In the Studio

I was finally able to check out the new studio and take some shots of it so you all can see a bit of what goes on behind the scenes.

Special Guest: Rey Manoto

Rey Manoto the president of The Rizal Park Movement of Campbelltown (RPMC) joined us as our special guest this evening.


In 2007 the movement was established as an offshoot of the Cambelltown and Region Filipino Community Council in reason of advocating, organizing and managing the various activites and events that would take place in concern of the development and maintenance of infrastructure and facilities of the Rizal Park in Campbelltown. Many of this of course wouldn’t have been possible without the joined help and force from the local council and government funding. Although there has been great progress in the creation of this entire landscape there is not enough funds to compensate for the surrounding features and actual pedestal for none other than the statue itself of our national hero, Jose Rizal. It is already a functional park with many family oriented facilities such as playgrounds, BBQ and picnic areas.


RPMC asks of the Filipino communities to participate in this undertaking through attending the assorted events that the organisation has prepared such as an upcoming Hero’s Gala Night on the 4th August 2012 at Wests League Club, Leumeah. Furthermore RPMC offers a range of participation being a sponsor, donor, advertiser and/or a benefactor. If you would like to be apart of this historical event or would like to know more, visit www.rizalpmc.org or call up Rey Manoto on 0421 959 547.

We as a Filipino community should recognize the efforts and sacrifices of our national hero and that is why I believe that this historical event should be a reason for every filipino to stand proud. The unveiling ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 25th at Rizal Park, Anthony Drive, Rosemeadow. Assembly begins at 9am and a program will commence at 10am. It is an all day, free and communal event where they ask of you to bring food and drinks to share with others. Everyone is invited so please come along! So don’t forget to do your bit in contributing to this amazing movement. 


Words by Eleanor Salazar

Special Guests: Gloria King and Sennie Masian

Several weeks ago we had Tita Gloria King and Tita Sennie Masian on the show, they were back with us in the studio last Tuesday to talk about Tita Gloria's upcoming gig to be held at the P-Noy Lounge in Blacktown at 6:00pm on the 23rd of June where she will be performing classic Visayan pop songs.

Radio Tamaraw listeners were also treated to two special performances by the Queen of the Visayan hits; 'Matud Nila' and 'Sora Inday'. If you're interested in attending this performance you can email the show at radiotamaraw@gmail.com and we'll get you in touch with Sennie Masian.

Sennie Masian listening to the 'Queen of the Visayan Song' sing Matud Nila

Also mentioned was the coming APCO Freedom Ball to be held on the 9th of June 2012 at the Bankstown Sports Club, with this year's theme being 'Social Inclusion unites a culturally diverse nation' or in Tagalog 'Maraming Kultura, Nagiisang Bansa'.

Gloria King, Sennie Masian, Jhun Salazar and Cora Paras

If you didn't tune in to this week's show there's always next week! Radio Tamaraw is on 89.3fm 2GLF every Tuesday 7-8pm. If you have any queries you can also email the show on radiotamaraw@gmail.com.

Alisha

The 17th Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo special!

Firstly I would like to apologies for the late post, I've been very busy with university assessments but nevertheless I bring to you a wrap of the event that was.

This year's Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo was very much a successful event. The Mass was lead by Fr. Remy Lam who reminded the congregation about the sanctity of the Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo and Pentecost Sunday.

After the Mass was the procession on the grounds of All Saints. There were many participants in the procession, the angels, the flower girls, the Princesses and the Princes, the Reynas and escorts, including the Statue of the Virgin Mary who was followed by a procession of people praying the Rosary. Although I couldn't help but notice that mid prayer the procession halted just outside of the hall, I guess the prayer to procession walking space ratio wasn't equal. Oh well, that's something to improve on for next year: walk slower.

As soon as you walked inside the hall you couldn't help but be struck by the excellent decorations on centre stage, courtesy of Tito Mario Saguin and his decoration assistants.

The was an abundance of Filipino food and deserts and entertainment from Chelsea Okan, Terry Spencer, Filipino Cultural Dancing, Australia's Got Talent contestants Kookies n Kreme and many more.

As mentioned before the Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo was very much a successful event and wouldn't have been so without all the efforts of the Fil-Oz Liverpool and Districts, so a big congratulations and thank you to each member. To those who attended, this yearly event is produced every year to exhibit the beautiful Filipino not just for you but also the wider community, thank for your attendance I know for a fact that it is very much appreciated by the Fil-Oz community.

Now as promised, the photos from the Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo.

The Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo Procession

Procession of Princesses

The Statue of The Blessed Virgin Mary followed by the procession praying the Rosary

The Statue of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Outside the Parish Hall

The Participants on stage

Fr. Remy 

The Cumbancheros

Chelsea Okan 

Terry Spencer with the Participants

Filipino Cultural Dancers

Kookies N Kreme

Words and photos by: Alisha Buaya

Introducing the newest member of the Radio Tamaraw!

If you've read the last blog post you will have noticed a new name. This week The Radio Tamaraw team welcomes a new member Eleanor Salazar (daughter of Jhun Salazar) who will contribute to this very blog. Welcome to the team!

Eleanor Salazar

Special Guest: Jimmy Lopez

This week special guest, Jimmy Lopez is the president of the Global Ilocano of Australia and talked in depth about his organisation and some of their activities. One of which is a project that pays tribute mothers and fathers to honour and acknowledge the sacrifices they’ve made for their children.

Cora, Jimmy and Jhun

In this week’s entertainment news ‘Annabelle Rama’, controversial talent manager, has taken a turn in her career and decided to give politics a go. She has announced via twitter her decision to run for the congressional seat in Cebu's northern district in the 2013 elections. For those unaware of who she is, she is the mother of beauty queen, TV personality and actress Ruffa Gutierrez and actor Richard Gutierrez. She is a woman who speaks her mind and it would be great to see a female idolised at that sort of position, however she has been caught up in the press and is seen as a very controversial figure in the Philippines today. Would you support her? 
It’s shocking to know that 13.8 million filipinos today are unemployed. Maybe Annabelle Rama can aim to encourage the Government to create infrastructure which in turn would provide a workplace for those jobless.

Cora, Alisha and Jimmy

Tita Cora never fails to deliver inspirational stories and this one indeed is inspirational! She talked about a dedicated ballet dancer who's career was suddenly cut short when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. This eventually took a toll on her body and forced her to withdraw from ballet. You can only imagine how devastated she would have been, but, she was determined to get back out there. She started exercising at the gym to where she met a personal trainer/body builder, who she eventually married, also being a body builder. And guess what? She now competes as a body builder. Who would have ever thought that a ballet dancer would end up as a body builder? Proves to show that when one door closes, another opens up in time. Never give up!

Don’t forget that on Saturday 26th May 2012, the Santa Cruzan will be held at All Saints Parish Liverpool at 11am. A mass will be conducted followed by a procession and finally a program in the Parish Hall.

Hope to see you there 

Words by Eleanor Salazar
Photos by Alisha Buaya

Special Guest: Violy Miguel

Ate Violy Miguel, a Lauriat International Poet, was Radio Tamaraw's featured guest. She talked about her poetry and the things that inspire her to write. She recited a few of her poems during the show, and even Tito Jhun and Tita Cora had a go at a poetic prose.

Alisha

Left to right: Ate Violy Miguel & Tita Cora Paras

Special Guests: Tina Bangel, Gloria King & Sennie Masian

Didn't tune in to last week's show? Well that's unfortunate, because you missed out on quiet a lot. Guests included; talent manager Sennie Masian, singer and singing teacher Tina Bangel and Queen of the Visayan Songs Gloria King.

From left to right: Gloria King, Cora Paras, Christian and Tina Bangel, Sennie Masian and Jhun Salazar.

Sennie Masian came on the show to talk about the upcoming concert and songwriting session with David Pomeranz in May presented by Oz Pinoy Promotions. Also happening in May is the 'Pride of Sydney' concert, presented again by the Oz Pinoy Promotions, showcasing local Pinoy talents such as Tina Bangel and dance crew 'Kookies N' Kream' as seen on 'Australia's Got Talent'.

  

 

As mentioned, Tina Bangel will be performing at the 'Pride of Sydney' concert and will also be performing a duet with David Pomeranz in his show. Tina Bangel, a singer and singing teacher, came in to talk about her singing school Kindermusik with Tina Bangel. The school is for young children and aims at encouraging musicality in daily life, if you would like more information about the school click the URL link (http://www.kindermusikwithtinabangel.com.au/) or call Tina Bangel on 0414626004 or 98363389.

Also on the show was the wonderful Gloria King performing her rendition of 'Sa Kabukiran' which was full of Visayan soul and energy.

If you missed out on last week's show that's ok but be sure to tune in to this week's at 89.3fm 2GLF from 7-8pm every Tuesday. 

Alisha

Special Guest: Josie Maynard

Last week, Tita Josie Maynard came on the show to talk about Fil-Oz Liverpool & Districts, an organisation based in the Liverpool area to serve the Filipino-Australian community. Tita Josie talked about the many events the Fil-Oz host throughout the year such as the Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo held in May, the Christmas in July and the combined Christmas Thanksgiving celebration of the Fil-Oz, the Visayan Assocaition of Australia Inc. (VAA Inc.) and The Praise Family Apostlate (PFA). She also spoke about the history of the Fil-Oz from its very beginnings of which our co-host Cora Paras was a big part of.

Left to right: Tita Josie Maynard & Tita Cora Paras

Also mentioned in this week's show was that Songs of Faith Concert which was held on Saturday (the 15th of April). This was a Charity event to help raise funds for the education of less fortunate children in the Philippines. The concert was headlined by many acts such as Sigrid and Lee Evangelista, Maria Paz Barcenas, The Bethlehem Choir and a couple of numbers from myself included. The night was a success! And it would have never been possible without the help of the Fil-Oz, VAA Inc., and The PFA, so a big congratulations and thanks to those groups.

Alisha

International Women's Day 2012

During the last show we mentioned that International Women's Day was last week, it was actually that on the 13th which was the last show, so we actually got the timing right. To our listeners who wanted to celebrate 'Women' but got just as mixed up as us, don't worry go ahead and celebrate it because as far as any of us are concerned everyday should be International Women's Day. 

International Women's Day is actually recognised by the United Nations, so for more information about that check out the following link: http://www.internationalwomensday.org.au/ 

Junto Al Pasig

Hello Listeners!

Thank you for checking out the blog, keep visiting it to keep up to date with events or even to make comments about the show, the topics or whatever else you want to discuss.

For the last two shows we have been playing segments of the radio drama "Junto Al Pasig", a melodrama written by José Rizal, as part of the Rizaliana Radio Festival to commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal's 150 years birth anniversary. The segments will conclude in the coming weeks and will star one of our own hosts, Tito Jhun Salazar as Padre Dalmacio.

Again thank you for listening to the show and we hope you tune in to listen at 89.3fm 2GLF from 7-8pm.

Hi there Radio Tamaraw listeners!

This week we had Violi Calvert on the show speak about the sport of handball and her involvement in its growth and development in Australia. She also spoke about her son, Bevan Calvert, and his efforts on national and international levels. It was exciting to hear that Filipinos were reaching in to areas of sport the are in its early stages.

Thank you again for tuning in and listening to this week's show and make sure you tune in again to Radio Tamaraw at 89.3fm 2GLF.

Alisha

Here are a few pictures from this week's show with our guests Violi Calvert and Nilda Carpo.

Tita Cora, Tita Nilda, Tita Violi and Tito Jhun

Tita Cora, Tita Nilda, Tita Violi and Tito Jhun

Devotion

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'Devotion' as "love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person or activity". The Philippines' biggest religious and cultural devotions are The Black Nazarene of Quiapo and The Sinulog Festival.

Procession of The Santo Niño through Cebu City

However I should clarify that during these processions Filipinos are not lining the streets in an orderly fashion, rather they are literally pilling on top of one another without consideration of their surroundings, squashed up uncomfortably against one another like a tight fitting shoe.

Procession of The Black Nazarene through the streets of Quiapo

However I should clarify that during these processions Filipinos are not lining the streets in an orderly fashion, rather they are literally pilling on top of one another without consideration of their surroundings, squashed up uncomfortably against one another like a tight fitting shoe.

The Black Nazarene of Quiapo 

Viva! Pit Señor!

Devotions to religious icons can be a difficult concept to understand but for the people who put themselves in such circumstances it is at the core of their being, it helps them get through the highs and lows of their life, it is their way of giving thanks to God. It is clear that in the Philippines culture and religion go hand in hand.

Alisha

First show of the year!

Welcome back to the first show of 2012!

This week we discussed the topic of New Year's resolutions and which were the most popular such as losing weight, quitting habits such as smoking and drinking, to get out of financial debt, to spend more time with family and friends and so on.

We here at Radio Tamaraw would love to know what your resolving this year, you can make comment at the end of this post by clicking the comment link or by emailing us at radiotamaraw@gmail.com and we mention this in our upcoming show.

We hope to hear from you soon and that you tune in again to Radio Tamaraw at 89.3fm 2GLF.

Alisha