The 28th of March marked the first Pinay Day! Showcasing the Filipino Culture, contribution, and resilience. It was held at the Footscray Community Art Centre Amphitheatre organised by Gabriela Australia with sponsorship from the Department of Premier and Cabinet Multicultural Affairs Division.
Keynote speakers included our Consul General Maria Lourdes Salcedo who is a lifelong advocate of women’s rights in her storied career as a diplomat. Victorian Multicultural Commission Vice Chairperson Bwe Thay, former Greens MP Huong Truong, MP Bronwyn Halfpenny, MP Melissa Horne as well as various community leaders shared their messages of solidarity and hope.
Pinay Day was jam-packed with performances far and wide featuring singers, bands, and cultural dance performances all with the aim of placing on the forefront our culture and traditions. The performances were unified with messages of struggles and sacrifices, valour and valiance, and the quest for equality. It was inspiring to see Filipino-Australians of all ages come together in support of a noble cause. Food stalls and donations were welcomed in support of children in need. The event concluded with a final performance of One Billion Rising. A global campaign to end rape and sexual violence against women. The ‘billion’ refers to the UN statistic that one in three women will experience rape and/or harassment in her lifetime.
Gabriela Australia is a community-based Filipino- Australian Organisation with a mission to help women and children particularly those who are victim-survivors of family violence. They have provided and will continue to provide support to Filipino migrant families suffering from marginalisation. Pinay Day was a timely event as it also coincided with celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Gabriela Australia.
