The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne brought important updates directly to the Filipino community in Adelaide during a special town hall meeting held on 27 March. There was a sea of purple ribbons worn in celebration of National Women’s Month in the Philippines.
Honorary Consul Carmen Anne Garcia AM welcomed the community members with a warm, friendly smile and opened the gathering with an acknowledgement of country. She began the meeting by highlighting the successes that the South Australian Filipino community has achieved in the last year, as well as highlighting important points and suggestions on what the community currently needs.
The town hall meeting had distinguished guests amongst the group, including Martin Haese, who is the appointed State Government’s Trade and Investment Special Envoy to Singapore and South-East Asia. Leaders from all across the state were amongst the attendees, travelling from Mount Gambier to Port Pirie and everywhere in between.
Consul Raph Vincent C. Abarquez, from Melbourne, updated the community members on accurate information on overseas voting and encouraged enrolment. Labor Attaché Melissa C. Mendizabal from the Migrant Workers Office in Canberra spent some time talking about labour regulations, labour migration, worker protection, and employment standards.
Individuals and specific groups were then able to introduce themselves to the wider community, talking about their group’s interests and happenings, and showcasing their contributions to South Australia. It was an inviting space to do so, with many people exchanging details and organising future coffee catch ups.
Ben-Hur Winter, a South Australian creative producer, stylist and Filipino arts and culture advocate, invited the community members present to their upcoming Filipino Music Festival, which is happening at Plant 4 Bowden on May 3, 2025.
After the introductions, people were able to ask questions directly to the Consul, Labour Attaché and other officials on matters that they needed consulting on. The interactive session was then rounded up and closed by esteemed community leader Aida Garcia.
The afternoon ended with networking and refreshments, and in true Filipino style, there was a lot of chatter and laughter.
