Consul General Jesus “Gary” Domingo visited Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on 17 September 2025 as part of preparations for the upcoming commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf.
The event, scheduled for 24 October 2025, will be organised by the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne in partnership with Katipunan Australia, a Melbourne-based association of former military and uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other services, with support from the Shrine of Remembrance management and Governing Council.
As with the inaugural commemoration held last year, the Consulate is expected to invite members of the Melbourne Consular Corps, local federal and state parliamentarians, Melbourne City Council officials, veterans of the Leyte Gulf battle, and representatives of the Returned and Services League. Leaders of Filipino community organisations in Victoria have also been invited.
During the visit, Shrine Governor Cdr Terry Makings, RAN (Ret), and Victorian RSL Director Ange Kenos, RAN (Ret), guided Consul General Domingo and Consul Abarquez through the Shrine’s Sanctuary. They were joined by Katipunan Australia officers Lt Cdr Walter Villagonzalo PN (Ret) OAM, Lt Col Fred Jover AFP (Res), and Dave del Rosario, a former PNP and RAAF serviceman.
Katipunan Australia members also take part in the annual ANZAC Day parade each April. Former Filipino military and uniformed personnel in Victoria who are interested in joining the 2026 parade may contact Fred Jover at 0403 944 479 or katipunanfiloz@gmail.com.
