17 May 2024, PERTH – Philippine Ambassador to Australia H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega presented the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs letters of appreciation to Ms. Virma Symons and to Ms. Melissa Aguasa for their commitment and contributions in the exercise of their functions during their time as Philippine Honorary Consular Officers in Perth.

Ms. Symons served as the former Philippine Honorary Consul in Perth and Ms. Aguasa was the former Philippine Honorary Vice-Consul in Perth. Ms. Symons also received a Certificate of Merit and Appreciation from the DFA.

The recognition ceremony was held in the morning of 6 May 2024 at the FACPI Clubhouse in Bedford, WA which also served as the venue for the Mobile Consular Mission in Perth which was held from 6-10 May 2024.

Western Australia has been home to waves of Filipino migrants since the 19th century. Known as Manilamen, Filipinos settled in northern Australia as early as the 1870s, including in Broome and worked in the pearl-maritime industry. Today, Western Australia hosts over 46,000 Filipinos and Filipino-Australians.

The Embassy commemorates Philippines-Australia Friendship Month in line with Presidential Proclamation 1282 series of 2016 declaring the 22nd of May of every year as Philippines-Australia Friendship Day.