Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyung Yu will never forget her first official trip to Davao City. Thanks to Vice President Sara Duterte, who urged her and told her about the uniqueness of Davao City.
True enough, the Australian Ambassador can’t stop admiring the beauty of the city and other things that led to the strong connection between the city and Australia during her three-day visit to Davao City recently.
“This is my first official trip to Davao City and Mindanao and I’ve been looking forward to this. Everyone I met in Manila including Vice President Sara Duterte had been telling me about the uniqueness of Davao City and when I got here I found out what she meant. Coming to Davao City, I’ve been struck by the vibrancy of your beautiful city and the amazing economic activity that seems to be happening everywhere all around the city,” she said in an interview.
On December 8, 2022, Yu visited the Australian exhibit dubbed Gather22: People and Planet for Sustainable Futures at SM Lanang Premier initiated the Australian embassy and the Australian Global Alumni in the Philippines.
“Perfect time because Christmas time is upon us and they are selling amazing products that are really innovative and environmentally friendly products that can achieve profitability and sustainability,” she said.
She said in Mindanao there are 600 Australian alumni, people who studied in Australia or received scholarship grants by the Australian government to do an in-countries scholarship program. She said out of the 600 there are more than 300 alumni in Davao City and part of her trip is all about getting the alumni community here.
Yu also visited the Malagos Chocolate Farm House owned by the Puentespina family.
“The family are among the Australia-supported program grantees,” she bared.
She also visited the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in Malagos, Baguio District and according to her Dr. Jason Ibañez, the director for Research and Conservation of PEF is also an Australian alumnus.
“Another very strong connection to Australia and he was leading the way in caring the groups of Indigenous People living together in Mt. Apo and working with them to protect the Philippine Eagle,” she said.
Yu said she didn’t pass the chance to try the durian at the Belviz Durian Farm in Calinan. She said durian from Davao City, particularly the Puyat variety, has high demand in Australia.
“Your wonderful durian is exported to Australia as fresh frozen goods. It goes with a very good price there in Australia and very high in demand,” she said.
She said the biggest pillar of cooperation between Davao City and Australia is the people-to-people links.
“I just love my first visit here, I love the city, the great surroundings, this is the biggest city in the whole of the Philippines in terms of geographic landmass. I can’t wait to bring my family here. Hopefully, next time it could be longer so we can enjoy all the different aspects of the beautiful Davao City and specially the kind and hospitable people. I’ll be back very soon,” she said.
She said Australia’s relationship with Davao City and Mindanao has been very important to the Australian government.
She said they have a development program that is Australia’s fifth largest in the world to the Philippines and around 89 million dollars on it and a big cut of it goes straight to Mindanao. They are working in the areas of education, humanitarian response, disaster resilience, and assisting in the area of health, particularly during the pandemic.
