PR-37-2022 

Seminar Tackles Philippine Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations with Australia

28 September 2022 - The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne conducted a Seminar on Philippine Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations with Australia with students of the Deakin University International Affairs Society (DIAS) at the Consulate General on Thursday, 28 September 2022. The Seminar was attended by around thirty (30) students interested in international relations and world affairs.

Photo: The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne conducts Seminar on Philippine Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations with Australia with Students of the Deakin University International Affairs Society

Mr. Gerard C. Felipe, former youth mayor of Frankston, Australia, delivered opening remarks and introduced the DIAS as a society providing students who have an interest in global affairs an opportunity to learn about the Philippines and its perspectives on Philippines-Australia relations.

Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo delivered the welcome remarks, acknowledging the importance the Philippines places on student engagement and academic cooperation, including through its flagship project on strengthening partnerships in higher education and technical-vocational training. She introduced the Consulate General in Melbourne and delivered a presentation on Philippine foreign policy, including the pillars, realities and functions of FSPs.

Deputy Consul General Anthony Achilles L. Mandap presented a lecture on Philippines-Australia bilateral relations, including its historical basis, political, economic and people-to-people cooperation and mutual support of maritime security, international law and the rules-based regional architecture.

Dr. Earvin M. Cabalquinto, Lecturer of the Faculty of Arts and Community at Deakin University briefed the body on his research on "Exploring the digital divide in the ageing migrant's personal home". He noted the experiences of elderly migrants in accessing and using digital communication technologies and other communication barriers with the aim of enhancing connective capacities, particularly for Filipino migrant communities in Australia.

Photo: Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo (center), together with Deputy Consul General Anthony Achilles L. Mandap (right) and Consul Jan Sherwin P. Wenceslao (left) address students from Deakin University during the Seminar on Philippine Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations with Australia.

Consul Jan Sherwin Wenceslao provided an overview of the various consular services provided by the Consulate General. In addition to consular services, he underscored the PCG’s role in the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interest of Filipinos overseas, as well as his experiences as a Philippine diplomat, including the core leadership, functional and technical competencies within the Philippine Foreign Service.

The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne promotes enhanced people-to-people relations between the Philippines and Australia, including discussions with students and the academe. END