Key Points
- Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega commenced her six-year ambassadorship in Australia in November 2018.
- Under her watch, the Australia and Philippine partnership was elevated from comprehensive to strategic with key focus on trade, defence and security.
- De La Vega finishes her tour of duty in Australia at the end of this month and will be back in the Philippines to serve as Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, will end her six-year tour of duty in Australia on Thursday, 28 November 2024.
In an exclusive interview with SBS Filipino, De La Vega expressed her gratitude to all Filipinos in Australia and recognised their positive contribution to community.
“I’m proud of the Filipino diaspora and am truly grateful for all the support you have given me as your Ambassador,” De La Vega said.
Filipino community leaders in the ACT organised a farewell celebration for Ambassador De La Vega. Credit: Daniel Deleña
During the COVID pandemic, she mobilised consular missions to states and territories and organised face-to-face meetings with Filipino community and business leaders.
Egalitarianism and the concept of 'fair go' are values the ambassador admires the most about Australia, where she served as top Philippine diplomat from 2018.
For De La Vega, it is critical that the Philippines and Australia continue to have strong ties, particularly in defence, trade, and investment.
Under her leadership, the relationship between the two countries elevated from being comprehensive to strategic, which focuses on people-to-people linkages and security.
while this year — a historic moment and a testament to the strong alliance between the Pearl of the Orient and the land under the Southern Cross.
Philippine Ambassador De La Vega at the Philippine Independence Day diplomatic reception at Hotel Realm this year (L-R: Minister for Trade and Tourism the Hon Sen Don Farrell, Ambassador De La Vega, DFAT Deputy Secretary Michelle Chan, Federal Member for Bean David Smith MP) Credit: Daniel Deleña
Ambassador De La Vega also administered the resumption of the import of famous Philippine mangoes to Australian shores, which stalled for several years.
When asked what she would miss in Australia, the Ambassador said it’s the country’s landscape and seascape and above all, the Filipinos she had the pleasure of serving.
“We have shown Australia the importance of unity in community building and uplifting each other to achieve our goals. Our ancestry and heritage are something to be proud of,” the ambassador said.
De La Vega will be succeeded by Ambassador-Designate Hon Antonio Morales, who is a known diaspora leader and has served in Singapore, Italy, Hong Kong, and San Francisco, USA.
After her service in Australia, Ambassador De La Vega will assume her new role as the newly minted Undersecretary for Administration of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
