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Manila Bulletin devider Drive devider Celebrating Philippines-Australia friendship

Celebrating Philippines-Australia friendship

Published Jun 4, 2022 04:05 pm

The celebration was a three-day food, retail, study, and travel festival at SM Megamall

The Australian Embassy, in partnership with SM, recently celebrated this year’s Philippines-Australia Friendship Day with Experience Australia, a three-day food, retail, study, and travel festival at SM Megamall.

Australian Ambassador Steven J. Robinson was joined by members of the business sector, Australia Global Alumni network, Filipino-Australian community, and officials from the Australian Embassy and SM.

Australia alumna, Bel Castro, Assistant Dean of Enderun College
Australian Embassy’s Political, Economic, and Public Diplomacy Counsellor James Yeomans and Filipino-Australian Miss Eco International 2022 Kathleen Paton
SM Supermalls President Steven Tan at the launch of ‘Experience Australia: The Philippines-Australia Friendship Day Festival’ at SM Megamall
Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson and Australian Embassy Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Christopher Lim highlight a Taste of Australia at the Experience Australia launch
A toast for great friendship, great travel, and great wine: Qantas Philippines General Manager Honeybee Hubahib and SM’s Millie Dizon at the Don Revy Philippines pop-up featuring premium Australian wines

“We mark Philippines-Australia Friendship Day every May 22, and we bring the celebration to a different city each year. This year, we are pleased to celebrate Friendship Day back in Manila, our first face-to-face festival since the pandemic,” said Ambassador Robinson.

Mallgoers got to experience shopping in Sydney’s The Rocks markets with Taste of Australia pop-ups featuring world-class wines, sustainable meat, fresh fruits, healthy snacks, and an exciting selection of Coles products.

It was also announced during the launch that Coles, one of the largest supermarket chains in Australia, comes to the Philippines for the very first time through its partnership with SM Markets. With this, Filipinos have a chance to enjoy Aussie favorites ranging from cookies, chocolate bars, milk, honey, coffee, tea, and cereals to baking needs, condiments, hearty soups, tasty liquid stocks, and more. Coles products are exclusively available at select SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore branches.

Nature’s Harvest Vice President and Australia alumnus, Warren Chua
Harvestime’s premium frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries
A true-blue Aussie favorite. Violet Crumble at the Candy Corner pop-up
Guiltless goodness in every cup of Australia’s Koomi yogurt drinks

“I am so excited for Filipinos to be able to enjoy the products we love back home. Coles is one of Australia’s biggest and long-established brands; similar to what SM Markets is to the Philippines. What makes it even better is that SM is able to offer Coles products at a reasonable price so that more and more families can start enjoying Coles regularly at home,” Ambassador Robinson added.

Mallgoers got to experience shopping in Sydney’s The Rocks markets with Taste of Australia pop-ups featuring world-class wines, sustainable meat, fresh fruits, healthy snacks, and an exciting selection of Coles products.

Mallgoers also learned about study opportunities at Australia’s world class-universities at the Experience Australia education booths while Australia Global Alumni booths featuring handcrafted clothing and accessories, gift items, as well as fresh and artisanal food by Australia-educated Filipinos, were also on display.

SM Megamall Assistant Vice President for Operations Ian Mathay, Australian Embassy Portfolio Manager Rollie dela Cruz, Filipino-Australian and Visum Ventures President and CEO Mike Hilton, and SM Megamall Assistant Vice President for Marketing Karen San Diego at the launch of ‘Experience Australia’
Three SM Markets Presidents (from left ) SM Supermarket’s Jojo Tagbo, Savemore Market’s Genevieve Manalad, and SM Hypermarket President Arnold Daluz, and SM Retail’s Millie Dizon (second from right) with Australian icons
Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson at the SM Markets pop-up featuring favorites from Coles, one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains

Other festival highlights included a special visit by Filipino-Australian celebrities Diego Loyzaga, Teresa Loyzaga, and Leila Alcasid and a chance to win roundtrip tickets for two to Australia via Qantas.

Experience Australia: The Philippines-Australia Friendship Day Festival is one of the many exciting events at SM Megamall.

Related Tags

Australian favorites Philippine-Australia Friendship Day Coles festival Wine SM Megamall food Panorama Australian Embassy in the Philippines
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