WA State Leaders Forum

The First National Youth Summit was held in Perth on 17 October 2015 at the Filipino Australian Club of Perth Inc. clubhouse in Bedford. At the same time, the first WA State Leaders Forum was held. The events were hosted by the Filipino Community Council of WA in cooperation with the Filipino Communities Council of Australia and with the participation of all the different Filipino Community Councils of the states of Australia.

Youth delegates from NSW, SA, ACT and Victoria came to participate in the event. Locally, the Youth Ambassadors of GK from different Filipino groups in WA came to be involved in this import- ant gathering. Special guest Ms Marga- ret Mary Quirk, MLA Shadow Minister for emergency services; citizenship and multicultural interest, seniors and age- ing gave the welcome remark together with FCCWA Dante Maribbay. The speakers in the morning session were FILCCA VP Youth Affairs Roberto Lastica, Labour Attache’ Attorney Rodolfo Sabu- lao, Mr. Tony Addiscott and a representative from Mercy Care.

In the Youth Summit, the issues about Leadership in Focus was discussed by Ausseela Thanaphongsakorn from NSW, Personality Development and Leadership by Fr. Christian Saminal OSJ, Appreciative Inquiry by Roberto Lastica, and Sharing of experiences by Cecilia Flores and Ben-Hur Winter from SA.

At the end of the day, they voted the the interim officers of the first National Youth Council with Mark Feliciano as the President.

In the Leaders Forum, the issues involving the seniors were discussed by Paul Khong, Theresa and Jillian Pan from the Chung Wah Association, WAMA President Maria Bunn and COTA President Bob Kucera. Migrant issues were discussed by Atty Rodolfo Sabulao and Roy Nicomedes. The issues involving the youth were discussed by Fr Chris Saminal and Lauren Reid-Dornbusch. The day was concluded with a Galadinner, Hollywood style, at the Mace- donian Club Ballroom in North Perth. The special guests were Minister for Energy, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Dr Mike Nahan, the Office of Multicultural Interest Executive Director Ms Rebecca Ball and Honorary Consul General Gerald Donnelly, Fr. Nelson Po, FACPI cultural dancers, GK Youth Am- bassadors Gareth Goerke and Jhanae Paule and the program host & DJ June Oronce.

The night ended with a disco thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. FCCWA President Dante Maribbay would like to thank the executive committee for all the time and effort given by all for this worthy cause, all the major sponsors like John Hughes, IHNA, Handle Proper- ty Group, Value Finance, Tay Patio, Major Motors, Olio’s, Saladmaster, Yummo and Castleglen Enterprises, all the other sponsors and everyone who helped, supported and came to the events. – Cielo Franklin