Music, Movies and Literature Reviews
Refer also to "Entertainment" page for live performances
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Dave Cecilio, Director of Cini Cilio Film Productions tours Darwin with FILMACT Worshop at Charles Darwin University and
showing of acclaimed and highly endorsed film
Watawat (Flag) (10th and 11th April 2015)
Click document link below to see module details on FILMACT.
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New book by Sydney based historian Renato Perdon, April 2014
Renato Perdon is a distinguished historian who has lived and worked in both the Philippines and Australia. He was interviewed and profiled by RFCA in April 2013. You will also find some of Mr Perdon's other great books profiled in the "Music, Movies & Literature" page of this RFCA website.
"Connecting Two Cultures: Australia and the Philippines" is guaranteed to provide a masterful insight into the history of two of the Asia Pacific's important neighbouring countries. Mr Perdon provides thorough research of this topic and writes it in a way which captures and holds the attention of his many devoted readers. BOOK REVIEW AND COPY RESERVATION
To read a one page book review about this superbly written history of the cultural connections between Australia and the Philippines, click on the PDF file document link below. Contact details are also provided if you wish to reserve a copy of this book.
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Pilita Corrales,
The Amazing Australian Story:
Asia's Song Bird and the Sea Fox.
A Shining Philippine Pearl Shipwrecked on Australia's Shore
In the late 1950s, Pilita Corrales, a young Filipino singer from Cebu, met the American actor and magician, John Calvert, while performing in Manila. Calvert invited Corrales to board his yacht, the Sea Fox, and together they set sail for Singapore. After this they sailed in the Sea Fox to the great 'Land Down Under' in the southern seas, but days out of Darwin en route to Sydney, the Sea Fox ran into trouble and drifted without power for four days, until the Australian air force and navy came to the rescue.
Pilita performed at Sydney's Empire Theatre. One of Pilita's adventures with Calvert include a newsreel of the couple drinking ‘jungle juice’ with a gorilla at Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo. She also had a television appearance as a magician’s assistant and was a singer on the Bobby Limb Show in 1960. In addition to this she went on a trip to Tasmania, the birth place of another famous entertainer who sailed the seas, Erol Flynn (Erol went on to great Hollywood fame as a romantic playboy swashbuckler).
Calvert left Australia but Pilita fell in love with Australia and recorded love songs in English, Filipino and Spanish whilst making regular appearances across the airwaves on Melbourne's radio and TV. The beautiful Pilita featured on prime time Australian TV with an appearance on the Graham Kennedy Channel Nine show in 1961. She left her legacy by becoming the first woman to make the Australian pop charts with a local recording called 'Come Closer to Me'. She became a star of the Victoria Television circuit and was billed as one of the Grand Dames of Victorian Radio and Television. The ABC television network featured Corrales and several pioneering female artists in Australia in the 2nd episode of the highly acclaimed TV special, Love is in the Air. Through the personal invitation of Sammy Davis Jr., Pilita became the first Filipino to sing in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in the 1970s. Pilita has also performed with many other music greats such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdinck and with the Beatles.
Today Pilita is still active as a highly popular Filipina pop singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She is a judge for the X Factor Philippines. She calls Sydney her second home.
The Philippine Star Newspaper asked Pilita the following question in late 2012:
If you could reside anywhere in the world aside from the Philippines where would it be?
"... when I think about it more, Sydney is the only choice. I’ve lived there for quite a while, and my extended family is also there. It is a second home abroad."
Pilita performed at Sydney's Empire Theatre. One of Pilita's adventures with Calvert include a newsreel of the couple drinking ‘jungle juice’ with a gorilla at Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo. She also had a television appearance as a magician’s assistant and was a singer on the Bobby Limb Show in 1960. In addition to this she went on a trip to Tasmania, the birth place of another famous entertainer who sailed the seas, Erol Flynn (Erol went on to great Hollywood fame as a romantic playboy swashbuckler).
Calvert left Australia but Pilita fell in love with Australia and recorded love songs in English, Filipino and Spanish whilst making regular appearances across the airwaves on Melbourne's radio and TV. The beautiful Pilita featured on prime time Australian TV with an appearance on the Graham Kennedy Channel Nine show in 1961. She left her legacy by becoming the first woman to make the Australian pop charts with a local recording called 'Come Closer to Me'. She became a star of the Victoria Television circuit and was billed as one of the Grand Dames of Victorian Radio and Television. The ABC television network featured Corrales and several pioneering female artists in Australia in the 2nd episode of the highly acclaimed TV special, Love is in the Air. Through the personal invitation of Sammy Davis Jr., Pilita became the first Filipino to sing in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in the 1970s. Pilita has also performed with many other music greats such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdinck and with the Beatles.
Today Pilita is still active as a highly popular Filipina pop singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She is a judge for the X Factor Philippines. She calls Sydney her second home.
The Philippine Star Newspaper asked Pilita the following question in late 2012:
If you could reside anywhere in the world aside from the Philippines where would it be?
"... when I think about it more, Sydney is the only choice. I’ve lived there for quite a while, and my extended family is also there. It is a second home abroad."
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An ABC documentary excerpt states that:
"Pilita was the first woman to chart with an Australian recording". "She crossed the world in a boat to become a star, eventually releasing over 135 albums." "The lesson for Australian women performers; fortunes are found for the brave, set sail if you want to make it, and expect the unexpected." Video source link of ABC documentary excerpt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHChFOkcAqw |
LISTENER FEEDBACK:
"Thanks for sharing this info about Pilita. When I first came to Australia in Jan 1969 to study nursing my first annual leave was in Melbourne ... I was taken to a street named after Pilita. As far as I know she is the only Filipino singer who has a street named after her!... I was so proud to know this..." Norma Humphries, Canberra, 20 September 2013 |
RFCA was recently interviewed by a person from the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) in Canberra who is collecting musical compositions by Australians of South East Asian descent. The NFSA have a collection of Pilita Corrales' songs. RFCA recently contacted Australian Filipinos who will donate their songs to NFSA. If you or anyone else you know has material to contribute please contact RFCA who will put you in contact with NFSA.
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Profile and "Music Therapy" CD of Mr Rudolf Cesar Pelaez Golez,
World Touring Concert Pianist
Mr Rudolf Golez started playing the piano as a child prodigy at age four with his mother. He enrolled with Sr. Lourdes Allegado, RVM who prepared him for his Premier Piano Recital at the Lourdes College within a year of formal piano lessons. By the age of 13 Mr Golez went to the 'Big Apple' - New York City - and studied at the Juillard School. Further studies took Mr Golez to Austria. He has a Master in Music Major. He is currently Dean of the College of Music of Liceo de Cagayan, in his hometown Cagayan de Oro. He is also studying for a PhD.
Some of Mr Golez's achievements and awards are as follows: Sole prizewinner at the First ASEAN Chopin International Piano Competition (2004); featured soloist at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Filipino Young Artists Series (2006); performer with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the composer/conductor Cristobal Halffter of Madrid (2008), playing de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain. |
RFCA were proud to interview Golez in June 2013. His performances in Canberra and Sydney were outstanding. You can refer to this interview and listen to one of his musical performances with the beautiful soprano Lara Maigue. RFCA continues to engage in communication with Mr Golez.
You will see above the CD cover titled "Music Therapy - Stress.Away: Piano music of Bach, Chopin, and Liszt." Music Therapy provides healing of the mind and spirit through listening to these great classical pieces of work. On the back of the CD cover above, the quietly spoken and unassuming Mr Golez writes: "I hope this music will bring you to that calm and quiet place away from the stress of the daily grind."
Mr Golez has already found that "calm and quiet place" which can be witnessed when talking to him, as well as listening to and watching his live performance world class piano skills which he applies with the energy of his whole spirit.
One of Mr Golez's masterful piano pieces from this CD will be broadcast by RFCA on July 6, 2013, between 10-11am, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). You can hear this live from anywhere in the world by using the one-click internet feed provided on the RFCA Home page. Be sure to listen, enjoy, relax and find peace!
If you wish to order a copy of "Music Therapy", the contact details for
Tawid Productions are: email: [email protected]; [email protected], Phone (63)(2)937-8296, Mobile: (63) 0919-8324020; 0917-6683912.
You will see above the CD cover titled "Music Therapy - Stress.Away: Piano music of Bach, Chopin, and Liszt." Music Therapy provides healing of the mind and spirit through listening to these great classical pieces of work. On the back of the CD cover above, the quietly spoken and unassuming Mr Golez writes: "I hope this music will bring you to that calm and quiet place away from the stress of the daily grind."
Mr Golez has already found that "calm and quiet place" which can be witnessed when talking to him, as well as listening to and watching his live performance world class piano skills which he applies with the energy of his whole spirit.
One of Mr Golez's masterful piano pieces from this CD will be broadcast by RFCA on July 6, 2013, between 10-11am, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). You can hear this live from anywhere in the world by using the one-click internet feed provided on the RFCA Home page. Be sure to listen, enjoy, relax and find peace!
If you wish to order a copy of "Music Therapy", the contact details for
Tawid Productions are: email: [email protected]; [email protected], Phone (63)(2)937-8296, Mobile: (63) 0919-8324020; 0917-6683912.
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Order of the Knights of Rizal, Perth, Western Australia Chapter
Showing the blockbuster film "Jose Rizal - The Movie"
7th July 2013
The Filipino Australian community in Western Australia is very active. Thanks to the Philippine Consulate General in Perth for notifying RFCA about this latest event.
The Order of the Knights of Rizal have chapters located around Australia. The Order is a civic, patriotic, cultural, non-sectarian, non-partisan and non-profit organization with chapters located around the world. Many RFCA listeners and website readers will recall a recent interview RFCA conducted with Mr Ric de Vera, who lives in Sydney. Mr De Vera is the Immediate Past Regional Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania (ANZO). The audio of this interview can be found by navigating to the "Previous Interviews" page. "Jose Rizal - The movie", will be shown this Sunday in the Perth suburb of Cannington on the Albany Highway. Starring multi award winning actor Cesar Montano as Rizal. Other actors and actresses include Joel Torre, Gloria Diaz, Chin Chin Gutierez and Monique Wilson. The Knights of Rizal advertisement for the showing this weekend says: " The movie is considered the biggest blockbuster film ever made in the history of Philippine cinema. It was directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, a UP graduate and London trained director. The movie won over 70 local and international awards, including 16 Metro Manila Film Festival, 11 FAMAS, 6 Gawad Urian, 8 Star Award for Movies, and various awards from different film festivals worldwide, such as the Berlin International and Toronto Film Festivals." |
Showing July 7, 2013, Sunday, 3:00PM
The Manila Restaurant, 1236 Albany Highway Cannington (Perth), WA. Entrance Fee $10 Contacts Sir Nestor Jonko 0413 704 016, Sir Vic Villanueva 0402780846, Sir Rudy Alido 0410954169, Sir Cesar Lacsamana 0416527809 |
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April 2013
Mr Renato Perdon:
Historian, Author, Newspaper Editor,
Cultural Consultant to the Philippine Presidential Commission on Culture and the Arts,
and Professional Translator
Mr Renato Perdon, who resides in Sydney, has had a very notable career in both the Philippines and Australia. Mr Perdon was born in the Bicol region. (See administrative map of the Philippines at the bottom of the RFCA Home page). He is well known around Australia as the editor of the Filipino Section of the Bayanihan News. He has published many books. Whilst in the Philippines he completed a degree in Political Science and Foreign Service and he completed a Master of Asian Studies and Graduate Diploma in Archives Administration from the University of NSW.
Mr Perdon was a recipient of a Colombo Plan Scholarship, British Council Grant and Philippine Government Graduate Scholarship. He has attended many world wide conferences and has acted as a cultural heritage consultant for the Philippine Presidential Commission on Culture and the Arts (1986-9189) and special assistant to the Chairman of the National Historical Institute (1981-1989).
There is much more you can learn about Mr Perdon by reading his full academic and work profile which can be found on the RFC 'Australia Wide Profiles & News' page or by clicking the document attachment below.
Mr Perdon was a recipient of a Colombo Plan Scholarship, British Council Grant and Philippine Government Graduate Scholarship. He has attended many world wide conferences and has acted as a cultural heritage consultant for the Philippine Presidential Commission on Culture and the Arts (1986-9189) and special assistant to the Chairman of the National Historical Institute (1981-1989).
There is much more you can learn about Mr Perdon by reading his full academic and work profile which can be found on the RFC 'Australia Wide Profiles & News' page or by clicking the document attachment below.
renato_perdon_rfc_profile_april_2013.pdf | |
File Size: | 176 kb |
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BOOK REVIEW: Footnotes to Philippine History
Book order address: P.O. Box 1267, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
"It is a ‘history in a hurry’ that notes interesting ins and outs about Filipinos and the Philippines that everyone wondered about but were never answered.”
Author: Renato Perdon
"… every Filipino household, particularly those residing overseas, should have a copy of Footnotes to History, a little handbook that’s an “easy read,” or, as a historian put it, a “short cut” to learning Philippine history... I find the book ‘a good one to taste’ – for a start to learn about our history, to share, keep and give to friends and relatives; a truly handy primer, firstly for our own selves as Filipinos and our descendants, and for informing our foreign hosts and friends in foreign lands.”
Domini M. Torrevillas (Philippine Star)
"In his Introduction, Renato defined his central objectives for the book, that is, to provide an easy, i.e. "user-friendly" brief historical account of our people and homeland, as a source of general information about us Filipinos for those millions of Filipino OFWs who interact with other peoples and cultures in foreign lands and a hope that reading his book (as "some books are to be tasted" per old Sir Francis Bacon would say) would interest them to further (deeper) readings or study about our history."
Bert Drona, USA
Author: Renato Perdon
"… every Filipino household, particularly those residing overseas, should have a copy of Footnotes to History, a little handbook that’s an “easy read,” or, as a historian put it, a “short cut” to learning Philippine history... I find the book ‘a good one to taste’ – for a start to learn about our history, to share, keep and give to friends and relatives; a truly handy primer, firstly for our own selves as Filipinos and our descendants, and for informing our foreign hosts and friends in foreign lands.”
Domini M. Torrevillas (Philippine Star)
"In his Introduction, Renato defined his central objectives for the book, that is, to provide an easy, i.e. "user-friendly" brief historical account of our people and homeland, as a source of general information about us Filipinos for those millions of Filipino OFWs who interact with other peoples and cultures in foreign lands and a hope that reading his book (as "some books are to be tasted" per old Sir Francis Bacon would say) would interest them to further (deeper) readings or study about our history."
Bert Drona, USA
Book Review:
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Book Review: Brown Americans of Asia (Author Mr Renato Perdon)
(Posted on Home page April/May 2013)
This book by Mr Renato Perdon, in Sydney, provides valuable insights into Filipino culture and perceptions from a Filipino Australian perspective.
The book review by Bert Drona, a Filipino-American living in California provides a great educated insight into this well written book. One of the more notable quotes addressing the selection of the book title and overall theme from Mr Drona's review is as follows:
"...Brown Americans of Asia" was by Renato Perdon, a Filipino historian based in Australia. Its catchy title, not new to the young and older Filipinos, who read history, is appropriate given the contents of the book. This book provides an excellent historical overview of our homeland, the Filipino character and culture. Though the book was originally written for Filipinos and Australians alike, it is relevant and educational also for any foreigner -wherever he is in the world- interested in learning about Philippine history and the Filipino people."
A further excerpt from a book review by Wild and Wholley - Fast Books, aptly and briefly encapsulates the symbiotic relationship between Australia and the Philippines:
"Culturally, Australia has more in common with the Philippines than with any other nation in Asia–middle class life styles and consumer tastes, Christianity, liberal education and the continuing influence of their colonial past, British on the one hand and Spanish on the other.... The Brown Americans of Asia is a much needed contribution to Australia’s understanding of the Philippines."
The anatomy of this provocative book title can stereotypically refer to how Filipinos view themselves, how people in Australia view Filipinos, and likewise how many other countries, particularly within the Asia Pacific region view the Philippines. It's also interesting and relevant to mention that the Philippines is sometimes referred to as the 'Mexico of Asia', which is not difficult to understand given the Spanish and American colonial history, as well as the predominant Catholic/Christian religion of both countries. The Philippines, as noted in the book review by Drona, is the only Christian nation within Asia - and a considerably large one of approximately 100 million people which makes it the 12 largest country by population in the world. Interestingly the Philippines is ranked closely behind Mexico. This fascinating book which delves with great insight and intellectual vigour into the deeper prevailing and significant currents of culture, history, perceptions and stereotypes is a must read for those who wish to learn more about Filipinos in the Philippines, Australia and around the world.
On a concluding note, Samuel K. Tan, Ph.D. Chairman, National Historical Institute, Manila, Philippines eloquently says:
"The Brown Americans of Asia is an informative source for both Filipinos and foreigners who seek to understand the Filipino personality as a product of East-West synthesis and the dilemma of identity that often finds eloquent demonstration or expression in the admirable Filipino resiliency, a quality that has enabled the Filipino to survive, innovate, and persevere wherever he finds himself. In a sense, it is this resiliency that has enabled overseas Filipinos (like the author) to find harmony between contrasting cultural imperatives and fulfil aspirations and dreams without losing their being Filipino, without breaking their ideals and attachment to native."
The book is available from Manila Prints, PO Box 1267, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 at $25.00, including postage and handling.
Two full book reviews are attached below for your perusal.
The book review by Bert Drona, a Filipino-American living in California provides a great educated insight into this well written book. One of the more notable quotes addressing the selection of the book title and overall theme from Mr Drona's review is as follows:
"...Brown Americans of Asia" was by Renato Perdon, a Filipino historian based in Australia. Its catchy title, not new to the young and older Filipinos, who read history, is appropriate given the contents of the book. This book provides an excellent historical overview of our homeland, the Filipino character and culture. Though the book was originally written for Filipinos and Australians alike, it is relevant and educational also for any foreigner -wherever he is in the world- interested in learning about Philippine history and the Filipino people."
A further excerpt from a book review by Wild and Wholley - Fast Books, aptly and briefly encapsulates the symbiotic relationship between Australia and the Philippines:
"Culturally, Australia has more in common with the Philippines than with any other nation in Asia–middle class life styles and consumer tastes, Christianity, liberal education and the continuing influence of their colonial past, British on the one hand and Spanish on the other.... The Brown Americans of Asia is a much needed contribution to Australia’s understanding of the Philippines."
The anatomy of this provocative book title can stereotypically refer to how Filipinos view themselves, how people in Australia view Filipinos, and likewise how many other countries, particularly within the Asia Pacific region view the Philippines. It's also interesting and relevant to mention that the Philippines is sometimes referred to as the 'Mexico of Asia', which is not difficult to understand given the Spanish and American colonial history, as well as the predominant Catholic/Christian religion of both countries. The Philippines, as noted in the book review by Drona, is the only Christian nation within Asia - and a considerably large one of approximately 100 million people which makes it the 12 largest country by population in the world. Interestingly the Philippines is ranked closely behind Mexico. This fascinating book which delves with great insight and intellectual vigour into the deeper prevailing and significant currents of culture, history, perceptions and stereotypes is a must read for those who wish to learn more about Filipinos in the Philippines, Australia and around the world.
On a concluding note, Samuel K. Tan, Ph.D. Chairman, National Historical Institute, Manila, Philippines eloquently says:
"The Brown Americans of Asia is an informative source for both Filipinos and foreigners who seek to understand the Filipino personality as a product of East-West synthesis and the dilemma of identity that often finds eloquent demonstration or expression in the admirable Filipino resiliency, a quality that has enabled the Filipino to survive, innovate, and persevere wherever he finds himself. In a sense, it is this resiliency that has enabled overseas Filipinos (like the author) to find harmony between contrasting cultural imperatives and fulfil aspirations and dreams without losing their being Filipino, without breaking their ideals and attachment to native."
The book is available from Manila Prints, PO Box 1267, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 at $25.00, including postage and handling.
Two full book reviews are attached below for your perusal.
brown_amercians_of_asia-book_review_by_bert_drona.pdf | |
File Size: | 264 kb |
File Type: |
brown_amercians_of_asia-book_review_by_wild_wholley.pdf | |
File Size: | 232 kb |
File Type: |