Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.

THE Australian Embassy recently celebrated Philippines-Australia Friendship Day 2024 in Baguio.

"The Philippines-Australia Friendship Day is an annual celebration that we take to different parts of the country," said Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu. "It is important for us to bring the celebration beyond Manila. Just as Australia is more than its capital, Canberra, the Philippines is much more than its biggest city, and Australia's engagement with the Philippines is spread far and wide."

The ambassador said: "It is a great honor that this year's friendship day was cohosted by Baguio City. I sincerely thank Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the City Government of Baguio for welcoming us here and for his executive order, declaring May 16 to 22 as Philippines-Australia Friendship Week in Baguio. I also thank Baguio Rep. Mark Go for sponsoring House Resolution 1696, congratulating the embassy and the City of Baguio on this year's friendship day celebration."

Australian Ambassador HK Yu and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong meet with artists from Baguio’s Sampaguita Collective during the unveiling of the Baguio-Australia Friendship Mural, titled ‘Yindyammara.’ The photo shows (from left) Eli Ituriaga, Santos Oyan, Ronald de Leon, Mayor Magalong, Silvino Dulnuan, Ambassador Yu together with spouse Fergus Murphy, National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik, Baguio Creative City Council Co-chairman Venus Tan and Josh Inman. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Australian Ambassador HK Yu and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong meet with artists from Baguio’s Sampaguita Collective during the unveiling of the Baguio-Australia Friendship Mural, titled ‘Yindyammara.’ The photo shows (from left) Eli Ituriaga, Santos Oyan, Ronald de Leon, Mayor Magalong, Silvino Dulnuan, Ambassador Yu together with spouse Fergus Murphy, National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik, Baguio Creative City Council Co-chairman Venus Tan and Josh Inman. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Australian business representatives share the stage with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu. There are 250 major Australian companies that have invested in the Philippines, employing 41,000 Filipinos. One of the key strategic partnership priorities is strengthening economic partnership through trade and investment under Australia’s ‘Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.’ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Australian business representatives share the stage with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu. There are 250 major Australian companies that have invested in the Philippines, employing 41,000 Filipinos. One of the key strategic partnership priorities is strengthening economic partnership through trade and investment under Australia’s ‘Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.’ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Philippine government and military leaders join the formal celebration of Philippines-Australia Friendship Day in Baguio, including (from left) Philippine Navy Commanding General Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr., Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Justice Ramon Hernando, Baguio Rep. Mark Go, Australian Ambassador HK Yu, former president and House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño and Philippine Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Rowen Tolentino. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Philippine government and military leaders join the formal celebration of Philippines-Australia Friendship Day in Baguio, including (from left) Philippine Navy Commanding General Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr., Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Justice Ramon Hernando, Baguio Rep. Mark Go, Australian Ambassador HK Yu, former president and House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño and Philippine Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Rowen Tolentino. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Australian Ambassador HK Yu (right) joins farmer Gina Dongbo in harvesting organically grown lettuce In La Trinidad Benguet. Dongbo’s Lucky 4 Organic Farm is a member of the Our Farmers Haven Federation Inc., which benefits from the Australian embassy’s Direct Aid program. The embassy supports small-scale organic farmers from indigenous peoples communities through training and farming technology to improve their vegetable production. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Australian Ambassador HK Yu (right) joins farmer Gina Dongbo in harvesting organically grown lettuce In La Trinidad Benguet. Dongbo’s Lucky 4 Organic Farm is a member of the Our Farmers Haven Federation Inc., which benefits from the Australian embassy’s Direct Aid program. The embassy supports small-scale organic farmers from indigenous peoples communities through training and farming technology to improve their vegetable production. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Australian Ambassador HK Yu, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ACEN Corp. Eric Francia, founder and CEO of Australian company Cyclion Philip Major, and renowned urban planner Paulo Alcazaren speak at the Reinventing Cities forum to tackle critical climate issues and sustainable solutions such as creating a circular economy, designing walkable cities, transitioning to renewable energy and incorporating indigenous peoples’ perspectives. The forum aims to contribute to Baguio City’s vision to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Australian Ambassador HK Yu, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ACEN Corp. Eric Francia, founder and CEO of Australian company Cyclion Philip Major, and renowned urban planner Paulo Alcazaren speak at the Reinventing Cities forum to tackle critical climate issues and sustainable solutions such as creating a circular economy, designing walkable cities, transitioning to renewable energy and incorporating indigenous peoples’ perspectives. The forum aims to contribute to Baguio City’s vision to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Australia had been a strong supporter of Baguio's development efforts over the years through capacity-building programs for school leaders, Australia Awards Scholarships for high-achieving Filipinos, and projects that spanned sectors, including disaster and climate change resilience, health security, sustainable mining, and economic empowerment of women and indigenous peoples in the agriculture sector.

This year's Philippines-Australia Friendship Day celebration was the first since the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.

The signing of the strategic partnership in September last year signified the two countries' shared commitment to work together to create a region that was stable, peaceful and prosperous.

The Philippines-Australia Friendship Day celebration in Baguio reflected some of the key themes of the strategic partnership action plan, deepening defense and development cooperation, continuing shared efforts in agriculture research and collaborating on clean energy transition.

The Philippines-Australia Friendship Day 2024 was copresented by Austal and supported by Acquire BPO, ANZ Bank, AMS Global, Cloudstaff, CPA Australia Ltd., Crone Architects, GHD, Leighton Contractors (Asia) Ltd., Macquarie Group Ltd., Privasec, OceanaGold Philippines, Orica, Qantas Airways Ltd., QBE Insurance Group Ltd., Telstra, University of Adelaide, Worley Power Services, Deakin University, Western Australia (Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation), and SM Supermalls.