Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards

Many are called, but few are chosen

By Ricky Matthew In a foreign land that scarcely echoes the familiarity of home, Filipino migrants often find themselves navigating a delicate balance between assimilation and preserving their cultural identity. Yet, through the veins of every Filipino-Kiwi runs a spirit of patriotism and cultural pride that is undeniable. Over the last decade the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards has recognised countless Filipinos for...

Fiesta Pilipinas Comes Full Circle

By Ricky Matthew AUCKLAND - The distance between New Zealand and the Philippines is nearly 8000km, but what separates Filipinos from their homeland is more than just a 16-hour flight or a 900-hour jeepney ride. Filipino migrants in New Zealand find themselves so far from their homeland that it can be difficult to find a space to immerse themselves and their...

Esteemed community leader praised for decades of dedicated service.

above: Delia Richards (centre). photo supplied. Delia Richards has been nominated for the Filipino News ‘Community Leader of the Year 2024’ award. Festive fun at a Filipino ‘karnabal’ with dance, theatre, games, street food. By Ricky Matthew CHRISTCHURCH – In the heart of Christchurch, a celebration of Philippine culture takes place every year. The brainchild of Delia Richards, Philippines Day has become a...

The creative genius of Louie Bretaña

Prolific Filipino-Kiwi artist Louie Bretaña has been nominated for the Filipino News Award for Outstanding Filipino-Kiwi Artist 2024. Photo above by Mel Fernandez / Migrant News AUCKLAND - Over the years Filipino News has been featuring the exhibitions of Auckland based Filipino-Kiwi artist Louie Bretaña. He has parental roots from both Manila and the Visayan province of Iloilo. After a career as...

Sports hero nurtures a new wave of Kiwi table tennis athletes.

Alfred Dela Pena has been nominated to receive the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Award for ‘Sportsperson of the Year 2024’. The Hero Awards is organised by Filipino News NZ (www.filipinonews.nz) By Ricky Matthew Photos supplied. AUCKLAND – In the world of sports, there are certain individuals whose journeys go beyond the ordinary, to make a lasting impact on the sporting landscape. A fine example of...

Pinoy Police Shines in Bridging Ethnic Communities in NZ

By Queenie Lee Tanjay Photo: Aisha Ronquillo In times of crisis police forces step up big time with their endeavours to respond to community needs and employ systematic interventions that the public can follow. In unprecedented times like these, especially, police intercessions are integral to imposing necessary health protocols and procedures. One of the officers who excels in this field is...

PH Independence Day 2025

Kalinga smashes world record for gong players, ‘banga’ dancers

The Kalinga Organization of New Zealand has been nominated to receive the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Award for Community Group of the Year 2024. By Ricky Matthew Photo above: Julius Cutaran AUCKLAND – On February 15 of 2023 the resounding clanging of thousands of brass gongs in the land locked province of Kalinga, in the heart of the Cordilleran Mountain region in Northern Luzon,...

Jazz Fest features Filipino musical influence.

Seth Boy has been nominated for the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Award for Outstanding Filipino-Kiwi Musician of the Year 2024. By Mel Fernandez WELLINGTON – Seth Boy is a Filipino-born bassist and composer who performed at the Wellington Jazz Festival on 23rd October, at the Opera House in Wellington. In an interview with RNZ before the concert, Seth Boy said that he often combines...

“It Takes a Village to Raise a Queen.”

above: Katharina Weischede, Miss Philippines NZ 2023. photo credit / Mel Fernandez, Migrant News Katharina Weischede has been nominated for the Filipino News 'Youth Achievement Award 2024' By Ricky Matthew AUCKLAND – Just like in the Philippines, Filipino pageants in New Zealand are becoming a source of pride for Filipinos all around the country. It is evident that communities are eager to get...

Why the need for the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards

To reward, highlight and inspire excellence in the Filipino community in New Zealand. By Noel Bautista Noel Bautista – Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards 'Blogger of the Year 2021' AUCKLAND - Envisioned in 2014, the gem of an idea came from Filipino News, has taken off with a hiss and a bang and has paid itself forward with continuous excellence ever since. Migrant communities have...

‘Nurse of the Year’ ticks all the boxes

Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards 2021 By Queenie Lee Tanjay WELLINGTON – Hard work takes you places; passion brings you closer to your dreams. This cliché mirrors the persona of none other than our Filipino-Kiwi Hero awardee (Nurse of the Year) Kristine Dianne Balatbat - one of three frontline hero award winners for 2021. The community honours Kristine, 31, a Filipina nurse based in Wellington,...

Announcing a specification for PHP

And when we woke up, we had these bodies. They're like, except I'm having them! Oh, I think we should just stay friends. You'll have all the Slurm you can drink when you're partying with Slurms McKenzie Hey, tell me something. You've got all this money. How come you always dress like you're doing your laundry? Yes, if you make...

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Independence Day Event Unites Auckland’s Filipino Community

O P I N I O N By Annalie Sumalinog Vilo For six vibrant hours, the spirit of the Philippines came alive in Auckland as the Filipino community gathered at the Auckland Showgrounds in Epsom to celebrate the Grand Annual Philippine Independence Day Commemoration. True to its spirit of inclusion, the annual Filipino News event welcomed everyone free of charge —...