The Filipino Student Council of New South Wales (FSC NSW), in coordination with NARRA Cooperative and The Rotary Club of Sydney, hosted its annual year-end celebration, the Hiraya Ball, on Friday, November 28, in Parramatta. More than 85 Filipino tertiary students, graduates, and young professionals from the affiliate Filipino Student Societies (FSS) gathered alongside community leaders and representatives.
Hiraya: A Celebration of Hopes and Community Resilience
Building on last year’s Gunita Ball, this year’s theme looked forward with Hiraya, an ancient Tagalog term meaning “the fruit of one’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations.” It also honoured the council’s earliest major project, Kamp Hiraya (2022).
Ronna Guzman, representing the Philippine Australian Multicultural Association (PAMAI), Rainbow Crossing, and Youth Amplified, delivered the official welcome and reflected on the growing leadership of Filipino youth across NSW.
The evening also paid tribute to Riahne “Chuck” Vasquez, a beloved supporter and Tulong Liga player. Christian Rose, FSS MQU President and principal director of Tulong Liga, led the memorial.
Another moment of resilience came from Inigo’s Kitchen, which catered the event despite their Bexley branch being damaged by a fire just a day earlier. The team honoured their commitments and delivered a well-received meal service during what they described as their busiest week ever.
A Transformative Year for Filipino Youth Leadership
2025 marked a major year of growth for FSC NSW and its affiliated FSS chapters. Key initiatives strengthened cultural visibility, community ties, and youth-led impact across the state.
FSC NSW programs were officially incorporated into NARRA Cooperative’s youth engagement strategy, directly linking student leadership to the long-term goals of PAACI: Project 500, the effort to build Australia’s first Filipino-Australian Cultural and Innovation Centre.
The inter-FSS Tulong Liga Charity Sports Match solidified itself as a flagship Filipino-Australian youth event. Its third annual run raised a record $3,500 for Bantu PH, supporting poverty-alleviation programs for Filipino youth. More than 200 supporters attended across NSW.
Across the state, FSS chapters achieved major milestones:
- FSS MQU and FSS WSU delivered BEATS & BITES: Jeepney Jam Edition, spotlighting emerging Filipino youth performers.
- FSS UNSW continued its annual language tutorial event series, offering workshops in Tagalog, Bisaya, and Ilocano to promote linguistic heritage and cultural learning.
- FSS UON won 2025 Social Media of the Year at the prestigious UNSA Awards.
- FSS USYD partnered with World Vision Philippines to launch the Tulong Aral tutorial initiative, supporting Grade 4 students in Baseco, Manila.
- FSA UTS hosted five collaborative events with ASEAN societies, including a Running Man–inspired showcase.
- FILO UOW partnered with San Jose Concerned Citizens to deliver aid to 300+ families in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Filipino students also volunteered at landmark cultural events, including Pista sa Nayon, Tropapalooza, FiloFomoFest, and Boodle Fight at Parramatta Lanes. Several students contributed media support for the Eraserheads’ Sydney concert and as panellists for the Youth Amplified podcast.
“Each year, our youth community continues to grow and reach new heights,” said FSC NSW President Saira Arias. “When you support young people on a platform and trust them to lean into their power, you nurture the next generation of leaders focused on real impact that goes beyond our local borders. As someone who has been involved in this space since 2021, there is nothing but hope and optimism to have for the incoming FSC x FSS teams.”
Celebrating Excellence: 2025 FSC x FSS NSW Awards
The ball concluded with the annual awards ceremony, judged by community leaders representing NARRA Cooperative, PAMAI, the Filipino Food Movement Australia, and Filipin-Oz Ideas.
This year’s recipients were:
- FCS x FSS Final Champion (Non-Executive): Alyssa Davies (Highly Commended: Patrick Empasis)
- FCS x FSS Final Champion (Executive): Peter Davies (Nominees: Jasmine Bathan, Kayla Buen, Darcy Contreras, and Mandy Santiago)
- FCS x FSS Final Champion (Veteran): Christian Rose (Nominees: Phoebe Calulot, Julian Macasil, Kela Matutina, and Andrew Pumihic)
Judge Ronna Guzman commented on the candidates’ quality: “Your inspiring profiles reflect the heart and soul of the Filipino student community, built from genuine and heartfelt testimonies from our youth, many shared anonymously so your feats shine front and centre.”
The award ceremony followed a series of heartfelt speeches from FSS network representatives, who reflected on the year’s impact and shared personal stories. Their humour and passion resonated strongly with attendees, and several expressed feeling inspired to run for executive roles in their campus chapters.
Jasmine Batham, FILO UOW President, one of the speakers, perfectly encapsulated the network’s growth and impact: “From one lonely girl sitting on the grass… to convincing five… to now one hundred and twenty (120) members. It was never about the numbers—it was about the community. A community that grew together, flourished, laughed, dreamed, supported, and healed. And whenever I hear our band, Dear Laya, play OPM at events, I go back to that moment and think: ‘Shet… okay na ‘ko. Perfect na.'”
FSS USYD Events Director Miguel Tapang added a powerful reflection on finding belonging through service: “I became involved with FSS and FSC at the start of this year, and through this journey I’ve been grateful to help lead and host meaningful spaces for our community. From welcoming new students through Salubong, to sharing memories and farewells during Hanggang sa Muli, to being part of large community events like Tropapalooza and Tulong Liga—these weren’t just ‘events’ to me. They were moments when I saw the Filipino spirit alive, loud, and proud. Out of all my years here, this has been the most meaningful. Not because everything was perfect, but because this year, I truly found a place where I belonged.”
Entertainment Highlights: A Debut Year of Performance
For the first time, FSC NSW introduced live performances at a year-end event. Coordinated by Christian Rose and Julian Macasil, the lineup featured:
- Justin Anda, a FILCCA Youth Excellence awardee for his album TENFOLD
- Dear Laya, a Wollongong-based band known for playing at several university festival stages
- Christian Rose, a featured performer at BEATS AND BITES 2025
- BARANGAY A.L.B.O.E., a newly formed collective of musicians from multiple FSS groups
Closing remarks were delivered by Marcus Rivera, President of NARRA Co-op, who congratulated the council on a year of vision and collaboration.
As the council and its affiliated FSS chapters look ahead, the milestones in 2025 promise continued growth and greater impact for the Filipino youth community across NSW.
