12 Sept 2007

H.E. PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO CONGRATULATES DELEGATES TO 2007 GLOBAL FILIPINO NETWORKING CONVENTION IN SYDNEY

SYDNEY - The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo spoke before Filipino-Australian community leaders and visiting international delegates to the 2007 Global Filipino Networking Convention held in Sydney recently.

Some 200 delegates from the different states of Australia and other countries such as the United States, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Egypt attended the keynote address delivered by President Macapagal-Arroyo at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney last 07 September 2007. The address to the Filipino delegates was one of the major side events held in the course of the President’s attendance at the APEC Leaders Summit.

(Seated L-R) Rep. Danilo E. Suarez; Rep. Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa; Rep. Raul V. del Mar; Secretary Alberto G. Romulo; H.E. Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo; Amb. Ernesto de Leon, Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro; Marilyn Andres-Chun; Ms. Lolita Farmer; (Standing) Philippine Consulate General, Sydney personnel.

The President congratulated the head organizers, namely Marilyn Andres-Chun, President of the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA) and Lolita Farmer, President of Global Filipinos Australia, the two Co-Chairs of the 2007 Global Filipino Networking Convention for their efforts and updated the delegates of the recent economic developments in the Philippines. She also thanked the Filipino-Australian and international Filipino communities for their active role in the socio-economic development programs in the Philippines and outlined a number of ongoing programs that would encourage more overseas Filipinos and their families to invest or avail of. The President also hailed the adaptability and contributions of the overseas Filipino community to the world as a testament that the Filipino has indeed become a ‘global citizen’.

Both the Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ernesto De Leon and Consul General to Sydney Maria Theresa Lazaro welcomed the delegates. Ambassador De Leon lauded the Filipino-Australian community as quiet achievers but important contributors to Australia’s progress and success that was grounded on a “close historical affinity based on friendship and a good harmonious relationship”. Consul General Lazaro highlighted the growing demographic importance of the community in Australia and in particular, Sydney stressing the fact that the Filipino community is one of the largest Asian migrant groups in Australia.

Speaking on behalf of the attendees, Ms. Lolita Farmer thanked the President for the historic opportunity and for the passage of landmark laws such as the Dual Citizenship and Overseas Voting Laws that has enabled overseas Filipinos to re-engage the Philippines and “become a reliable force (that would) play a key role in promoting Philippine development through empowerment.”

The delegates were treated to a group photo opportunity session with the President at the conclusion of the one-hour event.

The recently-concluded 5th Global Filipino Networking Convention was the first of its kind to be held in a venue outside of the United States and the Philippines. The conference aimed to address a range of issues affecting overseas Filipinos and the Philippines and formulate policies and strategies with Filipino communities around the world.

According to the 2006 Australian Census, there are now 160,377 Filipinos residing in Australia. The Filipino community is the 15th largest ethnic community in Australia, and in particular the 4th largest Asian ethnic community next to the Chinese, Indians and the Vietnamese. Of these, 85 percent have both Philippine-born parents. The female-to-male ratio is pegged at 1.5 females for every 1 Filipino male.

The State of New South Wales, with Sydney as the capital, has the largest share of Filipino resident population with 75,473 persons or 47 percent. The Filipino community is ranked as the 11th largest ethnic community in the state and the 3rd largest Asian group next to China and India. Of those who migrated to this state from the Philippines almost 50 percent of them arrived prior to 1991, beginning in the 1970’s. Ninety percent of Filipino migrants to the state reside within the Greater Sydney area, the largest single concentration of which is located in the City of Blacktown, where the present Global Filipinos Convention is being held, with more than 20,000 Filipino residents- the third largest ethnic group in the city next only to the Australians and the English.

There are now 1,649 third-generation Filipino-Australians or those of whom their Filipino parents were born in Australia. END.