PHILIPPINE ORGANIZATION & CLUB FINDER

A small group of professional Filipinos formed the Filipino Association of the Northern Territory (FAANT) in October 1973, with John Rivas, (first President) and Nicanor Pagsanjan (Vice President), Elena Javier (Secretary) and Lilia Marquez (Treasurer). The Office Bearers were inducted to office by the late Darwin Mayor, Tiger Brennan, at a function at the residence of Lino and Cynthia Molina, Parer Drive, Wagaman. (NT News, 1974)

Cyclone Tracy disrupted the activities of the Association. Many Filipino families were displaced to other places in Australia for a considerable length of time as a result. Upon their return to Darwin, many spent their time rebuilding their lives as a priority. The group re-gathered in 1975 to host the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day celebration in a function aptly called “Filipino Night” at the St. Paul Primary School assembly. As a precedent to future celebrations, the function was aimed to promote Filipino customs and traditions to the wider community.

The growing number of Filipino-Australian intermarriages was the basis for the change of the name of the Association to what it is known today as Filipino Australian Association of the Northern Territory (FAANT) to accommodate Australian spouses. FAANT became an incorporated body when Elena Ralph was its first President in 1977. Felicitas Milan facilitated the application of FAANT to become an incorporated ethnic organisation.

Since its inception in 1973, FAANT has gained a reputation as a well-recognized ethnic body in the Northern Territory. FAANT was granted a piece of land at the corner of Amy Johnson Avenue and Batten Road in Marrara, NT where the Filipino Community Centre is located. A small building was constructed in the premises at Batten Road but proved to be too small to hold the increasing number of cultural functions and the increasing Filipino Australian population. In short span of time, a larger community hall was constructed through the major fundraising program of the Association and through further grant assistance from the NT Government.

The OBJECTIVES of the Association are:

A. To promote friendship among Filipinos in the Northern Territory and between Filipinos and other nationalities in the Northern Territory.

B. To welcome all Filipinos to the Northern Territory and assist all Filipino migrants in their integration and settlement into the community.

C. To promote cultural aspects of the Philippines.

D. To cooperate with governmental and/or other bodies in any way that will further the welfare and development of the community.

E. To engage in social and any other activities necessary to attain the Association’s objectives free from any political and religious alignment.

F. To engage in benevolent activities which will advance the cause of member in need.

G. In the application of this constitution, individual rights in terms of natural justice shall be preserved.

In addition to the basic objectives of the Association, the objectives and purposes of the Association shall be deemed to include:

H. The purchases, taking on lease or in exchange, and the hiring or otherwise acquiring of any real or personal property that may be deemed necessary or convenient for any of the objectives or purposes of the Association;

I. The buying, selling and supplying of, and dealing in, goods of all kinds;

J. The construction, maintenance, and alteration of buildings or works necessary or convenient for any of the objectives or purposes of the Association;

K. The acceptance of any gift, whether subject to a special trust or not, for any one or more of the objectives or purposes of the Association;

L. The taking of such steps from time to time as the committee of the members in general may deem expedient for the purposes or procuring contributions to the funds of the Association, whether by way of donations, subscription or otherwise;

M. The printing and publishing of such newspaper, periodicals, books, leaflets or other documents as the committee or the members in the general meeting may think desirable for the promotion of the objectives and purposes of the Association;

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 41639 Casuarina NT O811
ABN 59 373 783 856

http://www.faant.org.au/index.html

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