DAVAO City has lined up several events for the celebration of the Philippine-Australia Friendship Week 2018 that is held for the first time here.
The celebration, which kicked off Monday, May 21, is geared to cement bilateral ties between the Philippines and Australia.
During the Kapehan sa Dabaw at The Annex at SM City Davao Monday, Deputy Head of Mission Australia Embassy in the Philippines Mat Kimberley said that this is the first time that they will be holding the activity outside Manila and they chose Davao City to hold the activity to also share and let Dabawenyos experience their culture, art, music and sports.
The festival started with proclamation of Philippines-Australia Friendship Week in the city of Davao at the City Hall. It will then culminate with a three-day festival and a concert at SM Lanang Premier on the weekend from May 25 to 27.
He said that the weekend festival at SM Lanang Premier will feature booths by Australia-educated entrepreneurs; booths from Australian universities; and a visa information session led by the Embassy’s chief Immigration Officer.
Kimberley added that as part of the celebration, shoppers at SM Lanang Premier and SM City will also get a chance to win tickets for two to Australia via Qantas Airways for the raffle draw.
They will also have a music and graphic panel exhibit through the Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route which tells about the Australian Indigenous Culture.
The highlight of the weeklong celebration is a concert on Saturday, May 26 at 6 a.m. at SM Lanang Premier. The concert will feature Indigenous Australian didgeridoo artist Jeremy Donovan; Filipino singer Pilita Corrales and Davao’s young acts making a splash in the international music scene like Indie band Thea and beatboxer Neil Llanes.
There are almost 300,000 Filipinos who are residing in Australia which makes us one of the fastest growing populations there and Tagalog as the 4th most spoken language.
Meanwhile, the Australian delegates and the local government of Davao invite Dabawenyos to join the celebration and get acquainted on their unique culture and heritage.
“The City Government of Davao recognizes the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Australia. I invite my fellow Dabawenyos to celebrate Philippines-Australia Friendship Week,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said.