Australia Hosts Exhibit Celebrating Mateship and Bayanihan
Quezon City – Secretary of National Defence Delfin N. Lorenzana joined Australian Ambassador Steven J. Robinson AO at the opening of the “Mateship and Bayanihan: The Story of Philippines-Australia Defence Ties” exhibition at the QCX Museum at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
The exhibition is Australia’s contribution to the national commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Leyte Landings.
“Few people today would be aware of the extent and diversity of Australia’s contribution to the liberation of the Philippines in WWII,” said Ambassador Robinson. “This exhibition highlights this legacy and the tradition of cooperation both in battle and in peacetime. The strong ties forged during WWII continue in modern times.”
The exhibition also traces the growth of the defence ties between the two countries, highlighted by the ongoing cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on counter-terrorism.
“Many may be aware that there are troops from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the Philippines training with their Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts. Australia’s focus is on providing insight and experiences from recent ADF operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and the AFP sharing knowledge from its experiences in Marawi. This helps deal with common threats that we face today and enhances the shared understanding of terrorist threats in the region. ” Ambassador Robinson explained.
“ Looking ahead, I am confident that Australia’s relationship with the Philippines will remain grounded in the values embodied by mateship and bayanihan – friendship, solidarity and cooperation,” said the Ambassador.
The Embassy has partnered with the Department of National Defence, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the local government of Quezon City. The exhibition materials were sourced from the Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia, the Australian Defence Force imagery, Malacañan Presidential Museum and Library, Armed Forces of the Philippines Museum and the University of Santo Tomas archives.
The exhibition is presented with support from Austal Philippines, the fastest growing shipbuilder in the country. “We very much see ourselves as value adding future partner to the Philippine defence community and it is natural for us to support this exhibition, which highlights what can be achieved when we work together. As one of the largest shipbuilders based in Cebu, Austal is proud of how Australian expertise and Filipino skills are building ships for the Philippines and the world,” said Austal Ltd Chief Executive Officer, David Singleton.
The Mateship and Bayanihan exhibition is open to the public until 30 October. QCX Museum is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Entrance is free.
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The Australian Embassy acknowledges its corporate partner Austal Philippines and the QCX Museum. Special thanks to our media partners: Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine Broadcast Service and The Manila Times.
For more information about the #MateshipandBayanihan exhibit, please check www.philippines.embassy.gov.au, like Australia in the Philippines on Facebook, @AusEmbPH on Instagram and follow @AusAmbPH on Twitter.