Philippine Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Antonio A. Morales, undertook a working visit to Melbourne last 07-09 December 2024. During his visit, he witnessed the wide breadth of Philippine interests in one of Australia’s largest cities, which is host to a vibrant Filipino Community, Filipino businesses and investments of varying sizes, and a physical mark of the long enduring relationship between the Philippines and Australia.
Pasko sa Melbourne
On 08 December 2024, Ambassador Morales attended Pasko sa Melbourne, the second edition of a Filipino festival in the Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne’s largest and most iconic public market. This year’s Pasko sa Melbourne was spearheaded by TEAMS and FASTCO.
Ambassador Morales noted the uptick in PH-AU bilateral activities, marked by high-level leaders’ visits, an agreed strategic partnership, and a vibrant 95,000-strong Filipino community in Victoria. He also quoted the remarks of President Ferdinand R. Marcos during his address to the Filipino Community in Melbourne last 04 March 2024, when the President said: “The Filipino community’s efforts here have significantly enhanced the Philippines’ image in Australia. Your hard work, talents, graciousness, and your propensity to support those around you reflect the Filipino character.”
Ambassador Morales and Consul General Salcedo with Ati-Atihan performers. Their performance was witnessed by thousands of guests at the Queen Victoria Market.
Victorian Government officials were present, including MP Ryan Batchelor, Member for Southern Metropolitan, recently-re-elected Councilor Philip Le Liu of the City of Melbourne, and Victoria Multicultural Commission Commissioner Silvia Renda. All three addressed the Filipino community and expressed the strong appreciation of Australia for their contributions to their adopted country; they also expressed their greetings and good wishes for the Filipino community for their celebration of Pasko.
Philippine Ambassador to Australia Antonio A. Morales acknowledged the Filipino Community’s efforts to enhance the Philippines’ image in Australia in his address.
MP Ryan Batchelor (left), City of Melbourne Councilor Philip Le Liu (center) and VMC Commissioner Silvia Renda (right) address the Filipino Community.
Ambassador Morales also witnessed the Philippine Consulate General’s awarding of certificates to two outstanding Filipinos. The first was a citation for Mr. Arvin Garcia, the Filipino-Australian winner of The Great Australian Bakeoff 2024. During the show, he was able to positively portray and promote Filipino culinary skills with a sampling of his pastries. The second was a citation for community leader Lulu Lorenzo, who has been very active in assisting community events, and has special advocacies attending to Filipinos in distress. She was also instrumental in supporting the Philippine Deaf Basketball team during their visit to Melbourne.
Ambassador Morales (3rd from left), witnesses Consul General Salcedo’s (4th from right) awarding of Certificates to Arvin Garcia, the Filipino Winner of the Great Australian Bakeoff (6th from right) and Lulu Lorenzo, Filipino Community Advocate (7th from right).
Over 3,000 guests and marketgoers passed by the festival, which featured a day-long extravaganza of entertainment and dozens of stalls selling Filipino products and food, and even Filipino liquors. In addition, the Filipino Chef’s Association, led by U/ing: the Charcoal Project, put together a long-table that treated guests to a traditional Filipino Christmas dinner. Ambassador Morales met with the various Filipino businesses that participated in the festival, including the Philippine brand Miguelitos, which will soon open a physical store in Melbourne CBD.
Ambassador Morales (2nd from left) at the Miguelitos Ice Cream booth at Pasko sa Melbourne.
Visit to the Victoria International Container Terminal
On 09 December, Ambassador Morales visited the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) to meet with its CEO, Bruno Porchietto. After the President’s inauguration of VICT’s expansion last March 2024 on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, VICT has met significant milestones of having handled one million containers in 2024 alone for a total of five million containers handled since VICT’s opening in 2017. This represents 38% market share among the Port of Melbourne’s three container terminals, making VICT officially the largest container terminal in Melbourne.
(L-R) VICT COO Olga Coelho, Canberra PE Attache Ceres May Martinez, Ambassador Antonio Morales, VICT CEO Bruno Porchietto, VICT Comms and Sustainability Manager Marco Quaranta, and Melbourne PCG Consul Ralph Vincent Abarquez.
Ambassador Morales noted that ICTSl’s presence in Australia through VICT raises the image of the Philippines in Australia. He thanked Mr. Porchietto for his work and his support for the Filipino community, and expressed optimism in VICT’s future endeavors. VICT hosted a site visit for Ambassador Morales, and showcased their facilities, which run 24/7 and year-round, having achieved a high level of operational efficiency through state-of-the-art technology.
Ambassador Morales is shown the fully automated facilities of VICT
Visit to the Shrine of Remembrance
Upon arrival in Melbourne on 07 December, Ambassador Morales visited the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and offered flowers at the commemorative plaque for the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Consul General Salcedo and Ambassador Morales (left) offer flowers at the Plaque Commemorating the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
The Shrine of Remembrance is Melbourne’s prominent war memorial.
The plaque, which is the first of its kind in Australia, is a welcome physical monument to PH-AU relations inaugurated earlier in 2024, marking the 80 year anniversary of the largest naval battle in history, which involved forces from the United States, Australia, other allies, and the Philippines. END
