#174 - RFA Interview: (April 2018)
Christian (Bong) Ramilo,
Executive Officer of Darwin Community Arts,
Co-Founder of Revived Darwin Rondalla Ensemble, and Australia Council Award Recipient
Christian Ramilo, affectionately known by his nickname Bong, from Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, was recently honoured by being named the NT's Australia Council awardee for 2018, for his outstanding contribution to arts in the NT, and the wider Australian nation.
Bong joins an impressive and diverse group of individuals who have received these awards in previous years. |
Australia Council CEO Tony Grybowski said: “These national awards are a critical way for the Australia Council to recognise the remarkable achievements of individual Australian artists, as well as highlighting the broader contribution of all our artists to enhancing the lives of Australians. The recipients of the 2018 awards are leaders in their respective fields".
Bong was recently in Canberra for a Rondalla performance organised by the Philippine Embassy of Australia. He was a co-founder of the revived Darwin Rondalla Ensemble in the 1990s. The original Darwin Rondalla group dates back to the swinging music days of the 1930s before World War II and the bombing of Darwin. At an inner-city Canberra arts centre last week he gave an inspiring speech to the distinguised audience. Bong was also in Canberra for the National Folk Festival where the Darwin Rondalla Ensemble performed in front of tens of thousands of people who attended.
Bong was recently in Canberra for a Rondalla performance organised by the Philippine Embassy of Australia. He was a co-founder of the revived Darwin Rondalla Ensemble in the 1990s. The original Darwin Rondalla group dates back to the swinging music days of the 1930s before World War II and the bombing of Darwin. At an inner-city Canberra arts centre last week he gave an inspiring speech to the distinguised audience. Bong was also in Canberra for the National Folk Festival where the Darwin Rondalla Ensemble performed in front of tens of thousands of people who attended.
Photo above: Christian (Bong) Ramilo standing between Malou Pascual-Anes, Australian Red Cross Manager Community and Social Enterprise Programs, ACT (left) and Gloria Ross, RFA Director and Broadcaster (right) at a Philippine Embassy of Australia organised joint performance of the Darwin and Canberra Rondalla groups at an inner-city Canberra arts centre, late March 2018.
Photo above left: Christian (Bong) Ramilo, on stage (far right) during a performance.
Photo above right: Rondalla members on a cliff top in Darwin.
Listen to Bong's interview with RFA to learn more about this talented and inspiring Filipino-Australian man, his efforts and the wider efforts of the Darwin Rondalla in his own words.
Photo above right: Rondalla members on a cliff top in Darwin.
Listen to Bong's interview with RFA to learn more about this talented and inspiring Filipino-Australian man, his efforts and the wider efforts of the Darwin Rondalla in his own words.