Samahang Pilipino sa Gippsland Chairman (SPAG) Jerry Baladjay was among three individuals awarded the Oustanding Community Service Award on 26 January during the Latrobe City’s Australia Day celebration held at Kernot Hall.
Baladjay has been the SPAG (Samahang Pilipino sa Gippsland) chairman for almost 10 years and has actively promoted the rich cultural heritage of the Filipinos. He has the ability to interact and connect people. He has been instrumental in promoting tourism to the valley and instigated the inter-league basketball games competition in Gippsland and bowling amongst friends of all nations held at the Morwell Tenpins. This group now has 25 members.
Meanwhile, a recognition award was presented to the Austral-Asia Quest which is part of the annual Filipino Fiesta Festival and involves contestants from ethnic backgrounds enhancing their abilities, talents and learning to win back self-confidence by representing their own cultural heritage through dancing, signing and arts.
The annual Filipino Fiesta is a celebration of the Filipino culture and is a highlight on the multicultural calendar.
The Latrobe City’s Community Service Award of the Year is given to a resident or community group who or which performed outstanding community service to the local community, either during the current year and/or given outstanding service to the local community over a number of years, and met a community need or priority and have provided exceptional service to the community.
