Antonio Cosgayon
| Town/City | Newcastle |
|---|---|
| First name | Antonio |
| Last name | Cosgayon |
| Country of Origin | Philippines |
| Date of Birth | 10/2/2029 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1973 |
| Submitted by | Angelo Cosgayon |
Story
My father worked for a media outlet in Manila, Philippines from the early sixties to the seventies.
My father had overcome adversity and had built a comfortable life for himself, his wife, my grandmother and my two brothers and sister. In the late sixties and through to 1972 Ferdinand Marcos had come to power in the Philippines and to consolidate this power he declared Martial Law in the country. This meant that any non-government media outlets, which my father was a part of, were immediately closed down. My father lost everything and had to create a new life for us somewhere else.
My father set out on his own six months prior to us arriving and had to establish a life here in a new country. He flew over and came to Australia with very little except some contacts.
His first impressions were of a place with great opportunity but with hardships. Coming from an Asian country he had to start from the bottom and could no longer work in the field he loved which was media.
The weather was cold and he was away from his family, he struggled. But he knew he could build a better life for himself and his family here which he did.