PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Embassy, Canberra
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*
Ambassador De La Vega congratulates Queensland Filipino Excellence Awardees
23 APRIL 2024, BRISBANE – Philippine Ambassador to Australia H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, together with Honorary Consul Sheryll Gabutero of the Philippine Consulate in Brisbane, joined the Filipino community in celebrating and recognizing the outstanding achievements of Filipinos in Queensland in the 2024 Awards Gala Night in Brisbane City Hall on 21 April 2024. The event was organized by the Queensland Filipino Excellence Awards (QFEA) Inc. led by Ms. Rejoice Thomson.
The QFEA is held every five years to pay recognition to all outstanding Filipinos in Queensland. It celebrates the distinct Filipino traits of compassion, industry, perseverance, resilience and community spirit, and aims to uplift the Filipino community by showcasing and recognising innovators, positive change-makers, and success stories of Filipinos in Queensland.
The Ambassador presented the awards to the following recipients:
● Excellence Awards in Community Service - Mena Theresa Edmondstone
● Excellence Awards in Youth Leadership - Louie Galman
● Excellence Awards in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) - Dr. Louisa
Parkinson
● Excellence Awards in Business, Industry and Commerce - Imelda Kateb
● Excellence Awards in Arts and Culture - Alex Salvador
● Excellence Awards in Sports - George William Nield
● Excellence Awards in Entertainment - Daniel Mallari
“It is through these endeavors that we are not only able to recognize individual accomplishments but also continuously inspire others to strive for greatness, remain courageous and become a catalyst for progress and development in their community,” Ambassador De La Vega stated in her remarks.
The Ambassador emphasized that the historic and dynamic people-to-people linkages between the Philippines and Australia is the heart of the Strategic Partnership, announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Manila in September 2023.
The event was also graced by Queensland Leader of the Opposition Mr. David Crisafulli MP; Mr. Robert Skelton MP, Member for Nicklin; The Right Honourable Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane; and, Lady Mayoress of Brisbane Nina Schrinner, and attended by more than 400 members of the Filipino Community in Brisbane.
The State of Queensland is home to more than 73,000 Filipinos, the third top destination of Filipinos in the country following New South Wales and Victoria. Filipinos comprise the fifth largest migrant community in Australia. -- END
