Australia Day 2025: Reflecting on true bayanihan

Dear Friends,

Jan. 26 is Australia Day – a day to celebrate modern Australia and acknowledge our history.

My time in the Philippines has been one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of my life, and I cannot adequately explain in words how grateful I am for the warmth and hospitality of the Filipinos I’ve met along the way.

Australia Day comes shortly after the Christmas holiday, which is traditionally a time for rest and reflection. As such, I’ve been reflecting on the true meaning of the Philippines-Australia friendship – how it has grown stronger over my time here, and the potential of what is to come.

Friendship, or bayanihan, is a core Australian cultural value. Is the relationship between the Philippines and Australia one of true, equal friendship? In the last year of my term as Australian Ambassador, I can confidently say the answer is yes.

As I wrote in my last column, our two countries achieved an enormous amount together in 2024, demonstrating the practical value of the Philippines-Australia Strategic Partnership.

Friends support each other. That’s why we held two major trade and investment missions, as part of our goal of boosting two-way trade and investment. It’s also why we launched the Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan 2024-29, which will guide our over P4-billion annual commitment in capacity building and development support for the Philippines.

Friends stand up for each other. That’s why we’ve worked together to enhance our civil maritime cooperation to support a region where sovereignty and international law are upheld. It’s also why we continue to develop our defense cooperation at the highest levels, as proven by the inaugural Australia-Philippine Defense Ministers’ Meeting in November last year.

Friends stay connected to each other. The human connections between Australia and the Philippines are profound, with over 450,000 Australians of Filipino descent and hundreds of thousands of Aussie tourists visiting the Philippines each year. We’ve made this connection even easier by extending the Australian Frequent Traveller Stream Visitor Visa, providing multiple entry to Australia for up to 10 years to eligible Filipinos.

The friendship between Australia and the Philippines brings together people from all walks of life. Our police forces work together on combatting transnational crime and protecting the most vulnerable in our societies. Our students study in each other’s countries, including through the Australia Awards Scholarships and the New Colombo Plan. Our scientists are collaborating to improve agricultural research for the benefit of Filipino farmers, fisherfolk and better food security for the wider population.

And our friendship can grow deeper still. In 2026, which will also mark the 80th anniversary of Australia-Philippines diplomatic relations, the Philippines will be the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN is Southeast Asia’s primary intergovernmental organization, and it underpins regional stability, guards against conflict and reinforces the rules and norms that protect us all.

Friends are often likeminded, and Australia and the Philippines have a shared view for our region and the world: one based on rules, where no country dominates or is dominated. One where differences are managed through respectful dialogue, not the threat or use of force. Consequently, Australia will spare no effort to support the Philippines in its ASEAN Chair year, and we look forward to seeing the benefits that the Philippines’ leadership will bring us all.

Friends also help each other grow. To this end, I am exceptionally proud to announce that Australia is supporting the government of the Philippines to develop the country’s first independent forensic institute. Working with Filipino and Australian academics, this institute will train the Philippines’ next generation of forensic doctors and help bolster transparency and accountability within the Philippines’ justice system.

But there’s more. Later this year will see Exercise Alon, a massive training activity to improve the inter-operability of the Philippine and Australian defense forces as part of our already strong defense relationship. It will also see more business missions from Australia to the Philippines, with a focus on mining and the digital economy.

So this Australia Day, I hope you will join me in toasting the true friendship between the Philippines and Australia (perhaps accompanied by some nice Western Australian wine!); how much we have achieved, and how much more we can accomplish together.

I intend to make my last Australia Day here my best one yet, and I look forward to celebrating with good food and good laughter, accompanied by the Filipinos and Australians in my life – because that’s what friends do.

Yours truly,

HK

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HK Yu is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @AusAmbPH.