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29th FIESTA KULTURA FEATURES INTERNATIONAL TOURISM,

PHILIPPINE CUISINE, CULTURE AND ARTS

The recently concluded 29th Fiesta Kultura event held on 2 October 2017 long weekend at

Fairfield Showground honour the Filipino-Australian community in partnership with the NSW Government's commitment to a cohesive and inclusive society in which cultures, languages and religions of all citizens are accepted and appreciated, according to Minister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Disability Services, Mr. Ray Williams. Now in its 41 year, PASC Inc. stays as a strong voice supporting social cohesion and inclusiveness. Atty. Lolita Farmer, OAM and PASC President said “Fiesta Kultura is a festival that provides opportunities for people to make new friends or get together with old ones. Families & friends can taste the unique and mouth savouring array of Filipino food stalls offering different kinds of savouries and fil-oz cuisine. The event also marks another year of thanksgiving, engaging and inspiring for our PASC sponsors & benefactors to witness the innovative approaches in showcasing the Filipino talent in music, cultural dances, arts and crafts and many more”. An estimated crowd of more or less 10,000 witnessed the various festivities and enjoyed the treats and performances all day. The “bayanihan” spirit always thrives well at Fiesta Kultura.

Our very own and proud of the Fil-Oz community, Cyrus Villanueva, 2015 grand winner of the highly popular TV show X FACTOR was the special performer who captured the audience hearts by his amazing voice & musical talent. The crowd were also entertained all day by celebrated Filipino-Australian young & veteran artists, singers and cultural dancers including Jasmine Henry, Robyn Russell, the VSD Dancers, PASSI Dance troupe, the Cumbancheros, to name a few. The media centre with an actual radio station set-up onsite conducted LIVE interviews of Minister Williams together with other VIPs, newly elected Fil-Oz Councillors, guests, beauty finalists with the 2016 winners, stall holders, performers and many more. Events happening at the fiesta were shared instantly via FB and other social media platform to show to the world what we can offer not only in Australia but globally.

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Miss Philippines Australia and Charity Queen Beauty Pageant as a trademark of PASC offers and creates positive avenues for self-development and enhancing the contribution to Australia and Philippines through partnerships with charities, sponsors, families and friends. Winners of the MPA/CQA personally distribute the PASC donations to different charities locally & overseas thus engaging and enabling positive changes to the lives of the beneficiaries, according to MPA Director, Marivic Ayap-Flores.

Special Guests include Minister Ray Williams, Ms (Prue) Prudence Ann CAR, MP Member for Londonderry, representing MP Luke Fooley, Consul Marford Angeles and Consul Melanie Diano from the Philippine Consulate, Mayor Frank Carbone of Fairfield City, Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali, Parramatta Deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Garrard, Ed Alcordo APBC President and Serna Ladia PCCNSW President, Filipino Australian

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Councillors, Rey Manoto and Linda Geronimo, Fr. Bong Pamintuan and many more distinguished guests and community leaders.

PASC would also like to sincerely thanks Andrew Russel & family from Canberra for his untiring support in providing free service for his Sound & Radio equipment at the Media Centre plus the yearly supporters community radio hosts servicing the radio station all day for interviews: Michelle Baltazar, Marcus Rivera, Charles Chan, Oliver Gadista, Marilie Bomediano, Nonoy Perdon and for Gerry Musa for all the preparation & activities at the Media Centre, Arts & Crafts located at the Pavilion of the Fairfield Showground. Grateful also to the PASC Board, working committees and hundreds of volunteers for their untiring and dedicated support every year.

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The most astounding part of the 2017 Fiesta Kultura was the announcement of the Miss Philippines Australia and Charity Queen Australia winners. Restless supporters of every finalist vying for the crown screams to the loudest noise they can as a sign of support to their candidate while waiting for the official announcement of the winners. Indeed, the BEST of them all were revealed after a thorough judging & verification process.

The list of winners of the 2017 Miss Philippines Australia and Charity Queen Australia and all winners of the jumbo raffles and other events were:

RAFFLE PRIZES: FIRST PRIZE: * MAZDA CAR CX 3, 2017 MODEL DRAWN BY JOHN OF WEST END MAZDA

Ticket No 01640 WINNER YOLANDA SAMANIEGO CONCORD WEST, NSW SECOND PRIZE:

ONE RETURN SYD- MLA-SYD FLIGHT VIA PHILIPPINES AIRLINES DRAWN BY GELYN PALAD OF PAL. Conditions apply: Valid 12 months, non-transferable, off-peak travel, pay your own travel tax - PRIZE COURTESY OF PHILIPPINES AIRLINES Plus: Two Nights Hotel Accommodation plus Breakfast at Century Park Hotel, Manila - COURTESY OF CENTURY PARK HOTEL, MANILA

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Ticket No 13726 WINNER NESTOR LEE THIRD PRIZE:

ONE RETURN SYD-MLA-SYDFLIGHT VIA PHILIPPINES AIRLINE DRAWN BY GELYN PALAD OF PAL. Conditions apply: valid 12 months, non-transferrable, off-peak travel, pay your own travel tax - PRIZE COURTESY OF PHILIPPINES AIRLINES

Ticket No: 02926 WINNER NELLA WILD

LIBERTY GROVE, NSW * GIFT VOUCHER WORTH $ 100 FROM CANDY LOVE HAIR SHOP

Ticket No: 12024 WINNER MARILOU TANGUILIG NUNDAH, QUEENSLAND RESULTS: 2017 MISS PHILIPPINES AUSTRALIA & 2017 CHARITY QUEEN AUSTRALIA 2017 MISS PHILIPPINES AUSTRALIA WINNER KYMBERLEE STREET FIRST RUNNER-UP WINNER CHYNNA SANDRA PALIS 2017 CHARITY QUEEN AUSTRALIA WINNER CARISSA GALLACHER CHARITY PRINCESS AUSTRALIA WINNER JHOAN JIMENEZ MOLIN SPECIAL AWARDS: MISS POPULARITY WINNER CARISSA GALLACHER BEST IN FILIPINIANA WINNER KYMBERLEE STREET BEST IN SWIMWEAR WINNER CARISSA GALLACHER BEST IN GOWN WINNER JHOAN JIMENEZ MOLIN MISS FRIENDSHIP WINNER MARY VILLARES MISS PHOTOGENIC WINNER KIMBERLY ALCARAZ STAGE PRESENTATIONS: MOST ENTERTAINING WINNER MIMI-TINA TURNER BEST CULTURAL PRESENTATION WINNER ALLIANCE OF PHIL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS (APCO) ORGANIZATIONS (APCO) BEST DANCE GROUP WINNER VIP SYDNEY DANCERZ (VSD) STALL/TRADE PRESENTATIONS: BEST PRESENTED STALL DISPLAY WINNER PORKY CHEEK BEST CREATIVE/INNOVATIVE WINNER LBC BEST AUTHENTIC PHILIPPINE MOTIFF WINNER BM EXPRESS

MAZDA Car claimed by the grand raffle winner, YOLANDA SAMANIEGO with Carissa Gallacher, 2017

Charity Queen and VP Alberto Dionesio.

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Congratulations to the 2017 winners and looking forward for a more exciting 2018 Fiesta Kultura - 30th Anniversary Event.

ENDS--- By Josie Musa, PASC Press Relations Officer (Media Contact-0404631438)

Photos credit to Bob Reyes and Gerry Musa About the Philippine Australian Sports and Culture (PASC) Inc. The Philippines Australia Sports & Culture Incorporated is a non-profit club. PASC Fiesta Kultura is the longest and biggest running event in the whole of Australia’s Filipino community and possibly globally is the only entity recognised by the Australian Government as the winner in the National Multicultural Marketing Award community category. The Philippine Government has awarded the Presidential Awards of Linkapil and Bana-ag, the City of Manila for the Arts and Culture recognition and various Rotary Clubs in citations for PASC charitable causes.