For today’s installment in the Your Aussie Story series, we have with us a group of talented young individuals. They’re originally from the Philippines but are now based in the Northern Territory, proudly representing the Filipino-Australian community. They’re here today to give us an insight as to how migrating to Australia can be like for Filipino kids. Please welcome PHLtheBeat:
We are PHLtheBeat
Hi, I’m Iselle representing the rest of the PHLtheBeat crew. I’m currently working full-time. But I also manage a dance group and I’m active in local and community events. Let me tell you about our group.
PHLtheBeat is a dance crew comprised of young immigrants from the Philippines who are now living in Darwin, Australia. The group was formed in early January 2020 through the initiative of the Filipino Australian Association of the Northern Territory (FAANT) to gather passionate Filipino dancers in Darwin who will represent the Filipino youth community in multicultural events in the NT.
“Our purpose is to create a friendly space for Filipino youths in Darwin where they could freely express themselves, showcase their talents, and inspire others through dance.”
We aim to cultivate self-improvement and character development by administering systematic dance training programs and fostering sense of commitment, discipline, and professionalism. And to expose Filipino talents by performing in community and social events around the NT. Our goal is to be an established All-Filipino youth dance crew in Darwin aiming to bring pride and recognition to our history as migrants in Australia while strengthening our connection with our roots as Filipinos.
Life before Australia
Looking back, our life in the Philippines was easy, or at least it felt like it was since there weren’t much responsibilities and priorities for us to think about. We mostly had fun and played games. We were living in small provinces and most of us would walk to school, catch a tricycle or jeepney to go places. It was a repetitive cycle of going to school, then coming back home or going out to play in the streets before dark.
How we ended up in Australia
A common answer would be because our parents choose to migrate to Australia and then slowly brought the rest of the family to live here, mostly to experience the life in another country but also to enhance their standard of living.
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Our first few years in Australia
Our first few years felt lonely and we were homesick. It took a bit of time for us to adjust to the culture, learn how to communicate properly, understand their slang and of course familiarise ourselves with the relevant Australian laws. But we slowly developed their ways, perspectives, and even their habits as we continuously interact with them.
Most of us have lived here for at least 10 to 15 years now. It’s a great country to live in. There’s so much you can do in terms of exploring the career you want, finding new hobbies, and having access to many opportunities.
Why we joined PHLtheBeat
We joined PHLtheBeat because it is a great platform for us to gain experience and be involved in local and community events. And this is our way to support, represent and give back to our community. Being in the group improved our dance and communication skills, it builds friendships, promotes teamwork and helps us stay connected to our Filipino roots.
Growing up in Australia vs Growing up in the Philippines
“There are many advantages that come with growing up here in Australia.”
A big one would have to be the way in which kids are encouraged and taught to be independent. They can start working at the age of 14, fully drive a car by the time they’re 18 and start taking on bigger responsibilities from then on. Most juggle work and school and still find time to actively participate in events, sports, etc. Working enables us to provide for ourselves, since we’d have our own income, as well as learn a thing or two every day.
In the Philippines, however, most parents provide their children with the basic necessities, monetary allowances, and money for tuition fees until they complete their university degree. Growing up in Australia gave us access to many opportunities which helped us learn, develop, and mature into independent young people.
Would we move back to the Philippines?
Majority of us have answered no. This is due to a few reasons — there is a limited source of income and access to opportunities in the Philippines. Our future is more secured here in Australia. Also, migrating to Australia has changed our perceptions, opinions, values, priorities, responsibilities and lifestyle. Since we’ve already adapted to the Australian culture and way of life, moving back to the Philippines would immensely affect us and our future.
Our advice to new immigrants in Australia
Everything takes time. It won’t be easy to go through unknown challenges but that’s okay. There’s a reason why people have migrated here. There are a lot of opportunities available to us and it will be our choice which opportunity we are willing to take risks for. Embrace the process and don’t be afraid to try new things or seek guidance. There are a lot of people out there who are willing to help. And lastly, —
“While you assimilate to your new society try not to forget where you’re from, your purpose, and your roots.”
Support us!
You can support us by watching our performances, sharing our posts, and following us on our socials (Facebook & Instagram). There will be an upcoming PHLtheBeat event that we’re planning so stay tuned!
PHLtheBeat’s Facebook
PHLtheBeat’s Instagram
Like and follow My Aussie Story’s social media pages to keep up to date!
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Authors: PHLtheBeat x My Aussie Story
About the ” Your Aussie Story” series:
Immigrants in Australia, though from different cultures and backgrounds, tend to have similar experiences and common ‘struggles’ as they build their new life here in Australia. Through My Aussie Story, I’ve been trying to help out people like myself to be able to navigate the Australian way of life a little bit easier by sharing my own experiences.
I’ve always believed that every migrant’s journey would be less challenging if we learn from each other. This is why we’ve created Your Aussie Story. Your Aussie Story is a ‘series’ in our website where we feature inspiring stories of immigrants in Australia.
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Disclaimer All content and information in this post is for purposes of sharing my experiences only, does not constitute professional advice and does not establish any kind of professional-client relationship.
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