PH Ambassador to Australia Congratulates Queensland Filipino Excellence Awardees
Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega highlights the achievements and contributions of Filipinos to Australia in the Queensland Filipino Excellence Awards at the Brisbane City Hall. (Canberra PE photo)
BRISBANE 23 APRIL 2024 – Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, together with Honorary Consul Sheryll Gabutero of the Philippine Consulate in Brisbane, joined the Filipino community in celebrating and recognizing the outstanding achievements of Filipinos in Queensland in the 2024 Awards Gala Night in Brisbane City Hall on 21 April 2024. The event was organized by the Queensland Filipino Excellence Awards (QFEA) Inc. led by Ms. Rejoice Thomson.
The QFEA is held every five years to pay recognition to all outstanding Filipinos in Queensland. It celebrates the distinct Filipino traits of compassion, industry, perseverance, resilience and community spirit, and aims to uplift the Filipino community by showcasing and recognising innovators, positive change-makers, and success stories of Filipinos in Queensland.
The Ambassador presented the awards to the following recipients:
- Excellence Awards in Community Service - Mena Theresa Edmondstone
- Excellence Awards in Youth Leadership - Louie Galman
- Excellence Awards in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) - Dr. Louisa Parkinson
- Excellence Awards in Business, Industry & Commerce - Imelda Kateb
- Excellence Awards in Arts and Culture - Alex Salvador
- Excellence Awards in Sports - George William Nield
- Excellence Awards in Entertainment - Daniel Mallari
“It is through these endeavors that we are not only able to recognize individual accomplishments but also continuously inspire others to strive for greatness, remain courageous and become a catalyst for progress and development in their community,” Ambassador De La Vega stated in her remarks.
The Ambassador emphasized that the historic and dynamic people-to-people linkages between the Philippines and Australia is the heart of the Strategic Partnership, announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Manila in September 2023.
The event was also graced by Queensland Leader of the Opposition Mr. David Crisafulli MP; Mr. Robert Skelton MP, Member for Nicklin; The Right Honourable Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane; and, Lady Mayoress of Brisbane Nina Schrinner, and attended by more than 400 members of the Filipino Community in Brisbane.
The State of Queensland is home to more than 73,000 Filipinos, the third top destination of Filipinos in the country following New South Wales and Victoria. Filipinos comprise the fifth largest migrant community in Australia. END
From left to right: QFEA Co-Chair Ms. Connie da Cunha, Lady Mayoress of Brisbane Nina Schrinner, Queensland Leader of the Opposition Mr. David Crisafulli MP, The Right Honourable Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Philippine Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega, Honorary Consul Sheryll Gabutero and QFEA Inc. President Ms. Rejoice Thomson.
Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega (3rd from right) presents the Excellence Awards in Community Service to Ms. Mena Theresa Edmondstone (center). (Photo courtesy of QFEA Inc.)
Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega (4th from right) presents the Excellence Awards in Youth Leadership to Mr. Louie Galman (center). (Photo courtesy of QFEA Inc.)
Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega (3rd from right) presents the Excellence Awards in STEM to Dr. Louisa Parkinson (center). (Photo courtesy of QFEA Inc.)
Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega (3rd from right) presents the Excellence Awards in Business, Industry & Commerce to Ms. Imelda Kateb (5th from right). (Photo courtesy of QFEA Inc.)
Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega (3rd from right) presents the Excellence Awards in Sports to Mr. George William Nield (center). (Photo courtesy of QFEA Inc.)
Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega (3rd from right) presents the Excellence Awards in Entertainment to Mr. Daniel Mallari (center). (Photo courtesy of QFEA Inc.)
Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega and Honorary Consul to Brisbane Sheryll Gabutero with the Filipino community in Brisbane at the 2024 Awards Gala Night in Brisbane City Hall. (Photo courtesy of QFEA Inc.)
For more information, visit https://www.philembassy.org.au, or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustralia/.