Nine young Australians visited the Embassy on 12 February before their departure for the Philippines. They form part of the group of 162 Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program (AYAD), which places skilled young Australian volunteers, aged 18-30, on short-term assignments of between 3-12 months, in developing countries throughout the Asia Pacific region.
The program offers young people a wonderful opportunity to contribute to development while at the same time learning about other cultures.
Photo above shows the nine young AYADs: Phoebe Hardefeldt, Rachael Webb, Lea Czikowski, Jennifer Shedden, James Overall, Janet Sparrow, Julia Smith, Timothy O'Mahony and Shannon Smith; with First Secretary Norman Garibay (standing at the back), who gave the group a briefing on the Philippines. The tenth member Skye Liddell was not able to join the group in the Embassy visit. This is the first time the number of AYADs going to the Philippines has reached ten. The largest delegation was at eight, and earlier batches were lesser in number.
The Philippine-bound AYADs were sent-off the evening before at a cocktail reception hosted by the Foreign Minister, Mr. Stephen Smith at the King's Hall of the Old Parliament House, and were formally received by Ambassador Ernesto H. De Leon.
Philippine Ambassador Brainstorms with Sydney Representatives
Ambassador Ernesto H. de Leon (middle) meets with the Sydney-based Representatives of the Departments of Trade and Industry, Tourism and Labor on 22 January 2009 at the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney. Seated at his left are Special Tourism Representative Consuelo G. Jones and Special Trade Representative Michelle Fatima S. Sanchez. At his far right is Philippine Labor Representative Victor Julio R. Ablan. Also in the picture are First Secretary Mary Anne A. Padua and Vice Consul J. Anthony A. Reyes.
Ambassador de Leon, accompanied by Ms. Padua, embarked on a one-day road trip from Canberra to Sydney to touch base with Philippine representatives. He expressed satisfaction at the good work they had done in 2008, and set the directions for 2009, in line with furthering agreements made during the Second Philippines-Australia Meeting (PAMM 2) held in Manila in October 2008. To this end, the Philippine representatives made valuable recommendations, for which Ambassador de Leon expressed his deep appreciation.
No Need to Travel to Canberra for New Philippine Machine Readable Passports (MRP)
When the Philippine Embassy began accepting applications for the new Philippine Machine Readable Passports (MRP) last July, it soon became obvious that the requirement for personal appearance when filing applications can be an expensive and time-consuming process for our kababayans.
The Philippine Embassy thus sought the approval of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs to allow for personal appearance at Philippine Honorary Consulates/Consulates General in state capitals, making it unnecessary for Filipinos outside the Australian Capital Region (ACT) to travel all the way to Canberra. Participating Honorary Consulates General are Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and Hobart.
Ambassador and Madame Ernesto H. De Leon pose with the members of the Philippine swimming team participating in the Pacific School Games (PSG) being held in Canberra, which opened on 30 November and will close on Saturday, 6 December 2008.
The evening of 2 December 2008, the Ambassador and Madam de Leon welcomed the Philippine youngsters, their team manager, coaches and parents to an Australian barbie (barbeque) at the Official Residence. It was, of course, a Pinoy-flavored barbie complete with rice, which the children had missed a mere days after their arrival in the Australian capital.
The PSG is a sporting event involving school-age competitors from the Australian states and territories, as well as other invited countries, particularly from the Pacific Rim. While it has proven to be an effective scouting ground for future sporting and Olympic greats, its main aim is to promote goodwill and understanding among the youth of the Asia-Pacific region.
The Philippines has been participating regularly in the Games, missing only one PSG since its launching in 1982.
