It’s the perfect time for Filipino-Australian food writer Yasmin Newman to be back in the country as April is Filipino Food Month. She’s been busy doing promotional events for her new book, Under the Coconut Skies, which features Filipino recipes along with the history they come with.
At an event at Australian Ambassador HK Yu’s residence, Newman did a demonstration of how to make a Filipino pavlova using our homegrown fruits, a hit among the guests. Newman is sweet and endearing, with a genuine passion for getting Filipino food out there and on their tables. “People were always interested in Filipino food they just didn’t have any access to it because they didn’t know much about Philippines—yet.”
Barely a week later, Australian minister for trade and tourism, Senator Don Farrell, visited the Philippines with Amb. Yu hosting a sundowner BBQ at her residence. Farrell wants more Filipinos to come to Australia and for Australians to see more of the Philippines as well. “Well, in fact, it’s not the first time I came here. I arrived in 1982 and 12 months later I married my beautiful wife here Nimfa. Come December this year, we’re bringing our three daughters and our three grandchildren back to the Philippines to celebrate 40 years of a wonderful marriage,” he said.
There are 400,000 Australians with Filipino heritage, making Filipinos one of the biggest migrant groups. No wonder our people-to-people relations are thriving. With direct flights from Qantas, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific, it’s time to make that trip to Australia.
Japan confers Order of the Rising Sun to two Filipinos
Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa hosted a conferment ceremony at his official residence on behalf of his government. On April 21, former Philippine Judo Federation president David Carter and lawyer Josue Sim Zuniega were respectively conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays. Both have made notable contributions to strengthening the bilateral ties between Japan and the Philippines.Carter, a prominent figure in Philippine judo, is a member of the Kodokan Judo Institute in Japan. He has been a Japan Foundation sports fellow since 2001. Currently serving as the sports director of the Asian Judo Federation and a member of the International Judo Federation, his dedication to the sport helped deepen Japan-Philippines relations. “Not only judo, but sports encourages camaraderie, brotherhood,” said Carter.
Zuniega, meanwhile, is a legal advisor at the Manila office of the Philippine Nikkeijin Legal Support Center (PNLSC), a non-profit organization, where he has collected information on more than 3,800 Filipinos of Japanese descent, or Nikkeijin, since 2008. Zuniega has worked tirelessly to help restore Japanese citizenships for approximately 1,500 Filipino Nikkeijin who are mostly well into their 80s. Zuniega has also been helping improve their living status in the Philippines.
In his speech, Amb. Koshikawa conveyed his deepest gratitude and congratulations to Carter Zuniega, and expressed hope they will continue to take active roles in advancing relations between Japan and the Philippines.
Germany hosts Climate Talks Manila
The German Embassy hosted the first edition of Climate Talks at the Yuchengco Museum on April 18. Members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, journalists, and stakeholders attended the discussion, hoping to raise awareness and look for solutions together to decarbonize the Philippine energy sector.
German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel and Department of Energy undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella opened the event and welcomed German State Secretary and special envoy for International Climate Action Jennifer Lee Morgan who delivered the event’s keynote speech. Morgan highlighted her visit to Tacloban and the city’s experiences of Typhoon Haiyan back in 2013. She acknowledged Germany’s role in climate action and called for solidarity with vulnerable communities through new funding arrangements for Loss and Damage as decided at COP27. During the panel discussion, Morgan explained Germany’s path to a comprehensive renewable energy supply, including the experience of phasing out coal.
Vice chairperson and executive director of the Philippine Climate Change Commission Robert E.A. Borje explained that the Philippine’s transition to a low carbon economy relies on 4 Ps: clear policies, programs that matter, partnerships, and progress. In order to achieve this progress, measures needed to be coherent and coordinated, encouraging stakeholders’ compliance. To conclude, Borje said, “We all can contribute and galvanize our work. Climate justice needs to be the bedrock of all our actions.”
SFA ADR laid to rest
The country lost a great patriot on April 17 when former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario passed away while he was on a flight to San Francisco. He was 83. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) hosted a mass during his wake on April 24 where officials who worked closely with him delivered eulogies, sharing memories with the former cabinet member.Del Rosario is known for his fierce dedication to Philippine sovereignty and bringing the country’s claims over the West Philippine Sea to an arbitral court in The Hague, then winning a landmark victory for the Philippines in 2016. A true gentleman and a patriot, he is missed even by journalists who have covered him. Rest in peace, Sir.