This Christmas Celebration in NSW-Australia was a Surprise Christmas for 2017

By Richard J. Ford – PRO-APCO/VAA..)
Liverpool-NSW-Australia
December 21, 2017



This year’s celebration held at All Saints Catholic Church hall held on 9^th December, was a packed program that was attended by all four community groups, Fil-Oz Liverpool, Visayan Association of Australia, Praise Family Apostolate and APCO Inc. (Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations).


Each group helped to make the night be the success it was. Being so jam-packed with some much talent from the little children to the not so old, was a joy to see come together to celebrate Christmas and even including Santa Claus, the children’s favourite.

The night started with the blessing of the Christmas tree, a traditional event every event, the straight into the Christmas Banquet. There were Christmas greetings from APCO President Pet Storey, Fil-Oz Liverpool President Cora Bojarski, then VAA President Jhun Salazar, and also on behalf of Praise Family Apostolate Jhun Gamo.

To observe some much packed into one night starting at 6.00 and finishing around 10.30, has left me “gobsmacked,” which means I am utterly astonished or astounded and blown away by such talent. The Singing talents of Rollie Limun, Annie Marquez and Natasha McFarland, our favourite youngster’s Sharlene Gamo and Catherine Tiatico, Choral singers led by APCO President Pet Storey, Joven Estigoy and the talented Zabriel Orayenza, and finally Fil-Oz’s very own Terry Spencer.

The Dancers were from Visayan Dancers, Kimberley Carren Padagas, Fil-Oz Children’s Dance Troup, Filipinas Dance Group of APCO, and Victor Valdez’s group the VIP Dancers. Special guests were Rica Sey, Miss Philippines Australia 2015, Adrianna Gravador, Miss Philippines Australia 2016 Runner-Up and also the Mrs Visayas Australia and Charity Queen 2017 Annie Marquez.

Also Ron Storey once more was a jolly Santa Claus, and  was a hit with the children who enjoyed the singing and dancing beforehand with the Chief-Elf Terry Spencer. The night was not complete without the Raffles and social dancing. The night was truly about the children and for the children.