salamat, mga kabayan admins ng mga grupo-grupong sariling atin

IN THE OLD DAYS, before anyone reading this was born, word was spread around the barrio by young boys walking or running around, telling people what was going on, and what news needed to be told by the barrio elders. when towns became larger and more prosperous, a local radio station gave public service updates, informing townsfolk what services were offered and when they were available.

Then the electronic age brought emails and SMS (short-message service) texting, which became an easy way to tell people the important stuff. still, nothing replaced actual word-of-mouth, brought around by the jueteng bookie or manicurista, or even the five-six guy on the scooter selling kumot, payong and other household necessities.

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these days, anyone wanting to share useful information benefitting the community may do so instantly and effectively because of social media, specifically Facebook and Facebook Groups. All you need to do is form a group with similar goals and interests, open the door and lay down the carpet for potential members waiting to be invited, and a Facebook group is born.

A Facebook group is like a virtual barangay where people are neighbors, churchmates, friends and of course, family members. But the important things are : no one is forced to be a member, as long as you respect each other’s beliefs, values and principles, everyone has the freedom to say what they want, and there is little or no cost to membership.

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There are between 50,000 and 60,000 Pinoys in New Zealand, a big ethnic group by most standards, but reaching out to over three-quarters of these is within a mouse-click away. imaginative community leaders tapped the efficient and far-reaching powers of Facebook, and now our Pinoy community is so-interconnected across Aotearoa that, based on religion, profession, hobbies, sport or even age group, Pinoys are more organized than if we stayed back home in the Inang Bayan.

Below is a short list of those who dared to organize our barangay and have reaped the gratitude of kabayan everywhere in New Zealand. If you want to reach out to your fellow church member, seek assistance moving house, or just sell an videoke as you’re upgrading, all you need is visit your fave barangay hall in FB, and you instantly meet kabayan all over NZ.

Meldz Opanes-Kircher started Pinoys in NZ wanting to bring all Pinoys together for all the right reasons, but especially Pinoys wanting to help and share goods and services among kabayan and now boasts of nearly 50,000 members. She and fellow admins don’t hesitate to deny and expel kabayan for online abuse, bullying or fraud.

Siegred Valencia thought that Pinoy dairy farm workers needed an electronic bulletin board to highlight concerns, issues and problems instantly and effectively. The result is the 20,411 strong Pinoy Dairy Farm Workers in New Zealand, active everyday and full of posts not just for dairy workers but for their families and interest groups as well.

Cora Sitchon, Alicat Lozano, Peejay Honasan and Ben Cortez wanted fellow Pinoys to meet new kabayan, promote their businesses and organize social events. They started the generic sounding “Pinoys sa New Zealand” but it soon attracted and continues to attract more than 25,000 Filipinos in the country, getting stronger everyday.

The person known as DJ Mico Vlog wanted to promote issues and interests to all Pinoy migrants in New Zealand, whatever immigration status or in whatever industry, and came up with New Zealand Filipino Workers Group, numbering as of last count more than 120,000 members.

Earl John Mags and Sam Bruzo wanted a mouthpiece not just for their workers’ group but also the general community and their families, and the result was FDWNZ, which has won multiple awards and recognition for their efforts in the region. they number nearly 5,000 active members.

Pierre Lawrence Ong Ante and his group are behind the 14,000 membership of Mga Pinoys ng Christchurch which organize and help not just the kabayan in the Canterbury region but throughout South Island and the rest of New zealand, for any reason and whatever purpose.

This list is very short kabayan, if you have any that deserve it, please send in a short description of your FB group, the person/s behind it, and how much you appreciate them. Mabuhay kayong lahat!