IN CELEBRATION of the longstanding and close friendship between the Philippines and Australia, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued on May 15 a proclamation declaring May 21 to 27 as Philippine-Australia Friendship Week in Davao City.
The celebration was officially opened by recognizing the long bilateral ties between the two countries on Monday, May 21, during the flag raising ceremony at Manuel L. Quezon Park, San Pedro Street, Davao City.
Duterte-Carpio, together with Australian Embassy deputy head of Mission to the Philippines Mat Kimberley, led the start of the celebration.
The recognition was followed by a “Brigada Eskwela” activity in the afternoon at Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School along Quirino Street, where the Australian government also donated Learning Action Cell Materials and Kindergarten Kit to the Department of Education.
On the second day, Give-A-Textbook (GAT), a Melbourne-based non-profit charity that actively distributes books throughout the Philippines, in partnership with the Australian Embassy, handed over books at the newly opened Australian Corner at the Davao City Library.
This Corner is the new resource section in the library inside the Sangguniang Panlungsod building. The books were turned over by Kimberley and GAT treasurer Sue Pappas to the city and were received by Davao City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez.
On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the PM Australia Global Alumni will have a Family Day with Philippine Rugby Football Union at the University of Mindanao where different outdoor activities will be held like the “Get Into Rugby” tournament and clinics, Philippine-Aussie outdoor games, and barbecue at the university.
From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Philippines-Australia Friendship Day mall festival will be held at SM Lanang Premier.