CONSULATE, FILCOM LEADERS SUPPORT CULTURAL DIVERSITY DURING THE VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL GALA DINNER IN MELBOURNE

19 March 2022, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, represented by Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo, took part in the Victorian Multicultural Gala Dinner held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, in celebration of the State of Victoria’s vibrant multicultural community.

Hosted by Victorian Premier Hon. Daniel Andrews, the Gala Dinner also kicked off Cultural Diversity Week, Victoria’s largest multicultural celebration, to coincide with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Harmony Day on 21 March. The event was attended by high officials of the Victorian State Government, including the State Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Ros Spence MP, the Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy, high-profile community and civic leaders, as well as representatives of the various cultural and ethnic communities in Victoria, including prominent members of the Filipino Community.

Premier Andrews expressed his admiration for how the Victorian community “came from different parts of the world (to) come together to build something better.” He described Victoria as “not just the multicultural capital of Australia but the multicultural capital of the world,” for which the audience of 1,400 guests burst into applause. He promised to provide temporary resident visas to all Ukranians in Victoria.

The leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Matthew Guy, whose Ukrainian grandparents migrated to Australia after World War II, became emotional as he thanked Australia for the opportunities “to become the best version of yourself”.

END