On June 7, 2020, the Arts, Culture and Innovation Central (ACI Central) hosted the launch of the Cover-A-Student Program of the Association of Pinoy Students in Australia (APSA) where winter clothes in addition to the food packs were given out to the international students.
At this occasion, Violeta Escultura, the President of the Association of PhilippineCommunity Organisations (APCO) Inc. handed the cheque for $1,800.00 to APSA's Founding President, Vida Aquino Fernandez, with the first cheque of $2,000.00 presented in another food distribution event held on May 2 in Roseberry. Also in attendance were APCO Founding President, Cen Amores; Charles Chan, APCO Junior Vice President; and Jimmy Lopez, APCO’s Treasurer and Founding President of NARRA Coop Ltd.
Last Sunday’s distribution was the 17th batch with 50 students attending the event. Charles Chan welcomed everybody and assured the students that "we are in this worrying time together" and for them to feel confident to avail any assistance that APCO, APSA and other organisations and individuals are offering them. This was also reinforced by the short talk by Violeta Escultura. Jimmy Lopez highlighted that ACI Central is owned by the Filipino community and that it is a facility that the students are welcomed to use for initiatives and events they want to undertake. Cen Amores shared a bit of history of APCO and supported the messages that had been shared in the other brief talks.
Social distancing protocols were observed with the students seated during the talks and lined up about 1.5m apart to pick up their food packs and picked a couple of winter clothing displayed on tables.
A Filipino gathering won't be complete without food; a simple merienda was also shared by the students and the volunteers.
APSA head Vida was happy with the turn out and the achievement of the day's objective.
She commented:
"We would like to thank ACI Central & NARRA Coop for accommodating us today for the launching of our Cover-A-Student Program. We were able to distribute first batch of winter clothes and 17th batch of grocery packs. We also would like to thank APCO for the all-out support to our advocacy.
"To all Filipino International Students, the massive support that we receive from different organisations simply implies that you belong… you belong to the Filipino Community in Australia and that we are all in this together!!!"
About ACI Central
ACI Central is an initiative of the Filipino-Australian group National Affiliation of Respectable and Responsible Associations Co-op Ltd (NARRA) and Plaza Filipino.
It is a performance space, art gallery and networking hub based in Campbelltown. It aims to highlight the unique heritage of Filipinos as demonstrated by their art, music and cultural traditions.ACI Central is also an “innovation” hub, providing a space for Filipino-Australian technology start-ups and small business entrepreneurs to meet and network.
It is currently located at 9 Warby Street, Campbelltown, with available street parking and the train station close by.
More information about the place is available the ACI's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArtsCultureInnovationCentral/