TVS and the ACMA are working together to raise consumer awareness of the issue and provide advice on how and when to rescan.

“‘Many receivers will require a ‘rescan’ or ‘retune’ every time a new channel is launched,” said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.

“This is not a situation that relates only to TVS—it occurs whenever a new digital channel commences in any market.”

Manual rescanning of digital services is usually done through the menu button on the remote control of a digital television or set top box. Usually the option of rescanning is available in the ‘set-up’ menu. Once viewers have accessed this menu they should choose ‘rescan’, ’store channels’, ‘retune’ or ‘replace’ and allow the set to automatically identify digital services. A rescan will identify and remember all the digital services that a television is able to receive.

In some cases re-scanning may still not provide access to TVS. This may be because the home is not within the TVS coverage area. TVS is only available from the Gore Hill transmission site so antennas pointing to other sites such as Kings Cross or North Head, may not receive the TVS digital signal.

“Generally speaking, if you can receive TVS via your analog TV you should be able to pick us up on your digital receiver,’” said TVS Chief Executive, Laurie Patton.

Other issues that may affect the ability to receive a digital signal include the quality of the external antenna and the cabling between the antenna outlet and the receiver.

TVS (Television Sydney) is a not-for-profit community television channel. Since it launched in February 2006, TVS has provided an analog service on UHF channel 31 and was the first new permanent free-to-air television channel in Sydney in more than twenty-five years.

TVS launched its digital service on channel 44 from 1 March 2010, leading the way to digital television for community broadcasters. TVS will ‘simulcast’ in both digital and analog from 2010 until the switch-off of all of Sydney’s analog channels in 2013.

TVS is committed to providing an outlet for programs for all the communities of Sydney with an aim to maximise content developed in Sydney.

ACMA

M4 Western Motorway :: Source: NSW RTA

The operation of M4 Western Motorway was handed back last 16 February to the NSW Government and the toll was removed.

The M4 is a 40 kilometre motorway that extends from Concord in Sydney’s inner west to Lapstone at the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Statewide Roads has operated a 12.5 kilometre section, including the section from Silverwater Road (Auburn) to James Ruse Drive (Rosehill), as a toll road for a concession period of 20 years.

To facilitate the transition there will be road works and a reduced speed limit while the lanes are reconfigured. This will include changing the traffic arrangements at the toll plaza areas in Auburn to three lanes eastbound and four lanes westbound. Traffic delays are expected.

Motorists are asked to drive with care and to observe the directions given on signage and by traffic controllers.

Source: RTA NSW

The “Sinulog” Feast of the infant Jesus was celebrated at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at Plumpton last 17 January.

About 12 members of the Visayan Cultural Dance Group and their many supporters helped to celebrate the event by dancing the “Pit Senyor” in honour of the infant Jesus.

A mass is held in the church followed by the traditional parade and procession that leads to the Sinulog dancing on the oval area and other activities held in the hall, which included musicians and singing. The feast was also served in the hall.

This year attracted a large amount of devotees from afar, a figure put at 3,000 by Mitchell Badelles in his blog article “Magellan induced a current affair” and also commented that ‘devotees literally packed the church to the walls and overflowed into the courtyard.’

With four groups performing various dances to celebrate the event. the event is one that is worth attending.

*** Richard Ford JP is Press Relations Officer – Visayan Association of Australia Inc.

AMWU

The reforms are aimed at ensuring that the skilled migration program is more responsive to the needs of industry and employers and better addresses the nation’s future skill needs.

This is the gist of today’s announcement by Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

The full text of the announcement is as follows:

—

Migration reforms to deliver Australia’s skills needs

Monday, 8 February 2010

The Rudd Government is reforming the permanent skilled migration program to ensure it is more responsive to the needs of industry and employers and better addresses the nation’s future skill needs.

The reforms will deliver a demand rather than a supply driven skilled migration program that meets the needs of the economy in sectors and regions where there are shortages of highly skilled workers, such as healthcare, engineering and mining. The major reforms to the skilled migration program are:

20 000 would-be migrants will have their applications cancelled and receive a refund.

All offshore General Skilled Migration applications lodged before 1 September 2007 will have their applications withdrawn. These are people who applied overseas under easier standards, including lower English language skills and a less rigorous work experience requirement. It is expected about 20 000 people fall into this category. The department will refund their visa application charge at an estimated cost of $14 million. Average applications cost between $1500 and $2000 and most contain more than one person.

The list of occupations in demand will be tightened so only highly skilled migrants will be eligible to apply for independent skilled migration visas.

The wide-ranging Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) will be revoked immediately. The list is outdated and contains 106 occupations, many of which are less-skilled and no longer in demand. A new and more targeted Skilled Occupations List (SOL) will be developed by the independent body, Skills Australia, and reviewed annually. It will be introduced mid-year and focus on high value professions and trades. The Critical Skills List introduced at the beginning of 2009 which identified occupations in critical demand at the height of the global financial crisis will also be phased out.

The points test used to assess migrants will be reviewed to ensure it selects the best and brightest.

Potential migrants gain points based on their qualifications, skills and experience, and proficiency in English. The current points test puts an overseas student with a short-term vocational qualification gained in Australia ahead of a Harvard-educated environmental scientist. A review of the points test used to assess General Skilled Migration applicants will consider issues including whether some occupations should warrant more points than others, whether sufficient points are awarded for work experience and excellence in English, and whether there should be points for qualifications obtained from overseas universities. The review will report to Government later this year.

Certain occupations may be capped to ensure skill needs are met across the board.

Amendments to the Migration Act will be introduced this year to give the Minister the power to set the maximum number of visas that may be granted to applicants in any one occupation if need be. This will ensure that the Skilled Migration Program is not dominated by a handful of occupations.

Development of state and territory-specific migration plans.

Individual state and territory migration plans will be developed so they can prioritise skilled migrants of their own choosing. This recognises that each state and territory has different skills requirements. For example, Western Australia may have a shortage of mining engineers while Victoria may have a requirement for more architects. Under the new priority processing arrangements, migrants nominated by a state and territory government under their State Migration Plan will be processed ahead of applications for independent skilled migration.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the new arrangements will give first priority to skilled migrants who have a job to go to with an Australian employer. For those who don’t have an Australian employer willing to sponsor them, the bar is being raised.

‘There are plenty of occupations where there is an adequate supply of young Australians coming through our schools, TAFE colleges and universities to take up new job opportunities. They must be given the opportunity to fill these vacancies first,’ Senator Evans said.

‘But there are some occupations where there will be high demand for skills. Hospitals can’t go without nurses, country towns can’t do without a local GP and the resources sector increasingly needs skills.

‘These latest changes will continue reforms already implemented by the government and result in a more demand-driven skilled migration program that attracts highly skilled migrants to Australia to work in areas of critical need.’

The government recognises that the changes will affect some overseas students currently in Australia intending to apply for permanent residence.

Those international students who hold a vocational, higher education or postgraduate student visa will still be able to apply for a permanent visa if their occupation is on the new Skilled Occupations List. If their occupation is not on the new SOL, they will have until 31 December 2012 to apply for a temporary skilled graduate visa on completion of their studies which will enable them to spend up to 18 months in Australia to acquire work experience and seek sponsorship from an employer.

The changes will in no way impact on international students coming to Australia to gain a legitimate qualification and then return home.

Source: IMMI

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When Jimmy Pimentel, convenor of Filpress Group, broached recently the idea of pooling together the writings of some of our friends in the community to form a blogs site, I had no hesitation in embracing the idea. It is in the character of emanila and The Filipino Australian to sponsor such a site.

As a publisher of emanila group of websites, I take pride in re-opening the blogs site. I believe it is an opportunity for us to provide a platform where everyone can be heard, where everyone can share their thoughts, and where everyone can express their views.

The re-opening of The Filipino Australian Blogs site this weekend is even made more significant as it coincides with Australia Day (January 26), a very fitting occasion to assert our role as a cultural group in Australia’s multicultural society.

Continue…

PCC NSW President Ronaldo Villaver said that among the items to be presented during the AGM are: 1) Reading and Confirmation of Minutes of the 18th Annual General Meeting, 2) President’s Report; 3) Treasurer’s Report and the 4) Appointment of External Auditor.

The elections of office bearers and directors of PCC NSW 2010 will also be held during the day. Mr Villaver also mentioned that prior to the AGM, a general meeting will be conducted on the same day and venue from 1:00pm.

For any clarifications, please call 0423 590 561.

Updates: Last 9 February, we received information from PCC-NSW outgoing president Ronaldo Villaver that the following are the office bearers of PCC-NSW for 2010: Elsa Collado (President), Alric Bulseco (Vice President-External), Serna Ladia (Vice President-Internal), Noel Bernardo (Secretary), Dr. Alexis Leones (Treasurer), Millie Banan (Auditor), and Solina Lapalma (PRO). Directors are Remi Macina, Arturo Sayas, Prince Marl Gonzales, Nenita Weekes, Robert Bock, Marivic Manalo, and Mao de Vera.

We also received information from another source that during the AGM, delegates of certain associations walked out when the election was about to start on a “note of protest for the ’suspension’ of undetermined number of registered member associations.”

We hope to hear from those who were present in the AGM on what transpired on the day.

The Filipino Australian

A forum on microfinancing in the Philippines was held last 2 January at the All Saint’s Parish Centre, Liverpool sponsored by the VAA Inc. and PCC-NSW Inc.

The speakers were Bob Alipalao and Violi Calvert from the North Shore Filipino Association (NSFA), who spoke on the associations’ involvement in the microfinance project. They both explained the history of the development of the Micro-Credit Project Program that began in collaboration with NORFIL which stands for NorwegianFilipino.

NORFIL is a registered non-government organization based in the Philippines. It is licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development as a family / child welfare and community development agency.

The project not only involves physical work to make money to help the community and family, but is also designed to seek changes in the attitudes, lifestyle and character of the individuals involved. It also aims to bring out positive changes that will help the community and families involved better themselves inwardly and spiritually as well.

The North Shore Filipino Association has funded NORFIL projects related to Vinegar Making, Bakery, Therapeutic Massage, Cabinet Making, Chicharon Making, Catering Services, Hairdressing, Sari Sari Store, Tamarind Candy Making, and Slipper Making.

The info session was well attended, with a number of the PCC-NSW Inc. present and past officers, the Visayan Association Inc. officers and members, the Leon Aguila Association Officers, Plaza Filipino, and Fil-Oz Liverpool.

Richard J Ford JP – Press Relations Officer for Visayan Association Inc, Evestcco-Eastern Visayas Community, Calapenos and Friends Association and the Vice-President (External) for Fil-Oz Liverpool and Districts.

The Visayan Association Inc. along with Fil-Oz Liverpool and Praise Family Apostolate held their annual “Christmas Gala and Disco Night” last 19 December at the All Saints Liverpool Catholic Church Parish Hall, and what a night it was. For me personally it has to be one of the most successful nights we have had for a long time, which shows the Christmas spirit is still well and truly alive.

Our special guests the three Parish priests, Father Bill , Father Anthony and Father Chris Higgins thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Our members were asked to bring food and drinks to share and well, they did, it was a banquet for a king. Our special guest  Sister Ma. Theresa Olid of the Mother Mary Thrice Adorable at Mt. Schoenstatt gave a very informative slide presentation on the Medical Mission in Cebu that is going to Leyte in 2010. A  hat was passed around for voluntary contributions towards the Mission and the proceeds were presented to Sister Ma. Theresa Olid.  Also Father Anthony talked about his mission to Cebu in 2010. The proceeds from the Raffle Draws went towards his Mission, which was also presented to Father Anthony.

The entertainers for the night were stunning and also a delight for this Christmas event. The performers included the Praise Family Choir and Dance Troupe, they not only can sing but they can dance too. Miss Chelsea Okan was a delight on her violin. We were entertained once again by the Little Pearly Shells Girls during their dance, along with Miss Donna Jones and the Schiavo Sisters doing a dance number.

The indomitable Ms Cleo Baltazar enthralled us with her singing as did the Valdez Sisters, Mikayla and Karen.

The highlight of the night was the arrival of Santa Claus with the presents for the children, a role that Frank Bojarski has played for us for many years, thanks once again. We ended a night of celebrations with Disco dancing into the night. Many comments afterwards commented that it was a successful night with everyone enjoying themselves immensely.

Richard Ford JP, Press Relations Officer – Visayan Association of Australia Inc. and EVESTCCO-Eastern Visayan Community and The Calapenos and Friends Association, also the Vice-President (External) Fil-Oz Liverpool & Districts and a Director.

Mr Crean also announced a related agreement to provide deeper tariff cuts on the importation of tropical products into Europe, and other markets, which will benefit Australian exporters once the Doha Round is concluded.

The minister said the deals on bananas and tropical products would generate much needed momentum towards the concluding the Doha Round in 2010.

“This demonstrates that with goodwill countries both large and small can get together in the World Trade Organization to solve their commercial disagreements,” he said.

“With greater political will and more effort and goodwill, we can tackle other outstanding issues and conclude the Doha Round next year.”

The dispute on bananas that was lodged with the world trade body in 1993 was resolved last month in Geneva with an historic agreement between the European Union, the United States, and banana producing countries in Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The deal will cut the EU banana tariff and will, in particular, benefit several Latin American countries including Cairns Group members Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru.

African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) banana exporting countries are expected to receive up to �200 million (A$ 325 million) to help them adjust to the increased competition from Latin America.

“This breakthrough on bananas is good for farmers in small developing countries, good for consumers, good for international trade, and good for the WTO and multilateralism,” Mr Crean said.

This new arrangement will have no impact on Australia’s rigorous, science-based quarantine measures for banana imports.

In a related development, the EU, ACP and Latin American countries concluded a deal to provide tariff cuts on tropical products.

“The deal on tropical products will be extended to all developed country markets as part of the Doha Round,” Mr Crean said.

“This deal on tropical products could provide real benefits for Australian exporters,” Mr Crean said.

The complete list of tropical products has yet to be finalised for each market, but it could include important Australian exports such as canola oil, citrus fruits, avocadoes, and nuts such as macadamias and almonds.

Source: Australian Minister for Trade website

Vice Consul Tony Reyes with community leader Marivic Manalo and Miss Read Philippines Kiara Webb during Bathurst celebration of Philippine Independence, 2008. // Photo file: The Filipino Australian

In a recent interview with radio reporter Michelle Baltazar, Vice Consul Tony Reyes of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney told the Radio Sandigan program that a Filipiniana Resource Centre will open to the public in 2010.

The resource centre will comprise an extensive book collection on Philippine culture and arts, including the works of the Philippines’ national hero Dr Jose Rizal.

”There will be a media room, where Filipino films may be shown on a regular basis,” Consul Reyes said. ”The centre will also provide a meeting room for Filipino community organisations in Sydney to use.”

The resource centre hopes to attract students, many of whom study at universities and schools in and around the area.

Although many book collections have been available in the NSW state and local government libraries, Filipino-Australian community leaders have been calling for a fully dedicated library on Filipiniana.

In a serious effort to establish one in 1988, a group moved to form a Filipiniana Library and Centre in Sydney’s inner-west. Lack of funding and accommodation proved next to impossible for the project to materialise.

Again early this year, the Filipino Press Group of Sydney kicked off a campaign to establish a Rizal Library in a corner of a small room at a restaurant in Rooty Hill in Sydney’s west. The project has been hampered by inaccessibility of the library to the public, especially during weekdays when people would normally want to use it.

Some members of the community welcome this new Filipiniana Resource Centre.

”But we have to see how accessible it will be to the public,” one source said. ”One must remember that many people who may need to use the library, especially working people, will want to come to the library after-hours.”