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 to one day expound on. I tried to salvage whatever memories I could from an aging generation and rummaged through archives. The list was compiled not to glorify or debase anyone but simply to consign it to posterity.

The first Filipino lawyer in Australia

In the process of hunting for firsts, I scouted for the first Filipino lawyer.

Suggested names were cross-checked with the Australian Law Society and interviews conducted with the respective lawyers themselves. But to say Filipino lawyer is [merely] a play on words as I found out later. So let’s clarify. The first Filipino to become a lawyer here in NSW is Julian Cabarrus in 1976. Now, the first Filipino who was already a lawyer in the Philippines and became a lawyer in NSW is Cesar Uy in 1986 followed by Jess Diaz in 1987. Cabarrus and Uy also confirm this. (Note that there may be someone else who made it first in another state).

Julian Cabarrus, a Filipino, completed his studies here and was admitted to law practice on 3 December 1976. This admission date is consistent through the years even if his place of practice changed from Granville, to Parramatta, to Castle Hill and finally at Fairfield.

Cesar Uy on the other hand was already a practicing lawyer from the Philippines who arrived here in Australia and was admitted to law on 19 December 1986. The 1990 law almanac shows Cesar Uy’s name in the list of suburban solicitors with his address listed as Marsfield and admission date as 19 December 1986.

Mr. Diaz refutes this and claims he is first Filipino lawyer, admitted in 1984. Since my intention is to get the facts right, I double checked with the Law Society and they pointed me to the Law Almanac which lists Sydney solicitors and Suburban solicitors by year. I tediously went through the lists of Sydney solicitors, suburban solicitors as well as barristers in the Law Almanac from 1976 to 1995.

The first entry for Diaz appears in 1988 under Sydney solicitors with his address listed as 1 Margaret Street (which is Citibank’s address) and admission date as 22 May 1987. Diaz’ work address changes to York Street in 1991 but the admission date remains the same. No entry appears from 1985 to 1987.

But if Mr. Diaz insists that he was first, then so be it. Maybe my eyes were playing up or maybe the Law Society and the Law Almanac must have their records wrong.

First Filipino Councilor

Mr. Diaz also refutes that Ms. Irene Broad is the first Filipino councilor. Ms. Broad was a councilor of Temora Shire, only a shire, while Diaz claims he is the first Councilor of a city council. It really doesn’t matter whether Ms. Broad represents a Barangay or a large city. The point [that matters] is she was the first Filipino to be elected to a councilor position and officially addressed as councilor and acknowledged by the Embassy, consulate and also by the Filipino Australian Movement for Empowerment (FAME).

And as for the Philippine Community Council of New South Wales (PCC-NSW), Sennie Masian, Dux Maniquiz, Evelyn Zaragoza and Linda Swords thought of organizing the community. Attempts had been made in the 80s to establish a united front but somehow they all fizzled out. In 1990, the prevailing circumstances seemed to offer the perfect opportunity. With the increasing number of Filipinos, the raging issues on mail order brides, and with the prodding of the Philippine Embassy (then under Ambassador Rora Tolentino) and the Philippine Consulate for one organization to represent the voice of the Filipino community, the PCC-NSW became a reality.
The first PCC general election was held in 1990 at Earlwood. During the elections, the first board was elected from which the first President was elected who happened to be Mr. Diaz.

Isn’t the one who thinks about it and finds it is the founder? And isn’t it, finders keepers? Based on interviews with the old timers, Ms. Masian is attributed as the founder and this was echoed at the 20th anniversary celebration of PCC in 2010. Mr. Diaz is recognized as the first PCC president and has always been credited as such.

But you know what; I am not going through another almanac. So if Mister Diaz wants to be first, well so be it — as long as I am not writing it. Besides, it’s not how you start but how you finish that counts and all the in-between is where the fun really lies. (www.filipin-oz.com)