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Welcome and Mabuhay!

This is the first home page about a Filipino Community in the entire Southern Hemisphere and has been made possible through the courtesy of Vicnet.

The First Group of Filipinos: The White Australia policy on immigration prior to 1970 allowed a very small trickle of Filipinos to live in Victoria. A small number of Filipino nursing students was also permitted under the Colombo Plan. It was after the state visit of the then Australian Prime Minister, Hon. Gough Whitlam, to the Philippines in 1973 that Filipinos began to come to Australia in great numbers. Filipino tradesmen and their families were the first biggest group to migrate under the newly relaxed policy on immigration. Filipinas in secretarial jobs comprised the next biggest group.

Family Reunion Program Allows More Filipinos: In 1991 there were 16482 Filipinos in Victoria comprising 1.6 percent of the total Victorian population. The largest number of Philippine-born arrived under the 'concessional brothers/sisters and Family Reunion-parents/dependent children' migration program. Filipinos in computer-related jobs have also arrived in big number in the last ten years. It is worth noting that Philippine-born females outnumbered the males by the ratio of 2:1. With their good command of the English language and great working skills, Filipinos in Victoria were able to settle down immediately in their new adopted country. Statistics on 'Birthplace by Proficiency in English of Persons aged 5 years or more who speak English at home well or very well' showed 95% for Filipinos as against to 80% of the entire population.

Where Filipinos Live in Victoria: Filipinos in Victoria are mostly urban based and can be found in different areas of Metropolitan Melbourne, with the greatest number settling down in the western suburbs. Those who live in the country, that is, outside Metropolitan Melbourne are mostly Filipinas married to Australians. It is not unusual for those Filipinos in the country areas to travel hundred kilometres or more to gather for social activities.

Cultural Heritage and Identity: Although the Filipinos in Victoria have successfully settled down in Victoria, they have not forgotten the country of their origin, the Philippines. They maintain their cultural heritage and identity in the numerous organisations they have established. These organisations have been based on Local Government Areas in Victoria; Regions and Institutions in the Philippines; Activities such as Educational, Political, Cultural, Media, Religious, Sports, Welfare, and Work Related activities; and People Centred such as Community, Elderly, Students, and Women.

Other Links

Official Philippine Embassy Canberra

Unofficial Philippine Embassy Canberra

Universities & Colleges in the Philippines

Filipino Communities around the world

Personal LInks

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