The Philippine Community Council of NSW (PCC-NSW) will be holding its annual grand event, the Philippine National Day Ball (PND Ball) on the 10th of June, 2011 at Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush NSW, in celebration of the 113th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day.
Attending the formal gathering are politicians and diplomats of both the Australian and Philippine governments, including the newly-arrived Consul General Anne Louis of the Philippine Consulate General Sydney, whom the PCC Board had paid a welcome courtesy call at the Consular Offices on the 13th of April 2011.
In conjunction with this significant event of Philippine history, some Affiliates in collaboration with their respective local Council will be holding Flag Raising Ceremonies with the support of the Filipino community’s State peak body. Details of these Flag Raising Ceremonies will be released in the PCC NSW Calendar of Events for May 2011.
As in the previous years, the PND Ball will feature the traditional ‘Rigodon de Honor’ presentation that will portray the true Filipino in heart and spirit. This performance is being participated by the PCC NSW Board members, community leaders and organizations’ representatives.
For this year’s theme ‘Balikatan Tungo sa Maunlad na Samahan’ (Collaborations Towards Harmony), the Board had solicited the cooperation of its Affiliated clubs for the event’s planning and preparation tasks. The Affiliates positively responded, and have been pro-actively participating in the different PND Ball Working Committees.
Getting the Affiliates’ full involvement in this annual grand celebration is part of PCC’s strategy, in its initiative of strengthening and empowering Affiliates. As President Marivic Manalo says, “This year, we aim to start strengthening and empowering Affiliates by involving them in PCC projects and in other activities which will continue to promote our values, traditions and culture. This is so they can feel that they are rightful stakeholders and can take pride in our achievements.”