The Philippine Embassy in Canberra has sworn in renowned Perth community leader-entrepreneur Ms Melissa Aguasa as Philippine Honorary Vice Consul to Western Australia on 30 January 2024.
Philippine Ambassador to Australia H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega administered the oath of office to Ms. Aguasa.
“I am deeply honoured to accept this responsibility, and I will do my best to serve my mandate as Honorary Vice Consul,” said Ms. Aguasa. “I am grateful to HE Ambassador Dela Vega for the trust bestowed upon me.”
Based on the Philippine Embassy website, the Honorary Vice Consul is responsible for assisting the Honorary Consul in promoting and protecting the interests of the Philippines in Western Australia. It is also her duty to assist the Honorary Consul in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of Filipino citizens in her consular jurisdiction.
Atty. Virma Symons is the current honorary consul of Western Australia.
Ms Aguasa is known in the Filipino-Australian community in Perth as a business owner focused on providing the needs of the Perth Filipino Community and passionate about serving and assisting fellow migrants and kababayans with sincerity and dedication. She is an active supporter and sponsor of numerous charity and fundraising events to help Filipinos affected by natural disasters in the Philippines.
As an entrepreneur, she has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by the prestigious 28th Belmont and Western Australian Small Business Awards for winning three straight awards from 2021 to 2023 as 2021 Business Migrant of the Year, Creativity and Innovations, and Business Person of the Year.
She was also a finalist of the 2021 City of Gosnells Citizen of the Year award and was chosen as one of the 75 Outstanding Filipino-Australian Women in celebration of the 75th Philippines-Australia Diplomatic Relations Anniversary.
Ms. Aguasa has completed a Certificate in Leadership Principles and a Certificate in Power and Influence for Positive Impact from the Harvard Business School Online, Certificate III – Teacher’s Assistant from the South Metropolitan TAFE, Thornlie.
She completed a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Technological Institute of the Philippines in 1991. She graduated secondary school from the Blessed Elena Academy in Pasay City in 1984.
