Press Release

New Book on Fil-Oz Relations, now in the Philippines

By Renato Perdon
Sydney-Australia
October 11, 2014



This book will travel down from the past. It begins from the time the Philippines was linked to Australia through the historic voyage of Luis Vaez de Torres in 1606 and the reports to the King of Spain he made in Manila mentioning a ‘large island continent’ while preparing for his return trip to Spain.
  On his part as the diplomatic representative of Australia in the Philippines His Excellency, Ambassador Bill Tweddell emphasised that ‘Education is a cornerstone of the strong and enduring friendship between Australia and the Philippines. Our education partnership dates back to the 1950s, when future Filipino leaders built their knowledge, enhanced their leadership skills, and forged enduring ties as scholars in Australia, supported under the Colombo Plan.’
  The book also found support from no less than the chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Dr. Serena Maria I. Diokno, when she noted the importance of the book and said: ‘The history of Philippine-Australian relations is hardly written about, and given the size of the Filipino Australian community today, such a history would be relevant. Renato Perdon’s work is an important step in understanding this little known aspect about our past.’