CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA 2012: CELEBRATING AUSTRALIAN CULTURE AND CUISINE
The Australian Embassy in Manila will mark Australia’s National Day on the 26th of January with Celebrate Australia 2012, a week-long festival featuring Australian culture and cuisine.
“Celebrate Australia is our way of sharing with Filipinos all the best from Australia”, said Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell.
“Australia Day is a festive occasion which unifies all Australians as they celebrate their journey and accomplishments as a nation and people. We value our unique heritage – shaped by an ancient Indigenous culture, the establishment of the first European settlement in Australia, and the arrival of migrants from over 200 countries, including around 200,000 Filipinos – which resonates in all facets of our diverse, dynamic and modern society”.
At this year’s celebration, Australia’s vibrant music scene takes centre stage with the performances of talented young Australian pop-soul singer and songwriter Dewayne Everettsmith whom music critics and audiences have touted as a rising star in the Australian music industry. Everettsmith’s Aboriginal heritage and his diverse musical influences combine for a uniquely Australian experience. Catch his performances at the Greenbelt 3 Park on 28 January at 8 PM and at the Salon de Ning at The Peninsula Manila on 31 January at 8 PM.
The exciting flavours of modern Australian cuisine will be on show at The Peninsula Manila’s Tasting Australia food festival from 27 January to 3 February. Guest Executive Chef Adam Mathis, visiting from The Peninsula Tokyo, will prepare innovative Australian culinary masterpieces at Old Manila. At Escolta, feast on a buffet selection of Australian favourites by Chef de Cuisine Anthony Craven. On 28 January, Chef Mathis will share his kitchen sects in “Australian on my plate” Cooking Class from 9 AM to 12 noon. Guests will have a chance to win a round trip ticket for two to Sydney on board the new Qantas Airways A380 aircraft with a minimum spend of Php1, 900 in Old Manila and Escolta, and when signing up for The Peninsula Academy cooking class. The Peninsula Manila will also donate a proportion of the sales from the food promotion to Bahay Tuluyan, a non-government organisation working with children in need of special protection.
On 27 January, the Cinemanila Moonlight Series brings the Australian experience of an open-air cinema to Bonifacio High Street. Spend an evening outdoors enjoying the iconic Australian film ‘Strictly Ballroom’ by internationally renowned director Baz Luhrmann. Moviegoers are welcome to bring their own picnic hampers, low chairs, beanbags or mats. Admission is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Screening starts at 7:30 PM at the Bonifacio High Street Activity Pod 1.
As Ambassador-designate Tweddell shares, “The celebration is also an opportunity to reflect on what an exciting time it is in Australia’s relationship with the Philippines. Our partnership is deep and broad-ranging, and offers great scope for even closer collaboration in the years ahead.”
Celebrate Australia 2012 is presented by the Australian Embassy in partnership with ANZ, Qantas, Jetstar, The Peninsula Manila, Salon de Ning, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, GHD, IDP, Orica, SKM, 2nd Avenue and Cinemanila International Film Festival. Also participating in the festivities are Meat and Livestock Australia, Billyrock Station, Bulla, Bundaberg, Carman’s Cold Rock, Gourmet Depot, Lemnos, Manila Beer and Zen Asia Inc. For more details contact 7578132 or visit www.philippines.embassy.gov.au.