PR-25-2022
10 July 2022
AFCS: Serbisyo, Sining at Kuwento @ Immigration Museum
The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne supported the cultural project of the Australian-Filipino Community Services, Inc. (AFCS) entitled AFCS: Serbisyo, Sining at Kuwento, a two-day exhibition held on July 9-10, 2022 at the beautiful colonial building housing the Immigraton Museum in Melbourne.
The exhibition is the first-ever of its kind hosted by the Filipino community to share their stories of migration, aging in a foreign land, volunteering and showcasing pandemic art. Apart from the exhibit, the AFCS also launched a book depicting 30 stories of Filipino migrants commemorating the group’s 30 years of service to the Filipino Community. Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony, while Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson Viv Nguyen also attended the event on the second day.
From left: AFCS President Ms. Maria Smith, Ms. Maridel Andanar of SBS, Ms. Maina Walkley, Consul General Maria Lourdes Salcedo and AFCS Chaplain Norminda Fortaleza together with a few of the story tellers, artists and the participants at the AFCS event.
The Consul-General spoke of the positive aspects in AFCS’ services. “What I like about AFCS is that they have programs for both the elderly and the youth. While we look after our aging kababayans, we have to prepare our future leaders,” she said. She also spoke of AFCS networking with other multicultural groups in Victoria. “It is important for Filipino Community groups to project to other multicultural groups. This is how we grow relevant while promoting our Filipino culture and heritage,” she added.
The AFCS is a not-for-profit and charitable organization that seeks to promote harmony and wellbeing to all Filipinos and multicultural communities in Australia. It seeks to foster partnerships with philanthropic societies, governments and other organizations to provide welfare and community services to the Filipino community in Victoria across many generations.
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Left photo: Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo and AFCS President Maria Smith during the ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony of the photo exhibit. Right: Chairperson Viv Nguyen of Victoria Multicultural Commission with some of the artists.
