The Philippines Australia Studies Centre (PASC) at La Trobe was formally established at a meeting on 8 October, 2003. PASC is a joint venture between La Trobe University and Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo) in the Philippines, and stems from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two universities in March 2000 and renewed for a further 5 years in June, 2005. We have had a student exchange agreement since 2007 and we are set to renew our MOU in 2010. We have had four bilateral meetings: three in Manila (January, 2000; February, 2005; June, 2007); and two in Melbourne (April, 2001, July, 2009) and one each in Bangkok (June, 2007) and Perth and Mildura and Bendigo (July, 2009). The Philippines Australia Studies Network (PASN) office is established at Ateneo de Manila University with matching resources. Both PASC and PASN are committed to extending the research network. To that end La Trobe University has recently signed an MOU with the University of the Philippines (January, 2010).
Our partner organisation at Ateneo is the Philippines Australia Studies Network. We have had three bilateral meetings: Manila (January, 2000); Melbourne (April, 2001); and the third in February, 2003 at Ateneo. The initiator of this agreement was Professor Dennis Altman, Politics Program, and the greater part of activity and commitment has been provided by the School of Social Sciences.
Objectives
The Centre has 9 main aims, as set out in its Constitution:
- To encourage the development and application of Filipino and Australian research through publishing and presenting material in printed and electronic form and through delivering educational workshops, forums and conferences.
- To facilitate exchanges between the Philippines and Australia of Filipino and Australian scholars.
- To encourage Filipino students to enrol in Australian postgraduate programs and vice versa.
- To promote studies of the Philippines and Australia in regional and global settings.
- To co-operate and collaborate with the Philippines Australia Studies Network at Ateneo de Manila University.
- To encourage student exchange programs between the two nations through La Trobe University and Ateneo de Manila University.
- To significantly expand the opportunities for research in the region especially in facilitating the socio-economic goals of development, justice, poverty eradication, health, trade, and good governance.
- To promote the teaching and research activities of members of staff of Ateneo de Manila University and La Trobe University through the development of projects that require collaborative team research.
- To improve and deepen relations, networks and mutual understanding between the Philippines and Australia through education, exchanges, research collaboration, and bilateral meetings.
Membership
Office bearers
Dr Trevor Hogan (Director) and Professor Charles Mott (Deputy Director).
General members
Dennis Altman
Peter Beilharz
Edwin Wise,
Harry Aveling
Joe Camilleri
Larry Marshall
Margarita Frederico
Maria Cameron
Michalis Michael
Neil Fettling
Randy LaPolla
Simon Barraclough
Skilty Labastilla
Vince Alessi
Vivian Lin
Wendy Mee
Paul Northam
Rosemarie Edillon
Joseph Salazar
Mary Thomas
Anthony Rodriguez-Jiminez
Andrew Morrison.
Associate members:
Maridel Anandar
Bobby Benedicto
Barry Carr
Lisandro Claudio
Augustine Doronila
Joel Kahn
Malou Logan
Beryl Langer
Lilac Limpangog
Revyi Marinas
Deirdre McKay
Al Noveloso
Peter Murphy
Robert Nery
Vienna Parreno
Cliff Picton
Michael Pinches
Max Richter
Kathleen Weekley
Informal membership of PASC is open to all interested parties.
Networks
Philippines Australia Studies Network (PASN)
PASN is chaired by Professor Antonette Palma-Angeles (Vice-President of Academic and International Programs). The project officer is Fe Dayap. The director is Dr Filomeno V. Aguilar.
Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC)
PASC became a formal member of APBC in September 2004.
Barangay Australia
Barangay Australia is a network of Filipino (Pinoy) students as well as alumni and friends across the State of Victoria. It animates the community spirit of bayanihan (heroic duties) and pakikipagkapwa (fellowship) commonly found in the barangay (village) combined with learning and fun. While “Barangay Australia” was only coined in 2005 in conjunction with its first general assembly, it traces its beginnings with scholars from the Philippines who would exchange tips about life in Australia and offer their support. Today, Barangay Australia aspires be a cultural bridge between local Filipino students and their international counterparts, providing a unifying force across the state of Victoria. It operates through volunteer members acting as university-based coordinators and project coordinators at the network level.
Community and Family Services International (CFSI)
During the past year our links with Community and Family Services International have been further strengthened by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the La Trobe School of Social Work and Social Policy for a further five years. As a consequence of this the Myer Foundation has provided a grant to enable La Trobe Social Work Students to continue to complete their practical work at CFSI in Manila. Currently three students are working in the agency for a period of 14 weeks. In addition to the above Cliff Picton, the University Ombudsman, has been appointed a Trustee and member of the Board of Management of CFSI.
Philippine Studies Association of Australasia Inc
The Philippine Studies Association of Australasia Inc (PSAA) continues to work in maintaining links with individuals and organizations world wide, facilitating information-sharing and collegial discussion among Filipinists. PSAA is over 30 years old and in conjunction with its joint USA publication, Pilipinas, connects and informs scholars. The Journal, Pilipinas, always welcomes paper submissions, and looks forward to a special Issue on Filipino sexuality, and its 50th Issue in 2008. The Journal has a website (http://www.pilipinas.com.au), and is currently archiving back Issues to 1980. Membership of PSAA automatically links to Pilipinas subscription.
Dr. Paul Mathews, Secretary,
Managing Editor, Pilipinas
Philippine Studies Association of Australasia Inc. (PSAA)
PO Box 827 Jamison 2614, Canberra, Australia.
APA linkage scholarships
The Philippine/Australian relationship
I. Philippine Migration to Australia
Filipinos are the third largest non-European immigrant community in Australia (behind Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants). Significant numbers of Filipinos immigrated to Australia between the 1960s and the 1990s and Filipinos remain one of the fastest growing immigrant communities in Australia. At the 2001 Census, members of the Filipino community in Australia numbered 103,990, of which 35,840 are male (34.5%) and 58,150 are female (65.5%).
Most Filipinos (90%) coming to Australia enter as “family reunion” category immigrants. The 2001 Census showed that the rate of Australian citizenship for the Philippines-born in Australia was 93.5%, compared for all overseas born of 75.1%. Majority speak the Tagalog language (66.7%), while the most common religion was Catholic (81.0%). The majority of Filipino migrants working in Australia are professionals, including public servants, computer analysts and programmers, solicitors, doctors, architects, engineers and academicians. Filipinos have also made their mark and contribution to Australian society as entrepreneurs, businessmen, tradesmen, artists and entertainers.
According to the 2001 Census, the distribution by State/Territory is: New South Wales - 52,240 (50.2%); Victoria – 22,500 (21.6%); Queensland – 15,450 (14.9%); Western Australia – 5,400 (5.2%); South Australia – 4,510 (4.3%); Northern Territory – 1,730 (1.7%); Australian Capital Territory – 1,390 (1.3%) and Tasmania – 760 (0.7%).
II. Bilaterial Economic Relations
The Philippines maintains a good trading relationship with Australia. Two-way merchandise trade was valued at A$1.68 billion in 2005-06 and there is significant potential for growth.
Major Australian merchandise exports to the Philippines between 2005 and 2006 were milk and cream (A$139 million); medicaments, including veterinary (A$83 million); coal (A$57 million); and copper (A$56 million) whereas imports from the Philippines during the same period were crude petroleum (A$254 million); telecommunications equipment ($79 million); integrated circuits (A$50 million); and computers (A$34 million).
The Philippines is keen to export bananas to Australia and Biosecurity Australia is currently conducting an Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Philippine bananas. Trial shipments of Philippine pineapples to Australia have been made following completion of an IRA for Philippine pineapples. Commercial shipments of pineapples are expected in the near future.
Total trade in services between Australia and the Philippines in 2005 comprised A$159 million in exports and A$263 in imports. Major Australian service exports to the Philippines last year were personal travel services (A$44 million) and education-related travel (A$31 million). Major service imports from the Philippines were personal and business travel (A$200 million).
Opportunities exist for Australian companies to participate in development projects. The Philippines is the fourth largest recipient of Australian bilateral development assistance with an estimated A$68.8 million in aid flow for 2006-2007.
Australian development assistance to the Philippines has almost doubled over the past decade. In 2006-07, Australian aid flows to the Philippines are estimated to be $68.8 million, making the Philippines the fourth largest recipient of Australian bilateral development assistance. The Government will intensify aid efforts in the Philippines over the next five years, as outlined in the Australian Government’s white paper on overseas aid, launched in April 2006. The Government is developing a new country strategy for the Philippines for the period 2007-2011.
The majority of Australian aid to the Philippines is directed at Mindanao, home to 20 per cent of the Philippines' population and approximately one third of its poor. As a result of decades of unrest, the development of health, education and infrastructure in Mindanao has lagged behind the rest of the Philippines. Australian development assistance has been used to strengthen the delivery of basic services for children in the areas of health, nutrition, basic education and child protection. Australian aid also supports the Philippines Government's reform agenda by assisting local government service delivery and by working to enhance the efficiency and accountability of the judiciary.
III. Defence and Security Cooperation
Australia is the second largest provider of defence training to the Philippines after the United States. Historically, the Australia-Philippines defence cooperation program has centred on the training of Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel.
In support of enhanced regional security, the defence cooperation budget for 2005-06 was A$3.6 million. These funds financed high level policy talks, training some 70 officers in Australia and visits
Australia and the Philippines signed a bilateral MOU on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism in March 2003, and another MOU on combating transnational crime (between the Australian Federal Police and the Philippines National Police) in July 2003. During his visit to the Philippines in July 2003, Prime Minister Howard announced a three-year A$5 million package of counter-terrorism assistance to the Philippines Government. In October 2004, the Prime Minister announced a doubling of this assistance to A$10 million over five years. This assistance package provides practical assistance in policing, immigration, port security and cooperation to address regional counter-terrorism issues. The Philippines will also benefit from elements of the A$92.6 million Regional Counter-Terrorism Package announced in the 2006-07 Budget.
Key source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT website)
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