The Filipino-Australian Student Council of Victoria (FASTCO) has elected 11 student leaders to take over the reins of the student organization as the executive committee for 2022-2023. Hailing from different universities in Victoria, the officers were officially sworn to office in the presence of the Philippine Honorary Consul of Melbourne, Ms. Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo last September 9, 2022.
Founded in 2012, the Filipino-Australian Students Council of Victoria (FASTCO) is a network of Pinoy students and friends. The student organisation aims to foster ties among and provide support to Filipino students throughout Melbourne and in Victoria.
The newly elected officers and their corresponding school and positions are as follows:
- Remart Dumlao, President, PhD in Linguistics- Monash Univerity
- Astrid de la Cerna, VP for Internal Affairs, Master of Social Work- Australian College of Applied Professions
- Mark-Arlon Madulid, VP for External Affairs, Master of Applied Behaviour Analysis- Monash University
- Jason Paolo Telles, Secretary, Doctor of Philosophy (Arts)- Monash University
- Bryan Vince Buiza Soriano, Director for Finance, Diploma in Hospitality Management-Ashton College
- Elvie D. Aguilar, Director for Marketing and Resource Mobilisation, Master of Business Analytics, Kaplan Business School
- Akemi B. Aida, Director for Organisational Development and Identity, Master of Laws- University of Melbourne
- Darlyn Dano, Director for Learning and Career Development, Master of Business Administration- University of Melbourne
- Christian Deo T. Deguit, Director for Communications, PhD Biomedical and Health Sciences- University of Melbourne
- Shera Marie Serad, Student Representative- Higher Education- Master of Business Administration- Kaplan Business School
- John Kert Quinones Lagahit, Student Representative -VET, Diploma of Business and Graduate Diploma of Management- Brighton College
“The ExeCom 2022-2023 is excited to relaunch and alter the current initiatives that have been carried out by FASTCO. The programs for this year will balance the needs of every student according to their affiliations or life learning pathways. For instance, there must be a program that suits the preferences of VET students, such as but not limited to career development training. The same also applies to other sectors with which some FASTCO members are affiliated (e.g., Higher ed).”, said FASTCO President, Remart Dumlao.
He adds, “we aim to promote FASCTO shared goods, as outlined in our constitution, and the normative thinking of Filipino abroad, “Pag kakaisa at Bayanihan”.To push it forwards, we also hope to incorporate non-profit and for-profit organisations that could support our efforts to strengthen FASTCO’s mandates across Victorian society. We believe that this is not just a Fil-Au student organisation, but largely an organisation for all.”
For more information on FASTCO’s projects and how to join as members, check the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/fastcovic and their official website, https://www.fastcovic.org/.
