Antonio Alberto Morales, Ambassador of the Philippines to Australia, affirmed a stronger bond as both countries marked the 80th anniversary of bilateral ties.
Morales said, “Australia is our strategic partner, a very important partner of the Philippines, and our relations have been historic and long-standing. We are also celebrating 80 years of our diplomatic relations,” marking opening of the Australian Consulate in Manila on 22 May 1946.
In early 1942, President Quezon and his government fled the besieged island of Corregidor to continue the struggle for liberation. Their journey took them by submarine to Panay, then by steamer and PT boat through perilous waters in the Visayas, before boarding B-17 bombers from Mindanao. They arrived in Darwin, northern Australia, on 27 March 1942, before continuing to Melbourne, where they were received by the Australian Government and General Douglas MacArthur. President Quezon and his government remained in Australia for nearly a month before departing for the United States.
Morales said, “The Australian government has always been open to working with us, to enter in international fora, or bilaterally in terms of development assistance, in terms of encouraging Australian investment to the Philippines in terms of SEA [Southeast Asia] economic strategy, and also helping us in security matters in terms of supporting and participating in our military exercises and advising and working with our armed forces to address threats in our region. So it is a very comprehensive and strategic partnership that, I would like to say, is mutually beneficial. It’s good for us, it’s good for them, it’s good for our international partnership.”
Today, there are over 400,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent living across Australia, with Sydney carrying the biggest population followed by Melbourne.
Morales said, “Wherever you go in Australia, even in the remote or what they call regional areas, we have Filipino communities in various industries—nursing, medical allied professions, engineers, skilled workers in the services sector. They are in all sectors, even in public service.”
Rafael Toda, president of the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC), said the 80th anniversary of bilateral ties between the Philippines and Australia signifies the elevation of relationships. “And that has opened a lot more doors between our nations. So no longer is the Philippines recognized as just being about migration, aid, and traditional diplomacy, but we’re now, because of this elevation, looking at defense cooperation, maritime security, clean energy investments, education, infrastructure, technologies, and trade and investment. And of course, the most important is the people-to-people ties.”
The APBC is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to maximizing the potential of trade and investment between Australia and the Philippines.
Toda said the young labor force of the Philippines also plays an important role in keeping ties strong. “[We are] highly educated, well-spoken in English, which aligns with the values of this country. We’re also known as one of the most assimilated cultures that Australia has today. I think that those lead to significant advantages in our favor. We’re 400,000 Filipinos now, here in Australia. We actually have a voice, and that is recognized by both Australia and the Australian political sector. There is nothing but praise because we are hardworking, we are dedicated, we are loyal. And for those that are lucky enough to be able to come over on work visas or skill shortage visas, one of the largest and most abundant praises that we get are the loyalty factors and our work ethic. Companies are increasingly eyeing the Philippine market, while Philippine firms continue to broaden their footprint in Australia.”
Morales said, “We are working hard to attract Australian investors to the Philippines. Most of them are BPO, most of them are people-to-people links. We have more than 400k Filipinos, most of them in Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Western Australia, Perth, and even Darwin. As I said, the diaspora is the bridge that connects us on a daily basis and the very standing foundation of our relations.”
The Philippine consulate said Filipinos attend to medical needs and cater to the growing senior population through aged care, but there are also Filipinos in the field of the mining industry, working as mechanics, linemen, pipefitters, and welders, contributing to industrial growth and development. By Maria Elena Catajan
