Noted Manila-born events director named Fil-Australian of the Year

Known around the world as a top-notch event director, Ignatius Jones has been named Filipino-Australian of the Year during the 13th Annual Conference of the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA).
 
Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen F. Anota presents to Mr. Ignatius Jones the trophy as winner of the Filipino-Australian of the Year award from the Filipino Communities Council of Australia.DFA photo
Lauded as an inspiration to Filipinos in Australia, Jones was awarded the recognition in front of representatives of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, NSW Premier Mike Baird, and Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen F. Anota last October 25.

Jones, in his acceptance speech, noted the artistic talents of Filipinos in Australia, and the multicultural beauty of the Philippines, according to a news release by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Born in Singalong, Manila, to Basque-Chinese and Catalan-American parents in 1957, Jones moved to Australia when he was five, according to an ABC report.

After training in classical ballet, Jones, whose real name is Juan Ignacio Trapaga, branched out to rock, jazz, theater, and even journalism before settling as an events director for various high-profile events, a separate report on ABC said.

In an interview with ABC, Jones wrote that Vivid Sydney, an event he has been supervising since 2011, was successful because it was free and took "art out of the museums, of the walls and onto the streets" where people can interact with it.

Vivid Sydney attracted 1.43 million in 2014, breaking all previous attendance records of the event.

Jones has also been in charge of the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade since 2011, and has directed events such as the Sydney Olympic Ceremonies in 2000, the Doha Asian Games Ceremonies in 2006, and the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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