Filipinos are regarded to be among the most hospitable and friendly people all over the world. The positive demeanor, cheerfulness, the resiliency and the hospitality of the Filipinos are sure ways to leave lasting and positive memories to any local or international tourists.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu has been equally amazed with these traits. Arriving in the country two years ago, she was captivated with the congeniality of the Filipino people.
"What struck me was that Manila is a huge metropolitan city, and you expect people to be busy and rushing about. But despite the size of the city, everyone I came across with, is so friendly, warm, welcoming — and this first impression continued. It does not matter at what level," Ambassador HK Yu said.
Genuine and good conversations have endeared the Filipinos to the Ambassador but Filipinos who have met Yu cherished this same breadth of emotions — the sincerity and heartfelt friendship of the Australian Ambassador.
Australian Ambassador HK Yu"You can actually strike a conversation with Filipinos and you will immediately feel the amity and openness," added Ambassador Yu, who said that she also had the same attitude. "I am like that, I speak my mind."
It must be this unfeigned spirit, which led her primary teacher Ne Hee Jo to urge her to become a diplomat.
Born in Korea, the Ambassador Yu was 11 years old when her family decided to move to Perth. And she kept in her heart the words of her former teacher.
Yu however did not start a career with the foreign service right away. After studying Commerce, Taxation and Economics, Yu first served with the Australian Government as part of the Australian Tax Office. She then joined The Treasury in Canberra, where she eventually led the Competition and Consumer Policy Division.
On secondment from the Australian Government, Yu once served as a Special Adviser in the Korean Presidential Committee for the G20, where she played a significant role in assisting Korea in chairing the G20 during a critical period in the global economy.
Handpicked by the Australian Government to become special adviser, she was a great fit for the role. She kept her hands full in drafting communiques, papers and provisions for the various agenda of the Summit. Yu's contributions to the success of the summit was recognized by the Australian Government with an Australian Public Service Medal and by the Korean Government with another presidential medal.
Yu also worked for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for two years. When she joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Yu became Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Japan. She also worked as First Assistant Secretary of the Middle East and Africa Division in Canberra.
Yu has, indeed, gone a long way since her teacher predicted that she would one day become a diplomat. And she has done so with flying colors. Yu dealt with all the challenges that come with rising to a leadership role, including breaking gender stereotypes.
"How I managed to get through these barriers most importantly is through self-belief, having confidence and putting yourself forward followed by content," she said.
"People absolutely recognize that I have skills and content to lead in important issues," Yu said. "To ensure that you have good relationship with people, go with people who are willing to support you, to mentor you and to become your champions."
She came to Manila with a clean slate, not knowing what to expect. She emphasized though that what is important in diplomacy is being genuine. "Being honest about your thoughts with consideration of others as you can be honest in a constructive way."
Australians have similar characteristics. Trust, friendliness, fairness, the freedom to speak up on important issues, according to Yu, are values that Australians share with Filipinos.
Strategic Partnership
No wonder that the relationship between Australia and the Philippines has been elevated into a Strategic Partnership. Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese witnessed the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership and other agreements in Malacañang during the latter's visit to the country last year. This was the first bilateral visit by an Australian Prime Minister to the Philippines over the last two decades.
The signing of the Joint Declaration signals the two countries' mutual commitment to deepening the collaboration across a spectrum of areas that are vital to the growth and prosperity of Australia and the Philippines.
Yu counted this signing of the Declaration as among the significant milestones in the relationship, which happened during her term as ambassador. She also recalled another highlight in the relationship was when the Philippine President made his historic address before the Parliament of Australia on "Bayanihan" and "Mateship" in February of this year.
Following the twin visits of President Marcos to Australia, the two countries successfully forged agreements on enhanced maritime cooperation, cyber and critical technology, and cooperation between national competitions, among others. All these, according to Yu, have provided a significant stronghold in what she referred to as the genuine engagement between Australians and the Filipinos.
Southeast Asia Economic Strategy
The Australian Government has also developed its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which is aimed at deepening its economic engagement with the Philippines. It is bent to provide $64. 26 million over four years to increase Australia's trade and investment in the region. What is foreseen under this strategy is an increase in high-level business missions and pilot internships for young professionals in Australian and Philippine companies. Currently there are more than 250 major Australian companies in the Philippines. These companies employ about 41,000 Filipinos in BPOs, infrastructure, banking, telecommunications, energy and education sectors.
Two-way trade is going positive. The Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry recorded the bilateral trade as surpassing the pre-pandemic levels and reaching $4.1 billion in 2023.
Yu excitedly shared the presence of Australian investors in the country in the area of clean energy, which is very high on her agenda.
For example, Macquarie through Blue Leaf Energy, is investing $1.2 billion on a 1.3GW floating solar facility in Laguna Lake. And through Corio Generation, it has secured five contracts to develop offshore wind projects. In addition, Cyclion has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippines' National Development Company to treat municipal solid waste and convert it to energy.
Trade and investments should always work mutually.
Yu said that from the Philippines' side, the Ayala Group, through ACEN has established a subsidiary to develop some of Australia's biggest solar, wind and hydrogen projects, including in New South Wales and Tasmania. The ACEN's partnership with the Yindjibarndi people is one of Australia's largest renewable energy initiatives by First Nations Peoples. ACEN has committed more $673 million on renewable energy projects over the next few years.
Other than energy, the Department of Science and Technology and the Australian Embassy have agreed to carry out scientific and technological cooperation for collaborative research in soil and land management between R and D institutions and other agencies.
Yu explained that this project is going "to help boost agricultural productivity as crops in order to be healthy, need to be planted on good and fertile soil."
The strong collaboration between Australia and the Philippines in development, business, cultural exchange, education, tourism and migration continues. And nothing could beat the stewardship of an Australian Ambassador like HK Yu who only means genuine engagement and concrete action. Definitely, the bilateral relationship is bound to go on the upswing.