Filipino students from the Victorian School of Languages have recently enjoyed a special visit from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) representatives Maria Camille Lacaba (Migration Integration and Education Division) and youth officers, John Nichols Ruelos and Jayson Gregorio.
In collaboration with the Australian Filipino Community Services (AFCS), the CFO endeavours to fortify the cultural roots of both newly-arrived and disengaged older Filipino youths in Australia. The Commission is also committed to ensuring that all Filipino migrant children including those who have been born and raised overseas will continue to have strong ties with the Philippines.
Through its program “Break the Ice! Cultural Exchange and Talent Development” youth officers, Ruelos and Gregorio have been enthusiastic meeting the VSL students in Dandenong High School and engagingly conducted workshops on pre-counselling and post-arrival sessions, and advocacy information relating to youth migration issues such as LDR (long-distance relationships), adjusting to a foreign culture and lifestyle, among others.
The VSL students have also been fortunate to be entertained by the five-member Angeles City Youth Rondalla Ensemble, playing their banduria and octavina instruments to the tune of “Let It Go”, “Wrecking Ball” and a couple of Christmas songs to the excitement of everyone.
It was indeed a memorable final day for the Year 11 VSL students who also did their early Kris Kringle with the primary students, jointly singing the traditional “I Love My Manito” accompanied by Pastor Jeff Eugenio who played the organ.
Traditional Filipino games like “Luksong Baka” (Jumping Over the Cow), “I Want to be a Tutubi” (I Want to be a Dragonfly), “Trip to Jerusalem” and putting together a Bayanihan puzzle added to a very exciting end-of-year “Break the Ice!” mini concert for the VSL Filipino students, not to mention the “parol” (lantern) making tutorial by special guest Mr Conrado Aguilar with wife Mrs Krz Aguilar.
Once again, a big thank you to AFCS Managing Director Norminda Forteza and CFO representatives Ms Lacaba, Mr Ruelos and Mr Gregorio, Pastor Jeff and the Rondalla Youth Ensemble young artists (fresh from Angeles City), and other volunteers for such an ice-breaking cultural initiative for our Filipino youths to continue to maintain their strong cultural ties to the Motherland particularly through music and talent development.
