The National Affiliation of Respectable and Responsible Associations (NARRA) officially launched on October 5, 2025 its ‘Buy a Brick’ Campaign at the 35th Anniversary Fiesta Kultura, Sydney’s largest cultural celebration.  This is a step closer to realising its goal of establishing a cultural and community centre for the Filipino-Australian and wider communities.
The Board secured a stall in the Fiesta for the launch and information sharing with people who attended the event.  The special visitors at the stall included Stephen Bali, MP Blacktown; Carol Israel, Deputy Mayor, Blacktown City Council; Jason Cordi, Editor in Chief, Philippine Times (Australia); Evelyn Zaragoza, Publisher, Philippine  Community Herald News; Edinel Magtibay Dearden, SBS Filipino Broadcaster; Len Puzon, President,UST Alumni Association, and members of the Kalabaw Super Senior Golfers and other friends.

On the day before the Fiesta, NARRA President, Marcus Rivera stated in his letter to the Board:
“I am delighted to announce the official launch of our "Buy-a-Brick" campaign, a transformative initiative bringing us closer to realising our shared dream of establishing a permanent Cultural Home for the Filipino-Australian community.
This is more than a fundraising initiative; it is our collective bayanihan in action, our chance to create a lasting tahanan for Filipino-Australian culture. As leaders, we carry the responsibility to honour our heritage and create pathways for the next generation to know their roots, celebrate their identity, and thrive in their Filipino-Australian story.”
The Dream of Our Cultural Home
By 2032, we will open Australia's first Filipino-Australian Cultural & Innovation Centre

featuring:

* A 500-seat multi-function theatre

* Exhibit halls for art and cultural artefacts

* Community interactive rooms

* Café and gift shops

* Outdoor areas for festivals, markets, and events

This isn't merely a building; it's a sanctuary for identity, a classroom for cultural education, and a stage for Filipino-Australian excellence.

The Legacy We Create

The Buy-a-Brick campaign aims to raise $10 million through 10,000 symbolic bricks at $1,000 each. Every brick purchased directly funds construction, with 100% of contributions supporting the project.

Sponsorship Levels:

* Foundation Brick ($1,000): Name engraved on Founders Wall + certificate

* Heritage Builder ($10,000): Premium name/logo placement

* Cultural Pillar ($50,000): Naming rights for key interior feature

* Legacy Block Partner ($100,000+): Naming rights for major PAACI space + premium brand placement

Marcus added: “Every brick carries a name, yours or someone you wish to honour, permanently displayed on our Founders Wall. This is our moment to create something that will stand for generations.”
Raffle Draw
A special feature of the launch was the drawing of the $25 raffle tickets with $1,000 prize courtesy of Rockwell, and two $25 raffle tickets as consolation prizes. The NARRA officers who attended the stall, shared informatio and sold $25 raffle tickets at the Fiesta included Jaime Lopez, Joel Tungcab, John Tantoco, Josephine Tada, Edna Wacher, Azucena Piosik, Charles Chan and Violi Calvert.  The Mother of the Year 2025 and Charity Mother of the Year, Leilani Henson helped with inputting the names of those who bought tickets at the Fiesta and their ticket numbers into the list of raffle tickets. The electronic draw was witnessed by some of these officers.
The winner of the $1,000 prize was won by Rex dela Cruz  who only bought his ticket (ticket no. 154) at the Fiesta from Josephine Tada. The winners of the consolation prizes of $25 ticket were Myrma Lopez (ticket no. 1884) and Manuel Roux (ticket no. 1082).

All the raffle tickets will again be placed in the February 1, 2026 draw during the Pamana Ball.  The prizes for this draw are: $5,000 for the First Prize; $3,000 for the Second Prize and  $2,000 for the Third Prize.  Anyone who wish to support and get the chance to win any of these prizes, can send a note to mabuhay@narracoop.org.au.

"With everyone's support, we're optimistic we will realise our dream to have our own cultural and community centre," said Marcus Rivera, NARRA president.
Information Session

Saturday, 18 October 2025 – ACI Central, Campbelltown, NSW (2 PM)
Saturday, 1 November 2025 – Max Webber Library, Blacktown, NSW (2 PM)
RSVP: mabuhay@narracoop.org.au

Contact: John Tantoco, PAACI Project Communications Officer 0424 936 658