Makati’s Glorietta will be the center of culture, music, and global connections this June 7-8 as the Philippines-Australia Friendship Festival returns with a fresh wave of fun, flair, and friendship.
This year’s festival brings a distinctly vibrant energy, with Australian-made food and drinks, exclusive travel promos from Qantas Airlines, and booths showcasing products by Filipino entrepreneurs who studied in Australia.
“We’re thrilled to hold this year’s Festival in the heart of style and business in the Philippines – Makati – thanks to Ayala Malls, Ayala Corporation, and ACEN,” said Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu.
“Each year, we bring the Friendship Festival to different parts of the Philippines to celebrate the strong ties between our two countries,” she added.
Education remains a cornerstone of the Australia-Philippines connection, with around 40,000 Filipino students currently pursuing degrees Down Under.
Festivalgoers can explore study pathways, scholarships, and career prospects through talks and exhibits by Australian universities and institutions, including the University of Adelaide.
Adding star power to the festivities are TV personalities Drew Arellano and Filipino-Australian Iya Villania, who will host the opening program.
They will also spotlight the eight-month journey of Australian home and lifestyle brand Anko in the Philippines — from opening stores in Glorietta and Alabang to teaming up with actress Anne Curtis, and launching the Anko Club, a loyalty program designed for Filipino shoppers.
Music fans can look forward to a free concert by P-Pop girl group G22, featuring Fil-Aussie Jasmine Henry, who will cap the weekend with an electrifying performance.
Meanwhile, two lucky shoppers can win roundtrip tickets to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Adelaide, courtesy of Qantas.
Beyond the festivities, the event celebrates the deep and growing ties between the two nations — from the Manila Men who settled in Australia in the 1800s to today’s vibrant community of over 400,000 Filipinos living there.
“The Friendship Festival is only possible with the strong support of Australian business investing in the Philippines,” said Ambassador Yu, citing firms like Anko, AMS Global, Macquarie, Sekuro, ANZ Bank, GHD, Leighton, Macquarie, OceanaGold, OceanaGold, Qantas, SMEC, and Telstra.
“[These businesses] are helping deepen our ties and supporting local jobs – a testament to the talent and potential of Filipinos,” she added.
For updates, follow the Australian Embassy on social media: Facebook @Australia in the Philippines, X @AusAmbPH, and Instagram @AusEmbPH.
