PR-017-2021
“Great day! So heart-warming to see so many Filipinos – singles, couples, families… and the entertainment was first class.” “Such an amazing event, very well organized and managed. Thanks for inviting us to the 75th Filipino-Australian Friendship Day.” These are just a few positive comments received from social media on the BBQ Festival held at Wyndham Park in Victoria on 22 May 2021 as the opening salvo of the 75th anniversary of Philippines-Australia Diplomatic Relations in Victoria.
The biggest event around Melbourne in more than a year, the BBQ Festival gathered more than 40 stallholders and around 3,000 guests from 10 am to 4 pm on that beautiful Saturday. Even with a desire to keep it simple, holding a public event like this one requires a lot of preparation as the Council upholds very strict regulations, Ms. Waugh explained as she profusely thanked supporters, donors, performers and volunteers.
The program consisted of performances from Filipino groups and other migrant communities – Vietnamese, Lebanese, African and others. The crowd was visibly of mixed races but it was a great gathering of Filipino families and friends. There were contests of the best lechon, best barbeque, best marquee as well as the best Filipiniana costume.
In her remarks, Consul General Maria Lourdes Salcedo said that 75 years ago, the Philippines and Australia formally agreed to work together to help our countries and our people in our region towards the path of peace and development. “We are, therefore, encouraged to reflect on the relevance of our celebration, to look ahead on how else can we –as a strong and solid community – contribute to common goals of our host country even as we attend to the needs of our own families here and in the Philippines.” she said.
“The BBQ Festival is in the true spirit of friendship – open, inclusive, diverse and multicultural. Barbeque or cooking meat over open fire is as old as humankind. The iconic barbie isn’t just about food; it is an experience ingrained in the Australian relaxed lifestyle. In the Philippines, we have the symbolic lechon but we also have the inihaw, sinugba, inasal or tinuno and other types of grilled and other roasted dishes.”
The Consul General encouraged the Filipino Community to always invite other migrant groups to project Filipino culture to others and embrace multiculturalism.–END
