Darwin Manubag
Eleven (11) Melbourne delegates attended the visit of President Simeon Benigno Aquino III or PNoy on 25 October in Sydney. The Melbourne delegation attended the Dinner with the President organised by the Asia Australia Society and the Australia Philippine Business Council which was held at the Shangri-La Hotel Ball Room, The Rocks Sydney.
The delegates include Mila Cichello, Peter Cichello, Alex Sy, Roy Carbungco, Darwin Manubag, Florence Estepa, Albert Sy, Remy Vejano, Dr. Ali Khan, Kim Cabral, and Raine Cabral of the Office of the Philippine Consulate in Melbourne. The formal dinner was attended by around 200 people comprising key members of the cabinet including Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, Press Secretary Ricky Carandang, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson among others, the Philippine business delegation, Australian business sector, Filipino community leaders and the mediamen. Mr. Warwick Smith, the Chairman of the Asia Society Australia Global Trustee – Asia Society, and Mr. Eduard Alcordo, the National President of the Australia Philippines Business Council welcomed PNoy full of excitement with the news of economic turnaround of the Philippines.
President Aquino, in his speech, highlighted the achievements of his administration and the initiative that he is doing together with his cabinet to realise targets before his term ends. These include completely addressing the shortages of classrooms and the self-sufficiency of rice production in the coming months. President Aquino emphasised during the open forum that agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure development are the main drivers of growth that his administration will focus.
The business dinner also provided networking opportunities among the Melbourne delegates with the presence of around 40 business leaders from the Philippines. The major streets of Sydney are filled with banners of the tourism ad “It’s more fun in the Philippines” which made the Melbourne delegates even more proud as Pinoys.
The second day of the visit in Sydney is highlighted with the unveiling of the Rizal Monument, a five-metre bronze statue by the famous Filipino sculptor Eduardo Castrillo in Sydney’s suburb Rosemeadow, Campbelltown and with his last speaking engagement in Australia at John Therry Catholic High School with the more than 400 members of the Filipino community in attendance. The Pinoys coming from the different communities in Sydney and from other parts of Australia were very excited waving the Philippine flaglets as they met PNoy in person. The President emphasised the fact that when he arrived in 
New Zealand, he was greeted with enthusiastic Pinoys.
His last speaking engagement in Australia was also with the Pinoys. His government is doing this because all his initiatives are for the Filipino people not only in the Philippines but also the Filipinos abroad. He proudly told the enthusiastic crowd that “Indeed it feels great to be a Filipino these days. In Tagalog, he challenged the Pinoys to help the country in changing its image as “The Sick Man of Asia”. The President mentioned a lot of positive stories in the Philippines that created impact to the Filipino people such as the ban on the use of wangwang (sirens) by government vehicles and a fair justice system for the rich or poor. Ms. Marisa Vedar of Melbourne representing the Filipino Community Councils of Australia commended President PNoy for the things that he is doing for the country especially in his fight against corruption. She happily reported to the President that the Filipino communities in the different states of the Australia are helping in their own way to raise funds for the country when it was hit with several natural calamities.
The visit of PNoy in Australia brought a lot of good memories as well as optimism for the country among the Melbourne delegation. This was realised through the effort of the Philippine Consulate of Melbourne headed by Philippine Honorary Consul General of Victoria Gigi Kalong.
