12 July 2014. Blacktown City. During a special event sponsored by the Filipino Australian Movement for Empowerment (FAME) Blacktown City Councillor Jess Diaz said that “media reporting is not always accurate.”
The editor of Philippine Sentinel Newspaper was present and was seated on the front row.
Cr. Diaz has been a long time member of the Liberal Party. It was quite noticeable that no incumbent member of the Labor Party was present.
Aside from Diaz, Ms Irene Ensomo Broad who is a former councillor of Temora Shire was also present. There were eight other Filipino honourees but sadly, none of the eight won a seat in either local or federal elections.
Jaymes Diaz, son of Cr. Jess Diaz did not show up to receive his Certificate of Recognition. It was instead handed to his father. The younger Diaz ran twice in Greenway but lost his bid to Federal MP Michelle Rowland.
Philippine Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis and Blacktown City Councillor Jacqui Donaldson assisted in the awarding of certificates.