13 April 2016 – Philippine Ambassador to Canberra Minda Calaguian-Cruz met with members of the Filipino Community of Darwin, Northern Territory (NT) on Sunday, April 03 in separate occasions at the Hilton Hotel and the Parliament House of NT. Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz was in Darwin upon the invitation of the NT Government to attend the ASEAN Heads of Mission Official Visit to the NT.
During the meeting with members of the Filipino Community that was organized by the Philippine Honorary Consul General to NT, Mr. Januario John Rivas, Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz shared that the NT government invited the ASEAN Ambassadors because of its interest in improving the economic, investment and trade relations between Northern Australia and ASEAN, particularly the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East ASEAN Growth AREA (BIMP-EAGA), of which the Philippines is an integral part.
Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz congratulated the Filipino community leaders for contributing to the positive image of the Philippines in their adopted country, and for their continued efforts to promote and be involved in the economic development of the Philippines, through their livelihood programs and fundraising activities. Noting that the first wave of Filipinos in Australia came to Darwin as pearl divers back in the late 19th century, she suggested that the Filipino-Australians of Darwin document their contributions to the community and share the process of how the community is increasingly becoming empowered, in order to inspire future generations of Filipino immigrants to be positive agents of change for both the Philippines and Australia.
She commended Mr. Rivas for his dedicated consular work in NT, and for his economic diplomacy and humanitarian work in the Visayas and Mindanao.
At the reception hosted by Deputy Chief Minister Peter Styles for the ASEAN Heads of Mission, Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz met leaders of the Filipino Australian Association of the Northern Territory (FAANT) led by Mr. Oscar Parian. After the reception, Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz joined in the birthday celebration of Fr. Felimon Libot, the Filipino priest of the Holy Family Parish. END
