On 7 May 2025, as we celebrate Filipino Nursing Diaspora Day, we honour not just the achievements of Filipino nurses around the world, but the spirit they carry across oceans. In Australia, two outstanding Filipino nurse leaders exemplify how cultural values, resilience, and a deep sense of community continue to transform the healthcare landscape.
Meet Harris Lidasan, an Associate Nurse Unit Manager at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and Jaypee Landingan, a Hospital Coordinator at Epworth HealthCare in Melbourne. Different cities, different roles—but united by one heritage and one heartbeat: the spirit of bayanihan.
Harris Lidasan: leading through inclusion and collaboration
Hailing from Mindanao and now making waves in South Australia, Harris Lidasan leads his unit with both clinical excellence and cultural empathy. As an Associate Nurse Unit Manager at one of the country’s largest hospitals, he believes that keeping the bayanihan spirit alive starts with intentional inclusivity.
“To maintain the bayanihan spirit in a multicultural workplace,” Harris explains, “we need to foster inclusivity, collaboration and mutual respect. Emphasise teamwork, celebrate diversity and be proactive in offering support.”
For Harris, leadership means leading by example—especially in a healthcare setting where the stakes are high and the workforce is diverse. His ability to create a harmonious environment is not just a management skill—it’s a cultural philosophy brought from home.
“Respect differences,” he continues, “encourage open communication and lead by example to create a workplace where everyone’s contributions are valued and appreciated.”
In a world that often moves fast, Harris slows things down to connect with his team, with patients and with his Filipino identity. His leadership reminds us that bayanihan is more than helping neighbours move houses—it’s helping colleagues move forward, together.
Jaypee Landingan: resilience rooted in faith and family
In the heart of Victoria, Jaypee Landingan wears many hats. As a Hospital Coordinator at Epworth Melbourne, he balances healthcare consulting, conflict management and budget oversight with the calm confidence of someone who knows exactly who he is.
Jaypee has received awards for service excellence and patient advocacy, but it’s his Filipino roots that ground his resilience.
“Filipinos in Melbourne have shown incredible strength through deeply ingrained cultural values,” he shares. “There are three that stand out for me—Bayanihan (Community Spirit), Pagpapahalaga sa Pamilya (Value for Family) and Pananalig sa Diyos (Faith in God).”
He speaks with deep conviction about how community groups provide a lifeline to newly arrived Filipinos navigating life in Australia. “Whether it’s finding a job, adjusting to a new culture, or dealing with personal struggles—Filipinos help each other,” he says.
“I always think of my family’s future, and that keeps me going,” Jaypee adds. “My faith is like a comforting shield—it keeps me resilient through the struggles I face.”
Jaypee’s strength is not just personal—it’s transformational. By blending operational leadership with cultural empathy, he champions a healthcare environment that is both efficient and deeply compassionate.
Two journeys, one legacy
What Harris and Jaypee show us is that Filipino nurses abroad are not just migrant workers—they are builders of systems, shapers of care and keepers of values. Their leadership goes beyond roles and titles. It’s about presence. About bringing the best of Filipino culture to some of the world’s most dynamic health systems.
And on this Filipino Nursing Diaspora Day, their stories remind us why Filipino nurses continue to be one of the most trusted and beloved forces in global healthcare.
Whether it’s through Harris’s commitment to multicultural harmony or Jaypee’s faith-fueled leadership, bayanihan lives on—not just in barangays, but in hospitals across Australia.
And as these two Filipino nurses walk the hospital halls in Adelaide and Melbourne, they carry with them more than stethoscopes—they carry the hopes of a nation, and the spirit of a people who believe in service beyond self.
