Previous Events

2007

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.

2006

12 June 2006
Philippine Independence Day Celebrations

In its continuing commitment to highlight the growing importance of the Philippines in Australian and Pacific affairs, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney has embarked on a number of activities for the 108 th Philippine National Day Celebration over a one-and-a-half month period. This year’s celebrations were of historic significance for the following reasons:

• 2006 marked the 60 th year of the opening of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Australia with the establishment of the Australian Embassy in Manila ;
• 2006 marked the 50 th year of full diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Australia when the Sydney-based Philippine legation was upgraded to Embassy status with the late Roberto Regala becoming the first Philippine Ambassador to Australia ;
• 2006 marked the 145 th Birth Anniversary of the National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal;
• The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Noumea , New Caledonia was opened with Mr. Max Diot installed as its first Honorary Consul;
• Rural cities of New South Wales have participated in official flag-raising activities for the first time; and
• The number of cities in New South Wales participating in official joint flag-raising ceremonies increased from 3 in 2005 to 11 for this year.

NEW SOUTH WALES

1. Reception for government officials and consular corps. ( 07 June 2006 )

A formal reception was held at the Sir Stamford Hotel at Circular Quay and was attended by state and local government officials, members of the consular corps, business and academic sectors and the Filipino-Australian community. New South Wales Parliament Speaker John Aquilina represented State Premier Morris Iemma to the reception. Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro highlighted the enhancement people-to-people exchanges and closer institutional and community linkages for the previous year, including the Philippine-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM), the visits of a New South Wales Parliamentarian delegation and that of the Parramatta City Council.

2. Official flag-raising ceremonies with local government officials.

The tradition of holding of official flag-raising ceremonies with local government officials and members of the Filipino-Australian community was begun by Parramatta City in 1997 in observance of its sister-city relations with the City of Cebu . In 2004, Blacktown City , which hosts the single largest concentration of Filipinos in Australia , followed suit and Campbelltown City followed in 2005. The flag-raising ceremony was conceptualized as a means of bringing official recognition to the bilateral ties of both countries and empowering the Filipino-Australian community through interaction with the council officials in their respective local government areas. For 2006, however, eight (8) cities in both rural New South Wales and those in the Greater Sydney Area hosted the joint flag-raising ceremony for the first time. The ceremonies began during the start of the Flag Day celebration in rural New South Wales , where a number of Filipinos reside. The celebration will conclude with a flag-raising ceremony at Broken Hill on the 30 th of June, the state’s westernmost city. Participating in this year’s flag-raising ceremony are the following cities, with rural cities indicated in italics:

• Coffs Harbour (27 May)
• Lismore (28 May)
• Dubbo (03 June)
• Canterbury (09 June)
• Parramatta (10 June)
• Blacktown (10 June)
• Campbelltown (10 June)
• Gosford (16 June)
• Fairfield (17 June)
• Orange (24 June)
• Broken Hill (30 June)

3. Official flag-raising ceremony at the Philippine House ( 12 June 2006 )

A flag-raising ceremony was held at the Philippine House (The Consul General’s residence) attended by the officers, staff and the families of the Consulate, and the Trade and Tourism Offices, as well as Mr. Ric De Vera, President of the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA) and Mr. Jimmy Lopez of the Philippine Community Council- New South Wales (PCC-NSW). A Mass was celebrated and followed by breakfast.

4. Mass oath-taking of Filipinos who re-acquired Philippine citizenship ( 10 June 2006 )

In cooperation with Global Filipinos- Australia , Consul General Lazaro administered the Oath of Allegiance to thirty-five (35) individuals who re-acquired Philippine citizenship by virtue of the Philippine Dual Citizenship Law (R.A. 9225) at the City of Blacktown before the presence of the Blacktown City Council and the Filipino-Australian community. Among those sworn in was the 500 th Filipino-Australian processed by the Consulate General.

5. Floral Offering at the Bust of Dr. Jose Rizal in Sydney ( 19 June 2006 )

In cooperation with the Order of the Knights of Rizal Sydney Chapter, a floral offering was made at the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal at the Ibero-American Plaza beside Sydney ’s famed Central train station. New South Wales Parliament Speaker John Aquilina and Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro were the guests of honor at the event, which was also attended by several members of the Filipino community.

6. Participation at the Philippine National Day Ball ( 11 June 2006 )

Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro and the Consulate staff attended the Philippine National Day Ball held at the Hilton Hotel Sydney . The Ball was organized by the PCC-NSW in cooperation with the Consulate with 450 guests attending.

7. Opening of Philippine Food Festival. ( 19 June 2006 )

The Philippine Food Festival was opened at the Grace Hotel and featured a sampling of Philippine cuisine. The event was organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) and Mama Sita Products.

NEW CALEDONIA

1. Reception with New Caledonian officials and consular corps. (19 May 2006)

One of the outcomes of the first governmental visit to officials of New Caledonia begun in 2005 was the holding of an official reception by the government of this French special overseas territory located three hours’ flight east of Sydney. New Caledonia grew into prominence when the Nickel Company of New Caledonia (INCO-GORO) announced the hiring of around 3,000 Filipino workers to begin work on its nickel and cobalt processing plant in the territory. Atlantic , Gulf and Pacific Company (AG&P) and EEI were the two Philippine firms identified that provided the manpower for the mining project.

Consul General Lazaro was the guest of honor at the reception where she announced the inauguration of the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Noumea and the incorporation of the first Filipino organization in the Territory. New Caledonia has been included in the Consulate’s consular jurisdiction since 1995.

2. Opening of Philippine Honorary Consulate in Noumea . (19 May 2006)

In response to need to meet the consular needs of Filipino workers in New Caledonia , the Mr. Max Diot was sworn in by Consul General Lazaro before the Filipino community in Noumea , the Territory’s capital.

3. Oath-taking of Filipinos who reacquired Philippine citizenship.

The Filipino community of around 60 individuals have long been residents or workers based in the territory and a number of them have acquired French citizenship. Consul General Lazaro administered the oaths to four (4) Filipinos who re-acquired their Philippine citizenship.

2005

25 October - 01 November
Philippine Food Festival

The Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in Sydney invites the public to the Philippine Food Festival which will be held from 25 October (Monday) to 01 November (Tuesday) 2005 at the Grace Hotel, Sydney.

The event features Philippine cuisine as prepared by two chefs from the Center for Culinary Arts in Manila.

Lunch and dinner will be served buffet-style at the Grace Brasserie. A special evening entertainment will be held on the 28th and the 29th of October (Friday and Saturday).

For reservations, please contact Ping Kang at (02) 9272-6619. For further information, please contact the Philippine Tourism Office at (02) 9283-0711.

The event is sponsored by Philippine Airlines.

Download the Flyer

Internationally-acclaimed sculptor Impy Pilapil (fourth from left) showcases her works at the Customs House, Sydney. Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro (far left), NSW Governor Marie Bashir (center) and Filipino community leaders pose for the occasion.

Click here to see the Press Release [Link]