The filmfest, an initiative of the New South Wales government, will be staged June 2-22. In its 55th year, the event screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animations produced by filmmakers from Australia and around the world. It is a major cultural event in Sydney and one of the world’s longest running festivals.

The two Filipino films are “Slingshot” and “Foster Child”, both directed by acclaimed Filipino director, Brillante Mendoza.

“Slingshot” is about the fast and furious insight into the multiple stories of the daily life of the slums in Manila.

“Foster Child” features a day in the life of a foster family preparing to say goodbye to the boy they have raised. The film received a 10-minute standing ovation in last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The two films are expected to receive similar recognition during the film festival.

“The Sydney Film Festival is one of the excellent venues to project the artistic and technical expertise of Filipino film directors. Slingshot and Foster Child have received numerous awards from the different film festivals around the world and it will not be a surprise if said films will also receive that recognition,” said Consul General Maria Theresa P. Lazaro.

Brillante Mendoza, a brilliant film director

Director Brillante Mendoza, photo by www.sf360.org

Director Mendoza will come to Sydney during the Festival to introduce the screening of each Filipino film. He will also participate in other festival and industry functions, media and audience interviews and panel discussions.

Mendoza’s record as a director includes “Serbis”, a story about a rural family that decides to run a prostitute service based in a fake theater. “Serbis” has been nominated in Cannes, the most prestigious film festival in the world.

The first and only time a Filipino director had a film included in the competition category in the Cannes Filmfest was in 1984, when Lino Brocka’s opus “Orapronobis” was accepted.

Mendoza’s “Serbis” thus became after 23 years the second Philippine film.

Mendoza’s participation to the Sydney Film festival was supported by the Philippine Consulate General through the Philippines’ National Commission of Culture and Arts.

The Consulate invites the Filipino-Australian community to attend the screening of the two Filipino films at the Greater Union George Street Cinemas: Slingshot (10 and 11 June), Foster Child (9 and 12 June 2008).

Full program of the 55th Sydney Film Festival is available at www.sydneyfilmfestival.org.

Some say the composition was biased as there were no average ordinary,little Australians. As one was heard to comment, perhaps the average Australian has nothing bright to contribute at all a reason for being average. There were no battlers, pensioners, home buyers having difficulty to pay the mortgages and the fact was those summiteers were evidently supporters of Australia as a Republic and Rudd Labour sympathizers.

The 1,000 summiteers were unrepresentative of the wider community was another criticism. True or false or a sign of weak or strong leadership? Most of those summiteers have easy access to the government. The convenors were co-chaired by a Government minister and an invited Government co-chair.

What really was achieved of the 1,000 Australia’s “best and brightest”?

Not a lot of new ideas as the big issues were repackaged, revisited and reinvigorated. The 10 groups produced consensus suggestions out of the thousands of ideas. The process was well controlled and 40 non-controversial suggestions which some suspect it was a set-up job. According to some it was a carefully crafted and well managed event.

Innovative and biggest ideas that were presented include: “the community corps” for students to reduce their HECS by providing volunteer services; a national preventive health care agency funded by taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and junk food; increasing the formal and legal recognition of Aborigines; all new buildings to be carbon neutral and bringing regulations for transport and agriculture across states into line.

The challenge now for Prime Minister Rudd is to deliver the brightest ideas into action.

Delivering the recommendations is a costly exercise in the sum of billions and an enlarged bureaucracy.

In the event Rudd fails to deliver concrete results from the summit, the exercise will be seen as a stunt.

Whatever you say, the Australia 2020 is a powerful symbol and the fact that it happened is important and shows democracy has come of age. The message was that the government looks outward for ideas, inspiration and input to address the problems of the country.#

Lolita Farmer OAM is a regular contributor of emanila.com. She is the chair and convenor of the Global Filipinos Australia.

The Census, taken in 2006, also reported that of the 18.9 million respondents, 15% or 2,853,851 reported as speaking a non-English in their homes.

The seven other non-English languages are Italian (12.4%), Greek (9.2%), Cantonese (7.9%), Arabic (7.3%), Vietnamese (6.1%), Mandarin (4.9%) and Spanish (3.3%).

Tagalog (Filipino) accounted for 2.8% of the relevant respondents group. German ranked number nine followed with a close 2.7% of the respondents group.

By region, Blacktown has reported to have the highest concentration of Census respondents speaking Tagalog (Filipino). The ABS statistics revealed that 5.7% of the people in the region speak the language at home, making it the second language after English. Arabic followed a distant 3.2% second non-English language spoken in the region.

The reported ranking of Tagalog (Filipino) as a non-English language spoken in Australia compares favourably with that in the United States.

According to the 1990 and 2000 United States Census, Tagalog is the sixth non-English language spoken in America, and the second most commonly-spoken Asian language (after Chinese) in the United States. #

Ed’s Notes: This article is based on research conducted by Compucentric Consulting.

Edited by Jose Wendell Capili, the book contains a collection of short stories and poems which give insights into the often silenced narratives of people from the migrant communities, particularly the Filipino-Australian experience.

The book is called ‘Salu-Salo: In Conversation with Filipino Australians’ and includes masterpieces from the literary talents of Merlinda Bobis, Erwin Cabucos, Nonee Doronila, Robert Nery, Cesar Leyco Aguila, Ivy Alvarez and other emerging Filipino-Australian writers.

This year Bobis releases her newest novel ‘The Solemn Lantern’ and Cabucos releases his newest collection of short stories ‘Green Blood and Other Stories’.

‘Salu-Salo: In Conversation with Filipino-Australian Writers’ is published by the Casula Powerhouse Publishing.

Everyone is welcome to attend the launching of the book on Sunday 25 May from 3PM to 5PM at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. Entry is free but bookings are essential. Please ring +61 298241121 (Australia).

Other Filipino writers featured in the Sydney Writers Festival include Jose Dalisay, Jr, the recipient of the Asia Man Booker Prize in 2007. #

Photos courtesy of asianaustralianstudies.org and Erwin Cabucos

Happily, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has today obliged with a release of new information to help all of us assess how we are doing - in society, in our economy and in the environment.

The statistical information from the ABS covered the period 1996-97 and 2006-07. Reading through the ABS release, one could glean that the answer to the question is: “Yes.”

Here are highlights of the ABS release:

1. Australia is generally richer in terms of national income and wealth. Our net disposal income per person grew by 2.9% on average each year. Average net disposable income reached $39,000 in 2006-07, and Australia’s real net worth was over $254,000 per person in 2007.

2. Productivity in Australia rose 1.1% on average per year.

3. Australia’s unemployment rate fell from 8.37% in 1997 to 4.4% in 2007.

4. We are living longer. Life expectancy has increased by 3 years. A boy born two years ago could expect to live to 79 years while a girl could expect to reach 83 years.

5. In education, Australians these days are more educated than their counterparts in 1997. In 1997, the ABS found that almost 60% of 25-64 year olds had a degree or certificate, up from 46% in 1997.

6. Crime rate? There is a mixed trend in this area. A small increase in personal crime (assault, sexual assault or robbery) rate between 1998 and 2005 from 4.8% to 5.3%, but a decline in the rate of household crimes (break-ins and motor vehicle theft) was noted from 9.0% to 6.2% during the same period.

7. With regard to the environment, the ABS reported that there are now more threatened species. Between 2000 and 2007 the number of bird and mammal species which were extinct, endangered or vulnerable rose from 153 to 174 (up 14%).

One could only hope that service providers including insurance companies will take heed of this latest ABS statistics. For example, will insurance companies now reduce household insurance premiums considering that the so-called “household crimes” have declined?

It will be interesting to watch. #

In its press release, the services league also announced that others wishing to join the parade under the APSL banner may register for membership with APSL.

Membership is open to former servicemen and women of the Philippines or Australia and their families, descendants of war veterans and former Philippine military men and women, and Philippine ROTC graduates.

APSL, organised and incorporated in August 2004, is affiliated with the Rooty Hill RSL (Returned Services League). APSL’s participation in ANZAC Day parade started in 2005.

ANZAC Day is considered a most important national occasion in Australia. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Further information on APSL’s ANZAC Day parade participation may be obtained by calling Col. C. Pilao on mobile 0402763113 or by post to APSL Inc. PO Box 463, Blacktown NSW 2148.

Ed’s Note: The thumbnail shot is that of the Australian War Memorial website homepage. Visit the AWM website at www.awm.gov.au for ANZAC-related information.

Run by the Filipino-Australian Teachers Association of Queensland, the classes will be composed of adults students ranging from age 18.

Sessions will be held once a week, Saturdays 3-5PM at the Filipino House, 69 Nathan Road, Runcorn, in the Brisbane’s Southside.

Students will learn beginning skills in speaking, reading, listening and writing the Filipino language.

Contemporary and more hands-on materials will be used to facilitate a more effective way of learning the language.

Filipino Language Teachers on Training at the LOTE Centre in Brisbane. L-R: Myrla Prianes, Lourdes Cremin and Merle Parkinson. Photo courtesy: Erwin Cabucos

The teachers are university trained and experienced from the Australian-Teachers Association of Queensland (FATAQ).

Enrolment and meeting of teachers will occur on 5 April, at 3PM, at the Filipino House, and first proper session will begin on 12 April 2008.

Classes will run per school semester. For the 12-week package, it will cost $95.00, boasting to be the best investment for anyone interested in learning the language.

Numbers are limited.

To book a place, please call Sol Dobinson on 07 38925772.
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Celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) 8 March 2008, with the theme “100 years of active women in paid and unpaid work” not just focusing on our struggle but also highlighting the achievements.

The theme reminds us of the many roles of women – at work, at home and in the community.Today we have the first female Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard who for brief periods has been acting Prime Minister sending a message to the young women that there are opportunities to make a difference.

Women participation in public and business sectors

Women participation in the Federal Government are 4 women in the federal cabinet; 3 in the outer ministry and 3 parliamentary secretaries from a number of 42 representatives in the Australian Federal Parliament.

There are only 4 women chairing ASX200 companies and 6 Chief Executive Officers. Only 50% of the ASX200 companies have one woman board director as compared to 89.4% in the United States and 78% in the United Kingdom.

In 2007 NSW Government there are 13 women in the Legislative Council and 25 in the Legislative Assembly.

Women in the NSW public sector executive positions represent 35.7% and 36% of the NSW public sector board and committee positions.

Local Government in 2007 in NSW, 26% of the elected councillors were women and 5% of general managers and 24 % of senior managers were women.

Though some changes and improvements have been made still there are issues confronting women of the workplace today: inequity of pay; distribution of household and family responsibilities; gendered workforce and glass ceiling.

Women contribute two-thirds of the total value of unpaid work – housework, caring for children and other family responsibilities and volunteer work in the community.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures indicate that in 2005, there were 4.7m women in the workforce comprising 45% of Australia’s entire labour force; 51% of professionals in Australia are women; university graduates in education 56% are women;33% women represent the small business operators and are the majority or part owners of nearly one-half (46%) of all small businesses.

International Women’s Day started in New York 100 years ago when 15,000 marched for the right to vote, a decent wage, and an end to sweat shops and child labour.

IWD was recognised in 1911 for the first time in Austria; Denmark; Germany and Switzerland.

The United Nations designated 1975 as the International Women’s Day on 8 March by holding events that honour women.

In 1928 the first Australian IWD March was staged at Domain Sydney protesting for equal pay for equal work and better working conditions.

Important dates for Australian women are:

1921 - Edith Cowan elected to the Legislative Assembly of Western Australian Parliament thus becoming the first Australian woman parliamentarian.

1943 - Dame Enid Lyons and Senator Dorothy Tangney elected to the Federal Parliament

1976 - Senator Margaret Guilfoyle becomes the first woman to be a member of the Cabinet and also administer a government department.

1986 - Senator Janine Haines became the first woman to head an Australian political party.

1990 - Carmen Lawrence became the first female Premier of an Australian state.

1995 - Jennie George appointed first woman President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

2001 - Jenny Macklin becomes Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

2007 - Julia Gillard becomes Deputy Prime minister of Australia and Julie Bishop becomes Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition.

There are other many women who juggle paid and unpaid work that epitomise the IWD 100 year anniversary theme. It is women like these that we celebrate and acknowledge this International Women’s Day.

Finally, no IWD is complete without a march, so put on your walking shoes and assemble at Sydney Town Hall by 11am by marching to Hyde Park north via George and King streets.

UNIFEM breakfast on Friday 7 March at darling Harbour with ABC TV’s Phillipa McDonald as the host with proceeds going to South East Asia and Pacific projects.

Two prominent women from the Middle East are the speakers one from Israel and one fron Palestine.

There were 121 councils that received funding for IWD activities. Contact your council for activities that you would like to participate in.
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