Three pillars of the Filipino-Australian community were each awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Philippine Consulate General for their contributions in the community during the 1-2-5 Harmonized Philippine Independence Day Gala Night at the Palladium in Crown Melbourne. They are Mina Armstrong, Tax Smart Café and The Philippine Times.
Mina Armstrong raised funds to build an oncology and dialysis unit in Bairnsdale that opened in 2011. She also established the Bairnsdale International Women’s Group to support migrant women in the region. She also partnered with TAFE Gippsland to establish the Jack Armstrong Memorial Partnership to award students engaged in supporting the local community through volunteerism.
TaxSmart Cafe has served thousands of clients in the Filipino community across eight Australian states in just two years through lawful and efficient tax management services. Their dedication to customer service, combined with an innovative approach, has led to impressive achievements, including the conferment of the esteemed 2022 Practice of the Year and Member of the Year awards by the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) Victoria, and the processing of over $12 million in income tax refunds. Romulae Gadaoni is owner and Director of TaxSmart Café which now has different branches in Victoria.
The Philippine Times is Australia’s longest-serving Filipino newspaper in Victoria having been established in 1990. The Certificate is in recognition of its tireless efforts in narrating the stories of the Filipino community in Australia for over three decades, for its innovative steps in keeping the community connected in the digital age, and for successfully representing what Filipino talents and skills can contribute to their communities. As “Australia’s Filipino Newspaper,” The Philippine Times was hailed by Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews as ‘the voice of the Filipino community’. Alice Gregorio-Nicolas is the Publisher of the print edition, while George Gregorio is the online publisher. Gregorio is the only remaining founder still affiliated with the media organisation.
