As we approach the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence this 12 June 2023, we at the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, led by Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo, are proud to announce our vision for a harmonized celebration for the Filipino community in Victoria. Our community, numbering over 95,000 strong, has seen its fair share of fragmented Independence Day events in the past. This milestone year, we are determined to change that by initiating the “1-2-5 Harmonized Philippine Independence Day” celebrations.
We have observed that in previous years, multiple celebrations were organized with overlapping dates, making it difficult for our fellow Filipinos to celebrate together our Independence Day. The 1-2-5 Harmonized Philippine Independence Day initiative was born from our desire to create a single, unified series of events that would encompass the diverse interests of our community. We convened the Organizing Committee for the 1-2-5 Harmonized Philippine Independence Day on 10 January 2023 and, in collaboration with dedicated Filipino leaders as volunteers, have since made great progress in planning major events.
The Organizing Committee, which consists of 15 FilCom leaders with extensive experience in event organization, has put together an impressive lineup of events for the 125th anniversary. These include the Grand FilCom Gala Night at the Palladium at Crown on June 11, the Traditional Flag Ceremony at Federation Square on June 12, and the Family Open Day at the Springvale Town Hall on June 18.
We also understand that various FilCom groups have their own traditions and events, such as family days, sports fests, and other activities to mark this significant occasion, particularly those in regional Victoria. We acknowledge that these diverse activities hold importance for many, and we encourage these events to continue alongside the main celebrations. While we appreciate the importance of these individual events, we believe that it is crucial for our community to come together for a unified and memorable celebration. Therefore, we welcome all to take part in the Family Open Day on 18 June 2023.
Our efforts at fostering collaboration among FilCom groups in Victoria have already borne fruit, as evidenced by the successful events for the 75th Philippines-Australia Bilateral Relations: Barbecue Festival on Barbecue Festival (22 May 2021), 75th PH-AU Gala Dinner (18 December 2021); and Phil-Aus@75 Tribute Concert and Foodfest (21 May 2022), attracting thousands of patrons and providing a great mileage and Community goodwill despite the COVID pandemic. Also in 2022, we had a Meet & Greet with the Ambassador, H.E. Maria Hellen De La Vega, with the FilCom in Melbourne on 30 July 2022, Tara Na, Zumba Na! event on 28 August 2022 and Pasko sa Melbourne, Alay sa Marinero on 2 December 2022. Building on these achievements, we have developed an online Calendar of Filipino Community Events and a Filipino Talents Registry.
The Online Calendar of Events will help us achieve better coordination and collaboration among groups, prevent overlapping events, and ultimately strengthen harmony and camaraderie within our community. Meanwhile, the Filipino Talents Registry aims to raise the profile and exposure of Filipino talents in music, dancing, visual, performing arts, and other fields, both within our community and the wider multicultural communities of Victoria.
The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne understands that we have diverse interests and priorities. However, we believe that at least two or three times in a year, we can bring our community together in harmony and celebration. The 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence is an opportunity for us to showcase our rich culture and history. We are committed to making this year’s events a testament to the strength and vibrancy of the Filipino community in Victoria.
Let us come together and make the 1-2-5 Harmonized Philippine Independence Day celebrations a shining example of unity in diversity, creating a lasting legacy for future generations of Filipinos in Victoria.
Mabuhay po tayong lahat!
