Philippines-Australia Friendship Day Message from the Australian Ambassador HK Yu PSM
May is a very special month for us here in the Australian Embassy. Through a Presidential Proclamation in 2016, May 22 of each year is officially declared Philippines-Australia Friendship Day. We celebrate a friendship that has endured in times of adversity and prosperity. From trade and investment to maritime security, defence, and development, both Australia and the Philippines recognise we are stronger the more we work together.
Uniquely, the epicentre of our Friendship Day activities is outside the National Capital Region. We choose to celebrate in the provinces to show our commitment to deepening links with the Philippines in its diverse totality. In the past, we have marked Friendship Day in Davao and in Cebu. In 2023, our festivities are being generously hosted by historic Iloilo City from May 19-22.
Together with the Iloilo City Government and the National Museum Western Visayas, we honoured the longstanding connections between Filipinos and Aussies in a world-first photographic exhibition — Manila Men: Retracting the journey of the First Filipinos in Australia. This exhibition, open to the public from 22 May to 24 June 2023, draws on the work of Filipino-Australian historian Dr Deborah Ruiz-Walls to tell the extraordinary story of the first Filipino migrants to Australia (many of whom were Visayan). It is a remarkable and touching tribute to the Filipino spirit and the diaspora’s contribution to modern Australian society.
Apart from this landmark exhibition, we hosted a number of key events, including a series of talks on heritage conservation and sustainability, headlined by famous Filipino landscape architect, Paulo Alcazaren. This series highlighted best practice urban architecture in both Australia and the Philippines and showcased Alcazaren’s personal sketches of Australian landmarks that have influenced his design philosophy.
We also hosted a Friendship Run along Iloilo’s famous river esplanade (itself an Alcazaren design). In partnership with SM Supermalls, we culminated the festivities with a ‘Come and Say G’Day exhibit at SM City Iloilo where Ilonggos were able to experience Australia’s vibrant lifestyle through a pop up designed after the famous Brighton Beach Houses in Melbourne; a mini football clinic; live entertainment, and a Taste of Australia. This festival is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Australia and is an ideal family day out.
Today Australia and the Western Visayas are more intimately connected than ever before. Thousands of Western Visayans are alumni of Australian universities and have brought their new skills and training back to their hometowns. You will find our alumni working and excelling in government, hospitals, civil society organisations, schools, and universities throughout Region VI. Their presence at our Friendship Day festival is very important to me: each one of them is an ambassador for Australia-Philippines relations and a testament to the spirit of dagyaw between our two peoples. I am especially proud many of these alumni were supported by the Embassy’s Australia Awards scholarships, which provide financial assistance to high-achieving Filipino students.
Conversely, an ever-greater number of Australian tourists are travelling to the Western Visayas, attracted by the region’s inimitable mix of UNESCO World Heritage sites, outstanding natural beauty, hospitality, and delicious food. I only expect these numbers to further grow as travellers seek out authentic local experiences, away from the hubbub of congested tourist destinations. Malipayon nga Adlaw sang Pag-Abyanay!