First Pinoy ball in South Canterbury
by Ramon Acero
Pinoy Southies braved the cold winter night of August 7 to come together and stage their first-ever Filipino Ball in Timaru, SOuth Canterbury. From the different walks of life and the far reaches and heart of the Mainland towns - Timaru, Temuka, Geraldine, Fairlie, Tekapo, Kurow, Waimate, Oamaru, and Ashburton - Filipinos, their friends and supporters converged in Scottish Hall to celebrate the Winter Feast--Philippine-style Fiesta! The night signified the formal inauguration of The South Canterbury Filipino Association, Inc. (TSCFAI), with the induction of their officers: Ramon Acero, President; Mercy Reynolds, First Vice President; Ver de Guzman, Second Vice President; Belinda Dewe, Secretary; Inday Schuster, Treasurer and Directors: Trudy Clarkson, Mary Anne Bonggay, Chato Westgarth, Susan Butler and Amy Burke.
On hand to welcome everyone was the Hon. Mayor of Timaru, Wynne Raymond, Philippine Consul Myla Macahilig, and Charge d'Affaires Lolita Capco to induct the officers, Rev. Fr. Earl Crotty to deliver the invocation and distinguished guests from Auckland Filipino Community to toast: Gil DOmingo, General Manager of Forex-Umac; Gloria Hooker, Senior Travel Consultant of Holiday Shoppe; and Lorna Graham, one of the pillars of the Filipino Society, Inc. and The Kabayan Newspaper.
Showcasing pompous folk dances coming complete with authentic traditional Filipino costumes, the event generated big crowd, warm accolades, write-ups and reviews from the print and broadcast media - from The Timaru Herald, The High Country Community Herald, The Courier Times, 98 Port FM, and National Radio. "It's not everyday that the Mainland sees Tinikling, La Jota, Kuracha, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Pinoy modern ocho-ocho and Spaghetti dance mix, Vaudiville ala-Chicago dance, professional tap dances, and top calibre singing."
"The gastronomic cuisines and the warmth of Filipino hospitality are just icings on the cake," enthused by Mrs. Trudy Calrkson, iconic and considered as the first Filipino settler in South Canterbury - having been there for all of 29 years and counting. "We were not expecting this big turnout but I suppose we can expect bigger crowd for our Christmass party dubbed as Paskong Pinoy in South Canterbury this coming December 18 when we step up the ante to bigger ensemble and production numbers," gamely predicted by Mrs. Mercy Reynolds. "And more than merry-making, we want our Filipino community here to benefit from the Filipino businesses in and around NZ. We're happy to see them come in - their balikbayan boxes, money remittance service, discount balikbayan travel packages, and Filipino food product. I'll never run out of bagoong again." delightedly chorused by Mrs. Belinda Dewe who is also the Forex-Umac agent for South Canterbury.
"After leaving for Auckland, my home and refuge for 7 odd years - moving to South Island was quite a big scare and a leap of faith. I have to bequeath the long association and frienships I've built in pursuit of career and lifestyle changes. For a time, the rigour of my job was what kept my sanity intact. Nineteen months later, here I am, in the thick of Filipino fraternisation again! I'm deeply heartened by the all-out support of my newfound community, and with our Philippine Embassy who came in full throes and even obliged in the Tinikling showdown. Activities like these provide tha hall marks of a very proud race, the legacies that we would like to leave behind the next generation... and if I must tell you, there are more from where they came from, the innate talents best known as Orig na Pinoy," a fitting close by Mon Acero, former President of the Filipino Society, Inc. and Kabayan Newspaper Editor-in-Chief.
For all enquiries about TSCFAI, please email us on [email protected] or go to our website www.pinoy.co.nz. Our snail mail address is 20 Le Cren St, Timaru, South Canterbury, NZ.