After three months of fund- raising activities, the Gawad Kalinga Youth Ambassador WA Charity Quest 2015 culminated in a Benefit Dinner and Gala Night on Sunday, 6th December, held at the Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, Morley WA.
This year’s GK Youth Ambassador WA campaign was spearheaded by the Filipino Community Council of WA (FCCWA) under the leadership of Mr Dante Maribbay, with the participation of various community clubs and organisations who raised candidates and supported them in the charity quest.
The youth ambassadors and their sponsoring organisations were: Gareth Goerke – Knights of Rizal; Jhanae Paule – Filipino Australian Club of Perth Inc; Justine Derek Gayagoy – Filipino Australian Skilled Technicians; Carina Aquino – Philippine Educational Theatre Artists of WA; John Emmanuel Bautista – San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir of Notre Dame; Jazel Salang-oy Caswang – Mandurah Filipino Sports Club Inc; Natalie Lane – PLR Boxes; Jack Nelson – Jumeirah Music Centre; Katherine Sutton – Jumeirah Music Centre; Jesamae Dela Cerna – Filipino Australasian Club Inc; Josh Lane – Filipino Australasian Club Inc; and Seth Michael Albacite – Southwest Australian Filipino Association Inc.
The Gala Night program featured the youth ambassadors first in traditional Filipino costumes and then in evening wear. They were then presented individual plaques of appreciation.
Gareth Goerke (Knights of Rizal) Gareth Goerke (Knights of Rizal) was declared GK Youth Ambassa- dor WA champion. Gareth was also adjudged Best in Evening Wear, sporting an immaculate white dinner jacket; while John Emmanuel Bautista won in the National Costume category, for his indigenous Igorot tribal outfit.
Also recognised and presented plaques were former GK Youth Ambassadors Louisa Reyna Pobre-Cotter, Adora Bonadeo, Anthony Nastasi, Christabelle Del Borello, Carl Orchard, and Adam Orchard.
Hon Michael Sutherland, Speaker of the WA Legislative Assembly led the special guests for the evening, which included his wife, Bayswater Councillor Michelle Sutherland, Consul General Gerry Donnelly, the heads of the participating community organisations, and the major sponsors, Castleglen’s Mr Michael Gillis and his wife, Hermie.
Louisa Reyna Pobre-Cotter was emcee for the evening, assisted by Adora Bonadeo. Musical numbers were provided by June Oronce. Special Christmas carols were rendered by the El Shaddai and PETA- WA Caroling Group.
The FCCWA – GK Youth Ambassador WA 2015 campaign will send the successful youth ambassadors on an outreach and immersion program to GK communities in the Philippines in January 2016. Part-proceeds of the campaign will also go the GK Children Feeding Program, house and community building, and the GK Farm Village University initiative for inclusive economic progress through sustainable countryside productivity social enterprises.
Gawad Kalinga (“to give care”) is a humanitarian foundation engaged in the building and rehabilitation of underprivileged communities. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, GK has impacted the lives of marginalised people in 2,500 communities throughout the Philippines and in other countries.
