Enduring ties, shared futures: Celebrating Philippines-Australia friendship

Dear friends,

Time truly flies when you are having fun! Today, I’ll celebrate my final Philippines-Australia Friendship Day as Australia’s Ambassador – it’s a day established by Presidential Proclamation to honor the deep and enduring ties between our two nations.

Reflecting on my time here, it’s undoubtedly the people of the Philippines that have left the deepest mark. From bustling cities to remote barangays, I’ve met countless warm, passionate and inspiring Filipinos – many of whom I now call friends.

Our people-to-people ties are the bedrock of the relationship between our countries. A shining example is our Australia Alumni network. Since the 1950s, over 10,000 Filipinos have studied ‘Down Under’ through the Australia Awards Scholarships, which offer Masters and PhD degrees to talented Filipinos committed to making a difference in the Philippines.

More than a scholarship, Australia Awards is a program that invests in people – transforming not only the lives of scholars, but also communities they serve. I often call these alumni our Ambassadors of both nations as they are human bridges who connect our countries and help to shape our shared future. In fact, the late Vic Badoy, former head of the National Historical Commission and Australian Alumnus, championed the proclamation to establish Philippines-Australia Friendship Day, leaving a lasting legacy of his ambassadorship.

This year, we have honored three remarkable individuals at our Australia Alumni Excellence Awards:

• Dr. Jaime Manalo IV revolutionized rice farming education by empowering youth to teach modern techniques to their parents, boosting yields and promoting sustainability in rural communities.

• Dr. Santiago Peña Jr. established a biotechnology lab in Leyte that enhances hog productivity and conserves native swine genetics, bolstering food security and rural economies.

• Ramon Carlo Pio Roda developed the University of the Philippines’ first FinTech course, equipping students with skills for today’s competitive global job market.

To support their continued leadership, we’re sending them back to their Australian universities this month to explore new partnerships in research, food security and climate resilience.

The ripple effects of these scholarships are profound. Dr. Jayson Ibanez, another Australia Awards alumnus, earned his PhD in natural resource management at Charles Darwin University, where he worked with the Yolngu Dhimurru Rangers in Australia’s Northern Territory. That experience informed his decades-long work to protect the endangered Philippine Eagle. His dream? To share this cross-cultural conservation model with Filipino Indigenous leaders.

Through the Australia Awards, we made that dream a reality. In late 2024, we supported nine Filipino Indigenous leaders to visit Australia and learn from their First Nations counterparts. These nine local leaders collectively manage 150,000 hectares of forest, which is home to 100,000 Indigenous Filipinos. Imagine the impact of that knowledge, brought back and put into action.

This month, we’re completing the circle by welcoming Australian First Nations leaders and conservation experts to the Philippines to deepen collaboration. These exchanges show the transformative power of people-to-people ties: we connect, we share and we build together.

Since 2004, over 4,500 Australia Awards alumni – including women, persons with disabilities and Indigenous peoples – have taken on leadership roles across the Philippine government, business sector and academia. They are helping shape a more inclusive and prosperous future for the country.

We continue to support them with targeted training aligned with national priorities, including courses on the Law of the Sea, Digital Transformation and Indo-Pacific Policy. Our Law of the Sea courses have been highly valued for their relevance in strengthening Filipino leaders’ understanding of international law and maritime protection.

Education continues to be a key pillar of our people-to-people ties. By the end of 2024, some 40,000 Filipinos were studying in Australia – more than in any other country. These links are reinforced by growing institutional partnerships. The University of the Philippines and Monash University are poised to start a new collaboration in forensic medicine, giving Filipino students access to world-class Australian programs right here at home through transnational education.

Looking ahead, Australia is excited to support the Philippines as it chairs ASEAN in 2026. This is a pivotal opportunity for Philippine leadership, and as your Strategic Partner and friend, we will stand beside you.

Finally, this month reminded us of our shared democratic values, as both our nations held nation-wide elections. While elections come and go, one thing remains constant: the friendship between Australia and the Philippines is unwavering, resilient and growing stronger by the day.

Here’s to celebrating the friendship, shared values and trust between our peoples – and to the many chapters of shared success yet to come.

Happy Philippines-Australia Friendship Day!

Yours truly,

HK

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HK Yu is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. You can follow Ambassador Yu on X (formerly Twitter) @AusAmbPH.