Around 480 guests from all over Victoria, donned in their beautiful attire, descended at the Grand Star Receptions on Saturday, the 12th of May 2012 with a sole purpose of giving thanks and celebrating the wonderful gift mothers from all over the world has given us. This year’s event coincides with the 26th anniversary of the association’s founding.
It was a fine event attended by various leaders and friends of Filipino organisations in Victoria, foremost of all is the President of the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA), Marissa Vedar, the Chairperson of the Filipino Community Council of Victoria Inc (FCCVI), Jing Sosa and the Honourable Philippine Consul General of Victoria Virginia Kalong, who gave a solemn message on how mothers have touched our lives in one way or another and made us who we are.
Entertainment numbers were aplenty with renditions from singing divas Michelle Trifeletti and Alyssa Limbo followed by hot dance numbers from the electric pair of James Poppleton and Candice Roxhled and of course public dancing, and there’s plenty of it. The Mother’s day celebration is an annual event organised by the Ilonggo Association of Victoria Inc (IAVI). It is a well-known event that has been running for more than 12 years now and is an event eagerly anticipated by many. “It is hard work doing the preparation and organising everything but seeing it all unfold on the night makes it all worthwhile,” says Neds Sarcepuedes who heads a group of equally dedicated officers and adviser.
It was also an opportunity for the guests to learn the good projects the IAVI does in various communities in Australia and overseas as explained by the hosts of the night, Nenette Wallis and Dominic Lobriza. Current activities keeping the members busy include participation in the Victorian government’s various multicultural programs, always there supporting the Filipino Community Council of Victoria, the Gawad Kalinga building projects in the Philippines, providing University scholarships, and giving donations to home for the aged in Iloilo City, Bacolod City and Roxas City, among other provinces.
This of course would not be possible without the generous help of sponsors and supporters which the IAVI is so grateful to have been blessed with many. To all of the IAVI supporters, all the best to you and may you be paid back in bountiful ways, says the club’s officers in chorus.
The 2010 – 2012 officers of IAVI are: Neds Sarcepuedes, President; Melvin Espiga, Vice President West; Dominic Lobriza, Vice President East; Susan Garsulao, Secretary; Elaine Soriano, Treasurer; Arlene Romerona, Auditor; Margie Stark, PRO; Elsie Castanos, Business Manager; and Patsy Gutierrez, Director /Adviser.
