Fil-Aussie named Darwin’s Citizen of the Year for outstanding community work

A Filipino-Australian was honored with the Citizen of the Year award by the city of Darwin, Australia for her outstanding community work, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Elvira Tolentino was chosen among seven finalists and was honored by the Darwin City Council on January 26 during the city's Australia Day celebration.

In 2012, Tolentino began organizing two-season basketball competitions at the Marrara Basketball Stadium, every Sunday for 10 months.

Tolentino currently serves as the president of the Filipino Basketball League of the Northern Territory.

“Her passion helped bring together new Filipino settlers in the Northern Territory from 2017 to present through sports-friendly basketball competitions among the youth and adults,” the DFA said.

Tolentino once hosted the Philippine National Sports Group from southern cities in Darwin and also the Solar Team from De La Salle College, among others.

“Aside from sports, Ms. Elvira also played an admirable role in the dispatch of donations of goods to the Philippines during the Typhoon Yolanda that destroyed Tacloban, Leyte,” the DFA said. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News