Let me take this opportunity to thank you all for electing me to the leadership of this Association. I would also like to thank the following members who have joined me in this year’s Executive Committee. Noonee Doronila, Val Valdez, Kym Kunze, Sara Lund, Alex Ihazs, Francis Tankiang and Zeny O’Reily. I am certainly looking forward to working with this “dream team” in the coming months. I would also like to thank Kym Kunze for continuing to be the Association’s property custodians.

I arrive in Canberra in the second day of January 1980. My future wife, Evelyn Garcia de Mesa, and I got married on 19 January 1980 at Black Friars Church in Watson. We have raised two children, Jallyn was born here in Canberra and Jeval was born in West Covina, California USA. Both of them went to St. An- thony Primary School. Jallyn went to St Claire College from year 7 to 12 and Jeval to Marist College from year 4 to 12. We are lucky that both of our children has granted of scholarships to the university by the Australian Taxation Office under their Cadetship program. They have moved to Melbourne for almost 3 years now though my son has moved and working in LA since February of this year.

When I arrived in Canberra Evelyn was already an active member of the Philippine Australian Association. She was in the original executive committee in 1977. This association has been a part of our lives. We got involved in everything from being a part of the executive committees, fund raising and multicultural dancing. My wife and I have participated in different Filipino cultural dances. The association was a part of our family; both of our children have grown up within this community wherein they have learned the Filipino language and different cultural dances. I danced the “tinikling” in the early 80’s and both of my children have danced the “tinkling” in the 90’s.

In the years we have been in the association we have seen new members joined and old members left. We have faith in this association that’s why we will always be here to support the legacy. Let us look forward for the brighter future of this association. I am humbled to be your servant.

God Bless.