Filipino-Aussie friendship

there bad blood between Filipinos and Australians?”

I overheard a member of my staff ask his peer that question several weeks ago. They were talking about the much-publicized “basket-brawl” between the teams of the Philippines and Australia. The spectacle, seen by many on television, happened at the basketball match between the two at the tournament organized by the international body, FIBA.

I was not part of the conversation, but I felt compelled to butt in. I said, “No, we have a longstanding friendship with them.”

“A brawl at the basketball court among hotheaded players does not and cannot diminish that friendship,” I pointed out.

My remarks were not unfounded. They were also not an attempt at appeasing or patronizing parties who felt hurt emotionally by the incident. That Filipinos and Australians have a history of friendship is a fact, not a mere assertion.

Our elders in Rizal province have a particularly fond memory of a precious moment in that friendship. They never fail to mention that the bravery and the refusal of Filipino soldiers to give up to invading Japanese forces during that classic battle in Bataan peninsula had saved Australia in the Second World War.

They refer to views strongly shared by historians that, had Bataan fallen much earlier than the 9th of April, 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army would have advanced to Australia. The latter could have fallen into the hands of the same forces that held the Philippines captive until 1945.

The Australians acknowledge this fact. What the Philippines did for them, however, may also be seen as gesture of reciprocity. After all, it was Australia which provided a safe haven for General Douglas MacArthur, leader of the Allied Forces in the Pacific. It will be recalled that it was in the beautiful city of Melbourne where he delivered that memorable broadcast where he said, “I have pulled through and I shall return.”

It was Australia which served as the jump-off point of the renowned general when he sailed back to the Philippines to fulfill that promise.

Australian soldiers were also among those who landed with General MacArthur in Lingayen when he returned to the Philippines. There are several markers in the country, particularly in Lingayen and Bataan, honoring the deeds of brave Australian soldiers and pilots during that sad episode in world history.

The Filipino-Australian friendship which was proven during the war has flourished over the years.

Records show that Australia was among the first countries to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the Philippines. It is also one of the few countries with which the Philippines has signed a formal accord for cooperation in many areas of national life. This was in 2015 when the two countries signed the Joint Declaration on Philippines-Australia Comprehensive Partnership.

The document attests to the shared aspirations of the two countries in areas such as culture, education, migration, defense, and investments.

The diplomatic relations between our two countries turned 72 years old this year. Our elders say they clearly recall that Australia was among the first countries to establish a consulate in Manila. The Land Down Under opened its Consulate General in the country even before the first President of the Republic of the Philippines was sworn into office in 1946.

It is interesting to know that an important official at the Australian embassy has Filipino blood. His name is Ben Esguerra and is the young second secretary of the embassy. Ben’s father, we were told, has Filipino roots.

There are two Australians who have won the hearts of Filipinos.

Both are musical artists. Both are named “John.”

The first is John Farham, the Australian singer who can hit very high notes as he dish out his signature love songs. My friends and I remember him for that wellloved piece, “Please, Don’t Ask Me.” The second is Olivia Newton-John. There are two songs by Ms. NewtonJohn that won the hearts of our generation. The first is “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” The second is “I Honestly Love You.”

Both of Ms. Olivia’s best-loved songs could very well be the words the two countries – Philippines and Australia – would say to each other.

No, there is no bad blood between the peoples of the two countries.

We have ties built and tested under the most trying of times. Flying elbows and fists at a basketball court cannot ruin that.

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