08 Mar 2007

FILIPINO-AUSTRALIANS PROMOTE PHILIPPINE READING AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN SYDNEY

Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney , Australia commended the Filipino-Australian community for the active promotion of Philippine culture through the launching of the “Read Philippines” Project and the conduct of a “Filipino Cultural Appreciation” program.

To encourage interest and awareness of Philippine cultural heritage, the “Read Philippines” Project in the shire (town) of Hornsby was inaugurated on 3 March 2007 at the Hornsby Central Library to enhance the existing collection of books and audio-visual materials on the Philippines in Australian libraries. The Project also involves the donation of educational/academic books, videos and CD-ROMs to an ‘adopted’ public library.

In the adopted library, a Filipino community organization may act as a coordinator to solicit book donations, maintain and update the collection, and address inquiries and concerns regarding the library’s “Read Philippines” section. The designated coordinator serves as a contact person for the library, the community, and the Philippine Consulate in case of additional donations, information or events related to the “Read Philippines” section.

The Project launch was attended by a significant number of people in the Filipino-Australian community, with guests including Consul General Lazaro, Hornsby Mayor Nick Berman, Councilor Andrew Isaac, State Parliament Member Judy Hopwood, and Ms. Rachel Stanton-Gaffney and Ms. Violi Calvert of the North Shore Filipino-Australian Association (NSFAA).

Consul General Lazaro commended the NSFAA for the support and active involvement in the “Read Philippines” Project, affirming that the Filipino-Australian community “is a vital partner of the local government in assuring the success of the project.” She remarked, “As stakeholders in the endeavor, they can encourage Filipinos and Australians alike in the process to support their local library by reading on the Philippines ".

Aside from Hornsby, the “Read Philippines” Project is currently being adopted in cities such as Fairfield , Parramatta and Blacktown . The city of Bathurst will adopt the program in April, while a number of cities are expected to follow suit within the year.

Consul General Lazaro also reported that on 4 March, the Filipino-Australian community participated in the “Filipino Cultural Appreciation” program held at Blacktown City 's Max Webber Library. The event was inaugurated by an Ati-Atihan procession, song, dance and poetry performances, and an exhibition of Filipiniana materials found at the library. Some of the materials were donated via the “Read Philippines” Project.

Consul General Lazaro described the activity as "a worthwhile undertaking that aims to sustain among young Filipino-Australians, their friends and the community-at-large the interest and awareness of Philippine history, culture, values and ethnicity.” She also expressed hope that future generations will continue to appreciate and nurture this endeavor.

Blacktown City hosts the largest single concentration of Filipino residents in Australia , estimated at around 20,000 individuals, or 15% of the total Filipino population in Australia .