV and Samantha Greenwood played the guitar and Ukelele while Mica Arroyo sang Saranggola ni Pepe. Jose Marie Inoncillo recited one of Dr Jose Rizal’s poems Sa Aking mga Kababata, and Carissa San Diego performed an excerpt from Noli me Tangere - Ang Hinagpis ni Sisa. Albert and Menchie Pancho sang all-time Harana favourites. Oneal Mendoza, Bleau Bustanera and Sam Dignadice’s Kundiman repertoire touched the hearts of many. The energetic Sinag band brought the audience on their feet as they performed four popular Original Pinoy Music (OPM) hits.
leading all of the performers in singing the finale number Magandang Gabi. Over a hundred Filipino performers participated in the event. I can only imagine the hours that have been spent on rehearsals and preparation. As a first time attendee, it was hard not to ignore production loopholes. There was commotion among the audience, especially parents and friends of performers, who were asked to put away their cameras, speeches could have been more succinct and a stage rehearsal would have helped with lighting and sound checks. The five hour programme was interesting but too long for some, especially to those who have young families and children. Overall, it was a great effort from the organisers, the performers and their families. It was a big day for the community. It was a special day of remembrance and celebration. It brought many Filipino groups together with a common goal – to foster greater appreciation of where we are from and who we truly are. See you again in next year’s event!
+ Check out Barangay Pinoy’s event coverage on pages 17 to 20.
The event ended with Eric Elizalde Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
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Issue 8 | May 09
The sun shines in Napier By Sheila Siar
Wikipedia describes Napier as a city by the sea. After a five-hour Intercity Coachlines bus ride from Wellington, the view from my window changed from vast stretches of plateaus and hills to deep blue waters. I knew then that I’ve made it to Napier.
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For someone like me who loves the sea very much, Napier is truly a treat. It is a port city on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Napier belongs to Hawke’s Bay, a region known for its vineyards and wineries; thus, the reputation of being New Zealand’s wine capital. The climate is great— warm and relatively dry and the city’s profile in Wikipedia notes that it has some of the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand, second only to Nelson. Napier has also one of the largest apple and pear-producing areas in New Zealand. After checking in at YHA Hostel, which is along Marine Parade, I started to explore the place. Most of the points of interest are conveniently located along Marine Parade which is close to the sea shore. Along Marine Parade are tourist attractions like the National Aquarium, Marineland, Sunken Gardens, Ocean Spa, Sound Shell, Centennial Gardens, Napier Museum and Bluff Hill. But more than these sites, Napier is popularly known for its Art Deco-inspired structures. To fully appreciate this unique characteristic of Napier, I joined the one-hour Art Deco Walk on Sunday morning. The walk was informative and enjoyable. Art Deco is said to be a popular international art design movement in the 1930s which boasts of elegance and modernism. According to the brochure Napier’s Famous Art Deco Walk produced
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
by the Art Deco Trust, the favourite motifs of the style include “geometric, usually angular patterns and shapes, symbols of power and speed such as lightning flashes, and symbols of freedom and the dawn of a new age—leaping deer and greyhounds, dancing women, and perhaps most of common of all, the rising sun.” The guide toured us around the city centre and showed us examples of structures with these motifs. History has it that Napier was ravaged by a strong earthquake in 1931 and afterwards, it was rebuilt in the popular Art Deco style of the time. Years later, a lot of effort has been put into preserving these structures. In 2007, Napier was nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site Status, the first cultural site in New Zealand to achieve this recognition according to the city’s history in Wikipedia. The UNESCO website also confirmed that Napier is currently in its Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. The people of Napier are friendly. Those I chatted with said they really like and are very proud of their city. Who would not be? Napier is so different from big cities like Auckland and Wellington. It’s a quaint, little paradise—one that combines raw beauty from its natural surroundings and refined allure from manmade artistry.
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+ BASKETBALL
The Ambassador’s Cup Three years ago, the officers of Pinoy Basketball sa Auckland (PBA) wanted to organize an event over the Independence Day weekend that would enable Filipinos to get together and participate in different sports events. PBA president Norman Latosa along with his officers vice president Bong Fiel, treasurer Conrad Galang and consultant Rene Onte approached His Excellency Bienvenido Tejano to support a weekend of sports competition. The Ambassador readily agreed and the Ambassador’s Cup was annually held ever since. Teams from all over New Zealand participated in the recent Ambassador’s Cup Independence Celebration Tournament. Players from
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, Palmerston North, Taupo, Wellington and Whangarei traveled to Auckland to compete in basketball, bowling, badminton, golf and tennis. Approximately 335 athletes participated in the two-weekend event. Norman Latosa would like to thank everyone who supported the Cup. He says, “We would not have been able to pull it together without the support of the other clubs. We’d like to thank Pinoy Badminton Club headed by Alex Briones, Filipino Ten Pin NZ’s Sammy Sia, Auckland Filipino Tennis Association’s Jojo Valero and Pinoy Golf Club’s Roy Boquiron.” For more information, visit the PBA website www.pinoybasketball.co.nz
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PHOTOS 1 Auckland A wins The Ambassador’s Cup – Basketball 2 Honourable Consul General Emilie Shi during the ceremonial ball toss 3 PBA president Norman Latosa (far right) and Honourable Consul General Emilie shie are joined by guests at theopening ceremony (from left) Zenie Low, Joseph Montarde, Johnnathan Samaniego and Minister of Parliament Chris Carter 4,5 Whangarei Filipino Society andWaikato Filipino Association basketball players travel to Auckland
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+ GOLF More than thirty golfers contested the 2009 Pinoy Golf Club (PGC) Philippine Independence Day Golf Cup at the Whitford Golf and Country Club held on 1 June 2009. Dr Tony Noblejas was on hand to wish the golfers good luck on a perfect winter day – sunny, nippy and without a cloud in sight. Scoring 39 stableford points, Dario Kabigting won the tournament. This is Dario’s first ever win in a PGC-sponsored tournament and he timed it to perfection in winning one of the most coveted trophy in the PGC calendar. Rove Llanes continued his good form by placing second. Rove Llanes won the previous PGC tournament. He is now in a good position to win the inaugural PGC Player of the Year Award, a recognition based on accumulated number of points garnered throughout the year. The next tournament will be held at the Gulf Harbour Golf Club on July 26. For more information, visit the club’s website www.pinoygolf.co.nz Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
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Photos 1 Dario Kabigting accepts the Winner’s Cup from PGC president Roy Boquiron and Dr Tony Noblejas, QSM 2 PGC members enjoy a bright winter tournament morning 3 Last year’s winner Nelson D’ Souza receives the Replica Cup 4 Rove Llanes wins second place Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
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Issue 8 | May 09
Par excellence By Sam Dignadice Lance Go is 15 years old. He is one of the youngest members of the Pinoy Golfers Club (PGC). He showed interest in the sport at a very young age. He started playing with his father, Arne, an avid golfer and former President of the PGC, when he was only eight years old. Arne spotted his son’s talent and potential. He decided to stop playing golf so that he could caddy for his son. Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
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Recently, Lance won the Auckland Secondary Schools Competition held at the Helensville Golf Club in Kaukapakapa. He represented St. Peter's College. It is a win that the school is very proud of – this is the school’s first ever singles win in Secondary School’s Golf Gross Competition. Lance is in the Auckland Development under-19 squad. He has been a part of the squad for the last three years. He has represented Auckland in matches against North Harbour and Poverty Bay teams. In the PGC-sponsored Philippine Independence Day tournament last June 1, Lance competed against the 'oldies' of the PGC. He is now a young man with a very impressive 1.5 Handicap Index. The author remembers being in his group when he was nine years old. At such a young age, he was already outdriving adult players. Lance is very committed to golf. When he is not busy with schoolwork, he is seen around golf courses, practicing his irons. His family, especially his father, is very supportive of his dreams. Lance will go a long way in pursuit of golfing excellence. The PGC is proud to see one of its own doing well and representing the Filipino sporting community in the New Zealand national scene. Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
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+Barangay Pinoy CAPO Independence Day
Celebration ‘09
CAPO’s Sam Dignadice and PBA president Norman Latosa
CAPO Independence Celebrations committee members (from left) Cora Noblejas, Claudia Menchavez, Guia Olmedo and Virgie Russel
The Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy led by Father Ruben Elago (left) supports the celebrations. From far right Father Mar Durado, Lito Banal, Cora Noblejas and Dr Tony Noblejas, QSM
Celebrating Filipino Life in New Zealand
Pastors (from left) John Cochrane, Brother Boy, Nilo Amagsila, Roy Ventura and Alfredo Lim join the ecumenical thanksgiving service
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+ Photos 1 The Surigao Group’s endearing rendition of Sa Dakong Silangan 2, 3, 4 Samut-Sari Performing Arts Guild’s colourful costumes and dance performnces
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Photography BY Louis Tan
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5 Albert Pancho serenades the audience with Harana favourites
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Issue 8 | May 09 PHOTOS 1, 2 Skillful Tinikling performances by Samut-Sari Performing Arts Guild 3 Mica Arroyo’s sweet rendition of Saranggola ni Pepe 4 The Filipino Society’s entertaining Salakot Dance 5 Sam Dignadice’s intense piano performance 6 Oneal Mendoza ‘s powerful vocals move the audience 7 Bleau Bustanera’s emotional rendition of the Visayan classic Usahay 8 Perl Lansi’s energetic performance was a crowd pleaser 9 Sinag’s talented bass guitar player 10 Blossoms Cruz’ touching interpretation of Freddie Aguilar’s Anak 11 Reynald Ricafrente’s upbeat Manila number was a show stopper
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Photography BY Louis Tan
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Photography BY Louis Tan
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Maya is a free electronic newsletter distributed to the Filipino community in New Zealand. To submit photos, community-related announcements, feedback and requests for subscription, email mayaeditor@gmail.com. Maya Magazine would like to thank the following organisations: Auckland NZ Pinoy, The Council of Auckland Philippine Orgnisations (CAPO), Filipino Student Association of NZ, Pinoy Basketball sa Auckland, Pinoy Golf Club, Samu’t Sari Philippine Cultural Society and the University of the Philippines Alumni NZ.
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Issue 8 | May 09
I ♼ the Philippines
By Dada Docot
Barangay Fiesta, San Miguel, Nabua, Camarines Sur
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