The following article was published in full in the Philippine Community Herald Newspaper on December 1997.

musical instruments and other paraphernalia.

On the 2^nd of October 1997, PAMBATO, Inc. was officially registered with the Department of Fair Trading having the parents of band members as incorporators. It is headed by Atoy Sayas - Band Manager, Nomer Romero - Treasurer, Rommel Pascual - Administrator, Jeanne Pascual - Secretary and Jun Javier - Band Master. PAMBATO, Inc. is a pioneering initiative as it is the first ethnic marching band based at the heart of multi-cultural Australia. In addition to playing regular symphonic instruments, the band will start training early 1998 to play bamboo instruments called "Angklong", a brand of music popularized by the "Pangkat Kawayan" group in the Philippines.

The marching band is now actively soliciting sponsorship to sustain this initiative. It is our hope that the Filipino community in Australia extends its support to this band, which will allow these children to become ambassadors of goodwill through music. After all, Filipinos are well regarded as musicians in the international community.

Inquiries for concert schedules, sponsorships and patron membership can be directed to Nomer Romero, Tel. (02) 95620588 or to Rommel Pascual, Tel. 041 442 4625. Alternatively, you can email rommel@idx.com.au.

  If you have seen the PAMBATO, Inc. in Concert flier recently, you have just witnessed the beginning of a series of concerts played by the Philippine-Australian marching band and Talents Organisation (PAMBATO), Incorporated. A brass band comprising primarily of school age children with Filipino heritage.

PAMBATO, Inc. started rehearsing as a band from March this year under the guidance and baton of Jun Javier, a well-respected musical genius amongst the Filipino-Australian community. Majority of the band members' age ranges from 8 to 16 years old but do not discount their youth. Most if not all of its members are certified by the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB).

The made their first public appearance at the Bowman hall in Blacktown on July. The band played the Advance Australia Fair and the Philippine National Anthem at the opening of this years celebration of the Philippine Independence. Then the group held its maiden concert on November 9 which features 14 popular songs. The band is currently holding a series of concerts through out December around the Blacktown area to raise funds for uniforms,