Thirty-two year old Starski Madrilejos, a Filipino international student, arrived in Melbourne on June 26, 2022. He is on Student Visa to undertake a course in Cookery which will be finished in November 2024. He moved to Bundoora on July 5 and has recently been hired to work part-time in a Korean restaurant as kitchen hand. He was very happy that everything seemed all aligned to his plans to give his family a better life.
Oh, yes Starski is his real first name – his mother named him after the character of “Starsky and Hutch” their favourite cop tv series when he was born. He hails from Mandaluyong City and has an older brother. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management at the Dominican College in San Juan City. Before coming to Australia, he worked in a restaurant as a front liner. He is married to Donna Fe Yu, 30 years old and they have a son Isaiah Kence who is turning three years old in September.
On an FB Filipino group page made his appeal for help from kababayans following the sad e
vent. Radio Tagumpay* contacted him and he aired his plea for help on July 27. He shared:
Last July 20,2022, around three pm, my auntie from General Santos City, Mindanao visited my wife and son to invite them to dine out. My wife woke up my son so that they could go with them, Then around four pm when there was one at our home, my cousins and uncle were apparently calling me. I couldn’t answer the phone that time because I was working. At around 6pm I called my cousin and asked what happened. They said our house was on fire and was totally burnt. The only left in our house was the front side and as per the fire investigators the cause of the fire was faulty wiring.
Due to the unfortunate incident, we lost everything we had worked for and established – the house and contents. The only things left were the clothes that my wife and son wore when that happened. I humbly appeal for financial support to start the process to stand up to start our recovery process. Regardless of the amount you will give, that will be a very big help for us. Thank you for being the Vessel of God in helping us. In due time, I look forward to pay forward this big favour.
My bank details or PayID: 0476176545; Starski Madrilejos
The Australian Filipina wishes Starski and his family all the best for the future. Despite the setback in their plans, may they achieve what they set out to do in life.
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Radio Tagumpay airs on Wednesday, 6-8pm Sydney time on Triple H 100.1FM and can be streamed globally via: Homepage - Triple H 100.1 FM (triplehfm.com.au)
Starski's interview with Radio Tagumpay can be listened to here.