News updates: APCO

3 Filipino-led community voluntary organisations awarded

By Ruben Amores
Cumberland-NSW-Australia
January 30, 2017



As a gesture of gratitude for volunteering with Cumberland Council for 2016, Certificates of Recognition were awarded to deserving community organisations and individuals by the newly amalgamated Cumberland Council. This was held at the Volunteer Gift of Time Celebration held at Redgum Function Centre, Wentworthville on 5 Dec 2016.

Three Filipino-led community organisations, APCO, ASCON and Kapit-bahayan Cooperative Ltd were among the recipients of this prestigious award. Signed by Mr Viv May PSM, Administrator of Cumberland Council, May exalted the community volunteers for the work that they did in assisting the Council as its transitory stage of developing its Strategic Development Plan.

Well known Filipino community leader, Dr Cen Amores who currently chairs the multicultural peak body, Auburn Small Community Organisation Network Inc (ASCON) and its Vice Chair, Sangarapillai Navatnavel represented ASCON. APCO was represented by Senior Vice President, Larry and Assistant Treasurer Cora Perez. Current KCL CEO/Chair Pablo Lee and Tenancy Officer, Dong Capulong represented Kapit-bahayan Cooperative Ltd.

Ruben and Dr Cen Amores have been consistently helping shape the new Cumberland Council by their active participation in various consultation meetings, workshops and focus groups for the Development of the Council’s Strategic Development Plan. In addition, the couple are credited for running much needed community development projects that benefit not only Filipinos but also multicultural communities within the Cumberland LGA.

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APCO receives $20,200 grant to build cultural storage

January 30, 2017

The Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc starts 2017 with a high note by receiving a $20, 200 government grant to build a storage facility for community organisations to store various cultural materials such as authentic costumes, decors,  artifacts, staging equipment and tools for use in their events and activities. This community storage shed will be located at the Canley Vale cooperative housing site of Kapit-bahayan Coop Ltd. which is a partner of APCO in this project. Fresh from receiving a Philippine Presidential Award for outstanding services to Filipino expats, KCL has proven that its services are not only limited to the provision of social housing but is actively participating in many community social and development endeavours for Filipinos and other Australians.

This grant was applied for by former APCO president Ruben Amores who is also the founding president of KCL to the Community Building Partnership Program managed by the NSW Family and Community Services. Architect Rudy Reyes, an APCO member prepared the design of the storage shed.  

Open free for use by all APCO affiliated organisations and individual members, this facility will enhance organisation and promotion of Filipino cultural presentations and events as materials needed will be more readily available and accessible. It is expected that organisations and individuals with authentic Philippine cultural materials will generously entrust these cultural assets to the storage managed by APCO and KCL so that any groups or individuals needing them for social purposes can easily access them. This facility exemplifies APCO and KCL’s social values of cooperation and sharing of resources for community wellbeing.

More details on the operationalisation and management of this very useful community storage facility will be disseminated later by APCO and KCL when the building is completed midyear.