Tell us about yourself and what you do in your organisation.
Pinoy Casey Community, Inc. (PCCi) was formed by “community-service-focused Filipinos (Pinoy)” who all reside in the City of Casey. However, our slogan “we all belong”, simply means that PCCi also caters to all people from different heritage (not just Filipinos), and also those who live outside the City of Casey, although our projects are mainly focused to serve those who live in the City of Casey.
What do you love the most about your role in your new organisation?
Meeting people from all walks of life, being a positive influence and being of service to them, and learning from them, are for me, the ultimate high. That’s what I love most about being involved in community organisations such as PCCi, to be given the chance to give back to the community.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
Depending on their respective habitats; 1) Land-based, I’d be a monkey because monkeys, I believe, can entertain people more and do more things like humans do. 2) Water, I’d be a dolphin to signify my being a happy and expressive kind of person. 3.) Air, I’d be an eagle, who flies high and be at its best when the wings are spread.
What was your most memorable moment during your current job?
The most memorable moment so far happened last December during our first Pinoy Olympics held in Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick. To see all family members getting together, having fun, and playing traditional Filipino street games as a team…that’s precious. For me, a happy family equates to an amazing community.
What were you like as a kid?
This is the shortest question and therefore deserves the longest answer. I was a dreamer as a kid, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer as my first choice (and engineer, as a second choice), a great basketball player, and an amazing singer. Praise to God because I have fulfilled everything…well almost and not really! I fulfilled my (second choice) dream to become an engineer because I am a practising chartered professional engineer. My eldest child (I have two children) is also fulfilling my dream because she’s now working as an engineer, and my youngest graduated with a law degree a few months ago. Then, I feel like I am a great basketball player (in my own right, ha ha). In the eyes of others, I might be a “bad” basketball player, but hey, I am confident enough to say that I can play! Finally, I am gifted with unlimited confidence in me, so I can say that I am an amazing singer (again, in my own right) too. Check it out (and subscribe), here’s my YouTube channel with me singing more than 500 songs already: @alfietilan895 (no hate, please).
What event, past or present, would you like to witness?
There’s one that always comes to mind, the life of Jesus Christ when he’s still living amongst us.
Which six dinner guests, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?
Tough list but here they go: Michael Jordan, Gary Valenciano, Lee Iacoca, Mother Theresa, Albert Einstein, Taylor Swift (and if she’s not available, she can be replaced by Madonna).
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Funny, confident, and kind.
What would you do on your perfect day off?
My perfect day-off (24 hours) are like this: 1) Morning: Watch my favourite sports (basketball) whilst sitting on the couch with my feet up and having a snack. 2) Midday to late afternoon, fishing in Phillip Island and a late afternoon walk in a park with my wife Julie. 3) Complete family dinner, and have karaoke later. 4.) An uninterrupted eight-hour sleep.
Where is your happy place?
Normally, I would say being with “nature” (trees, beaches, etc.), but there’s really no specific happy place for me. “Happy place” is in the heart, as long as I’m with my healthy family sharing treasured moments together…that’s my happy place.
If you had to compete on MasterChef, what dish would you cook?
I don’t cook, so I’ll be disqualified right away. Julie is the perfect cook for me, and what good is a cook if there’s no one to eat… so that’s my role, to eat perfectly cooked foods by a great MasterChef wife. Anyway, if, say for example, I do cook, I’d cook the most delicious crispy pork with rice and soup.
Where is your dream holiday destination?
A specific town in Switzerland called Neuchâtel. Hopefully I can finally be there this year, 2024.
