Prior to December 21, 2012, many people were scared that the world would end as predicted by the Mayan Calendar. Some even went to the extent of building underground bunkers with very thick concrete walls thinking that the structure was formidable enough to protect them from whatever was expected to come. There were those who […]
Category: Editorial
Remembering Martial Law: part 2
The “Y” generation will not know the name Primitivo Mijares but Baby Boomers like me will remember him as a brave journalist and a staunch critic of the late president Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda. It was Mijares who authored the book Conjugal Dictatorship which described how the Philippines was run with an iron […]
Should they scrap the Chaplaincy? by Dino Crescini
There are unconfirmed reports about a plan by the Diocese of Parramatta to discontinue the Filipino Chaplaincy because Filipinos are already well integrated into the different parishes. I speak only for the Filipino community and not for the other ethnic communities. I am not privy to what other reasons the Catholic hierarchy might have for […]
Is the world really coming to an end?
In the past, I have used “Nostradino” as my nom de plume when I wrote predictions of certain future events. Some forecasts I made turned out to be accurate; others miserably failed. Of course, it was just for fun and the name I chose relates to my fascination with the famous Nostradamus.
Who’s On First? by Benjie de Ubago
In 2000, I compiled a list of Filipinos with pioneering spirits. The list was published in the Filipin-Oz Directory. I defined a ‘pioneering spirit’ as someone who made the first attempt at whatever — those who dared to take the plunge in their new home. It was a simple list that I compiled and hoped […]
Doctor reveals all by Dino M. Crescini, BS, MBA
Hermaneli Torrevillas, MD talks about his medical practice; how he lost his lifetime savings in a scam; why he lost his licence to practice medicine in Australia. He also admitted to a near suicide attempt because of severe depression that followed. At a ripe age of 75, he has written 3 books and is trying […]
Remembering Martial Law
Most Baby Boomers will remember that it was 40 years ago on September 21, 1972 when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared Martial Law through Proclamation No. 1081. The infamous declaration covered the entire Republic of the Philippines. His declaration was really an insult to the intelligence of Filipinos. What he really wanted was to […]
Is armed conflict in the West Philippine Sea imminent?
Whenever I think of this possibility, I am always reminded of that part of the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem: “Lupang hinirang, duyan ka ng magiting, sa manlulupig, di ka pasisiil.” (Land dear and holy, cradle of noble heroes, never shall invaders, trample thy sacred shore.)
Fr. James Reuter SJ at 96 by Minyong Ordoñez
I came along and we entered the room to sing at Father Jim Reuter’s bedside. Father Reuter lay in a fetal position like a baby in the womb, his head totally bald, his face with the look of innocence, his easy smile cherubic. He raised his feeble hand to give us the thumbs-up.
How wisely will MPC use $34,000?
There was much jubilation on the part of Philippine Australian Community Foundation (PACF) directors when NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell declared that their application for a grant has been approved.
Press conference at MPC Schofields
Although the MPC managers prefer to call it PACC (Philippine Australian Cultural Center, I prefer to call the place MPC (Multi-Purpose Center) because that was the original plan when the idea was conceived some 23 years ago. Organised by veteran journalist Jaime Kelly Pimentel, who surprisingly did not participate in the discussions, some members of […]
MPC: The Impossible Dream
So much has been said and written about the Filipino Multi-Purpose Centre which is better known as the MPC. Members of the Board of Trustees, The Filipino Australian Community Foundation (PACF) now refer to it as the Philippine Australian Community Centre (PACC), apparently to disassociate the Schofields property from the former MPC in Rooty Hill […]