By Cyrus A. Natividad

Centralian Mr. Mauro Somodio and FAFQ President Cecilia Somodio with the Ginoong and Binibining Pilipinas-Australia Charity 2021.

The Filipino-Australian Foundation of Queensland, Inc. (FAFQ) a non-political, non-stock, non-profit, benevolent and charitable community organization celebrated its “One World …One Spirit First Virtual Philippine Festival 2021” on October 23, 2021.

The virtual program started with the FAFQ String Ensemble playing the national anthems, “Lupang Hinirang” and “Advance Australia Fair” of the Philippines and Australia, respectively. Engineer Vic Bacud of FAFQ rendered an invocation song number.

In her welcome remarks, FAFQ President Centralian Cecilia Somodio said, “The Board of Management hereby acknowledges the tradition of the land where we live the past, the present, and the emerging.” She also acknowledged the Ginoong and Binibining Pilipinas Australia – Charity 2021.

The Minister of Trade and Premier of Queensland Annastasia Palaszczuk, in a message sent from her office, thanked the FAFQ “for their unwavering commitment to Queensland’s Filipino Community.” She emphasized that “Queensland is a home to the third-largest Filipino population in Australia, and for a quarter of the century, the Filipino – Australian Foundation of Queensland, Inc. has been serving that population as a wellspring of resources and social connection.” She added that this celebration will nurture understanding and appreciation of Filipino Culture in Queensland. The government of Queensland is committed to fostering a fairer, more respective state which values empowers Queensland from diverse cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. Other dignitaries from Australia also expressed appreciation and extended warm congratulations to the FAFQ for its First Virtual One World-One Spirit Philippine Festival 2021.

In the comfort of homes, the virtual presentations with sensational sights and sounds were watched and enjoyed all over the world. Performance of several Philippine folk dances such as the “Karatong”- with bamboo instrument tied to the waist of male participants- to produce music and ladies dance to its tunes; “Pasigin”, a representation of Filipino fisher folks dancing in the waters; The “Binasuan”, similar to the ‘Pandango sa Ilaw” with drinking gasses on their heads and hands while dancing -a folk dance which originated in Panggasinan, and “Pansak” and Tinikling, were among several folk dance performances of Philippine origin. Ruben Cembrano and FAFQ Singing Group delivered intermission numbers before the presentation and coronation of the Ginoong and Binibining Pilipinas-Australia Charity 2021. Dax Ivan Labaja and Olivia Jade Edwards were the Ginoong and Binibining winners, respectively for this year.

The Parade of Nations followed. Mr. Mauro Somodio, husband of current FAFQ President and Founding President of FAFQ introduced the participants in their national costumes. Somodio said, “This Parade of Nations promotes mutual understanding across cultures.” He added that “Australia is a mirror of reality – that unity and diversity can exist.” A Rondalia musical presentation was performed by the Sariaya Elementary School of Calabarzon in the Philippines.

The Filipino-Australian Foundation of Queensland, Inc. acknowledges with thanks Central Philippine University for its valuable support especially in the lending of video materials of Filipino folk dances for the celebration.