It has been more than a year since the Philippines and Australia elevated our relations to a Strategic Partnership in September 2023. As I draw close to my tenure as Philippine Ambassador, I can truly say we have witnessed a dynamic surge in engagements, especially this September through October, with the momentum that will undoubtedly carry forward into November and beyond.
This September was incredibly eventful. I joined Secretary of Science and Technology Renato Solidum Jr. and Secretary of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy in The Sydney Dialogue (TSD) organised by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute on 02-03 September to discuss the increasingly sophisticated nature of cybercrime, online disinformation, hybrid warfare and electoral interference which are risks to societies that benefit from the use of AI technologies. The TSD 2024 also discussed how technologies could accelerate climate security and green energy transitions.
We then kicked off the celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) by welcoming Presidential Assistant on Maritime Concerns General Andres Centino as we highlight the vital role of safeguarding our oceans for the future in relation to the Philippines’ advocacy for a rules-based maritime order anchored on international law. Throughout September, we welcomed multi-stakeholder delegations from different Philippine agencies and academic institutions to Canberra as we explored opportunities to enhance national resilience and advance bilateral maritime cooperation activities. Together with our counterparts, we also had the opportunity to do a stocktake of the numerous achievements we attained since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership.
To address the consular needs of over 51,000 kababayans in Queensland, the Embassy conducted both consular and assistance to distressed Filipino nationals outreach in Brisbane. Thereafter, we wrapped up the overseas voting registration for the 2025 Philippine national and local elections in Perth on the last day of September.
We began October by engaging aspiring female student leaders as part of the Embassy’s annual hosting of the Girls Run the World program to underscore the Philippines’ commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women in areas critical to diplomacy and international cooperation.
The people-to-people ties of the Philippines and Australia is at the core of our enduring relations. To bolster our enduring connections, I joined Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco at the 24th World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit in Perth in October, wherein we enjoined the Filipino-Australian community to “Love the Philippines” – which is our campaign for everyone to visit, learn and discover more about the Philippines in a way that leaves a lasting impact and to invest towards the promotion and preservation of our unique cultural heritage. With the growing demand for sustainable tourism, there is a unique opportunity for us to position the Philippines as a top tourist destination that values environmental stewardship, cultural preservation and inclusive growth.
While in Perth, I had the opportunity to establish partnerships with officials and leading experts and academics from Joondalup, Western Australia. These collaborations aim to address shared concerns in cyber security and critical infrastructure protection to lay the
groundwork for sustainable, long-term solutions that address both current and emerging security challenges and help build more resilient systems that can withstand evolving digital threats for the safety and reliability of essential services for our communities.
I then joined the high level mission led by Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera, with chancellors from 11 higher education institutions in the Philippines to strengthen our already robust cooperation in higher education. This was a direct follow-up to the first Southeast Asia Business Exchange held in Manila in May 2024, which focused on transnational education opportunities to implement Australia’s Investment Strategy for Southeast Asia 2040, which highlighted education and skills as a key priority area of cooperation in the Philippines.
We continued the dialogue and scholarly exchange at the Update Conference of the Australian National University Philippines Institute where the Embassy joined Filipino academics to exchange and share insights on navigating the evolving landscape and the role of the Philippines in the region and in the world towards a path of economic development, prosperity, security and stability.
At the intersection of artistry and enterprise, I was pleased to support the opening of the Philippine Contemporary Art and Design Exhibition organised by Salcedo Private View in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry in Sydney which featured the remarkable works of Filipino visual artists. The promotion of Filipino arts and crafts also provides unique opportunities to empower local communities and creative industries. I was pleased to support the recent launching of Frankie General Store, which houses Filipino artisanal brands and ethical and sustainable home goods, at its new location in the Northern Beaches in New South Wales.
The Filipino diaspora has long been known for its resilience, adaptability and contributions to communities around the world. I capped off October at the Filipina Leadership Global Summit organised by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) which focused on AI and technology and recognised significant achievements of outstanding Filipinas. As a community with a global presence, Filipina women are in a unique position to influence AI development in ways that are mindful of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
As I prepare to end my tour of duty this November as the Philippine Ambassador to Australia, I am filled with utmost gratitude, pride and optimism. Representing the Philippines in this storied and significant role, where we elevated the bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, had two Presidential visits in a span of a year, opened the career Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, introduced a new direct flight route from Manila to Perth, among many other accomplishments, has indeed been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. A vital force in our relationship has always been you, the Filipino and Filipino-Australian community, whose contributions and achievements have become pillars of this bilateral partnership.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you who have supported this partnership. It has been an honor to serve as your Ambassador to Australia, and while my role may be changing, my commitment to strengthening the Philippines-Australia relations remains steadfast. As seasoned diplomats know, there are no goodbyes, just see you around.
In the same breath, I request your continued support to the Embassy, its hardworking personnel and my successor, to ensure the positive trajectory of Philippine-Australia relations.
Maraming salamat at hanggang sa muli.
