An independent nation is founded on the spirit and ambition of its people, and I congratulate the Filipino Australian community as it celebrates 122 years of independence.
As the great Filipino patriot Jose Rizal once said:
‘He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.’
Today the Filipino community in Australia is both strong and vibrant. We are home to 270,000 people of Filipino heritage — our country’s fifth-largest diaspora — and next year we will celebrate 75 years of formal diplomatic ties.
For both countries, we are proud of the breadth and depth of our relationship.
The Filipino community has contributed to Australian society across all fields of endeavour, and in fostering the relationships of multicultural harmony. Your achievements in business, education and community involvement are something in which you can all take pride.
While the COVID-19 global health pandemic means we cannot gather together to celebrate as we have in the past, we can do so in spirit.
On this national day, we honour the nation and people of the Philippines. We acknowledge the long-standing friendship between our free peoples. May it continue to grow and flourish in the years ahead.
The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister of Australia