28 January 2014 - The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu attended the Australia Day reception on January 26 at the Australian Consul General’s official residence in Waialae Iki, Honolulu. Australian Consul General Scott Dewar, outgoing Dean of the Hawaii Consular Corps, led a fundraiser last year for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Also in attendance was Senator Donna Mercado-Kim, Chairperson of the Committee on Tourism; Lieutenant General Thomas Conant, USMC, Deputy Commander of the US Pacific Command (USPACOM); and Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., Commander of the US Navy Pacific Fleet. The USPACOM was among the first to respond to help Yolanda victims by directing its forces from bases in Okinawa and Hawaii to aid in the relief efforts.

Consul General Dewar thanked the USPACOM and called for renewed defense and security cooperation between the US and Australia. END