Media Release
22 May 2026
The Quezon Memorial Shrine was illuminated in green and gold, Australia’s national colours, on Friday evening as the Australian Embassy marked this year’s Philippines–Australia Friendship Day and the 80th anniversary of bilateral relations in Quezon City.
A groundbreaking ceremony was also held for a historical marker commissioned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), commemorating Australia’s support for President Manuel L. Quezon and his government during the Second World War.
Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown said Quezon City was a fitting venue for the occasion.
“In 1942, Australia welcomed President Manuel L. Quezon and his government during one of the darkest chapters in Philippine history. That spirit of friendship endures today, in our Strategic Partnership, our extensive cooperation, and in the more than 400,000 Filipinos who call Australia home,” he said.
Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim, NHCP Executive Director Carminda Arevalo, and Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina Belmonte attended both ceremonies.
In early 1942, President Quezon and his government fled the besieged island of Corregidor to continue the struggle for liberation. Their journey took them by submarine to Panay, by steamer and PT boat through perilous waters in the Visayas, before boarding B-17 bombers from Mindanao. They arrived in Darwin, northern Australia, on 27 March 1942, before continuing to Melbourne, where they were received by the Australian Government and General Douglas MacArthur. President Quezon and his government remained in Australia for nearly a month before departing for the United States.
Formal diplomatic relations were established on this day 80 years ago, with the opening of the Australian Consulate in Manila on 22 May 1946.
Australia remains committed to working alongside the Philippines as a trusted friend and partner, advancing shared priorities in key areas such as defence and maritime cooperation, trade and investment, education, development cooperation, and people-to-people links.
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Photos: Available for download here.