One of the emcees of the show was Ms. Ivy Padilla, a Filipina migrant in Wellington, who played the lead role in the musical “Miss Saigon” that was recently staged in Wellington. Ms. Padilla also gave a rendition of one of the songs of “Miss Saigon.” Eight Filipino organizations performed various Philippine songs and dances and the Embassy’s “Himig Kawayan” (Angklung Band) wowed the audience as they showed off their dancing skills while playing traditional and modern music with bamboo instruments.
After the show, Ambassador and Dr. Linalyn Tejano invited some VIP guests, the Embassy officers and staff and their families for dinner at the Residence to celebrate the success of the event.
12 June 2010 - Auckland
Philippine Honorary Consul General Emilie P. Shi and Mr. Norberto Ricacho, President of the Federation of Filipino Clubs and Societies in New Zealand led the Filipino community in Auckland in celebrating Philippine Independence Day. Ambassador Tejano and the Embassy’s Cultural Officer, Ms. Liza Jane Estalilla, attended the event that had over 1,000 people in attendance. The Ambassador also conducted a mass oath-taking for twenty-nine (29) qualified dual citizenship applicants from Auckland and its neighboring areas.
The celebration was highlighted with a Cultural Show that was attended by Hon. Pansy Wong, New Zealand’s Ethnic Affairs Minister, Hon. Jonathan Coleman, Minister for Immigration , Mayor Andrew Williams of North Shore City, Mayor John Banks of Auckland and Mayor Len Brown of Manukau. These New Zealand officials unanimously said that they very much welcome Filipinos in New Zealand as they have observed that Filipinos are happy, hardworking and most importantly, they are honest people.
19 June 2010 – Christchurch
Consul General Marcos A.S. Punsalang and Ms. Estalilla attended the Philippine Festival, a cultural show organized by Ms. Delia Richards, President of the Philippine Culture and Sports in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. Other guests present were Mayor of Christchurch, His Worship Mayor Bob Taylor and his wife, Mrs. Joan Taylor Member of Parliament Nicky Wagner and officials of the Multi-Ethnic Group of Canterbury. Congen Punsalang delivered his Independence Day greetings and read the message of the Ambassador. He relayed to them the good observations on Filipinos stated by New Zealand’s officials during the celebration in Auckland. The show was highlighted by a poignant interpretative dance of Bayan Ko, folk dances portraying life in a fishing village and a re-enactment of the EDSA Revolution. The guests were touched by message the final song “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” as the performers, Embassy officials and VIP guests joined hands while singing the song.
Congen Punsalang and Ms. Estalilla represented Ambassador Tejano in the Ambassador’s Cup, a basketball tournament organized by Dr. Rose Ruiz and Dr. Len Redoblado of the Pinoy Cantabrians Sports Association in Christchurch. Congen Punsalang opened the tournament and tossed the ceremonial ball. He and Ms. Estalilla also held an open forum for the attendees to answer queries on passporting, dual citizenship and other services of the Embassy. The tournament ended with a close fight between the red and yellow teams for the championship. Congen Punsalang awarded the Ambassador’s Cup to the winning Yellow Team of Christchurch.
Congen Punsalang and Ms. Estalilla were invited to lunch by members of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity in South Island. They presented their proposal to help the Embassy in disseminating information about the dual citizenship in the South Island as part of their community service activities. They informed the Embassy officials that if the Embassy is able to gather more than 20 qualified applicants, they will be sponsoring the Embassy officials’ travel to South Island for a mass oath-taking ceremony in Christchurch to save the qualified applicants the time and expense of travelling to Wellington for their oath-taking.
19 June 2010 – Hamilton
The Filipino Community in Hamilton headed by the Waikato Filipino Association held a Filipino Food Expo and Music Show at the Hillcrest Baptist Centre, Hamilton in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. Philippine Honorary Consul General Emilie P. Shi represented the Embassy during the event.
26 June 2010 – Timaru
Ms. Estalilla represented the Embassy in the Independence Day celebration of the Filipino community in Timaru upon invitation of Ms. Belinda Dewe, President of the South Canterbury Filipino Association. The event was attended by more than 200 Filipinos, most of whom are Filipinas married to New Zealanders, dairy workers and their families coming from Timaru and Ashburton. Other guests were officials of the Aoraki Multicultural Group.
Ms. Estalilla read the Ambassador’s message and congratulated the Filipino community for their efforts in organizing the event to commemorate Philippine Independence Day Timaru. She then administered the the oath-taking ceremony for the newly-elected officers of the Association.
The new officers met with Ms. Estalilla the following day to seek advice on their future programs for the Filipino community. Ms. Estalilla encouraged them to create programs that would get the younger generation of Filipino migrants interested in their Philippine cultural heritage so that they will still have a comprehensive knowledge and a “good feel” of their Filipino identity while growing up in another country. She also gave them pointers on how to apply for funding with the Timaru City council and the New Zealand Lotteries grants. She also urged them to develop linkages with the multi-ethnic groups in Timaru by joining their activities so that they may help new Filipino migrants integrate, understand better and live in harmony with people in New Zealand and other ethnic groups. This would at the same time give them the opportunity to promote the Philippines and its rich cultural heritage in this part of the world.
