Canberra’s new ambassador to the Philippines: Bill Tweddell
By Gloria Jane Baylon
Canberra’s new ambassador to the Philippines, Bill Tweddell, on Thursday morning presented his credentials to President Benigno S. Aquino III, an auspicious beginning of a three-year tenure as his country today celebrates “Australia Day” all over the world.
The Manila celebrations are actually observed for the rest of the week, wherein Filipinos can partake of “all that is best from Australia”: food, music, core values, and a mixed society in different venues of Metro Manila.
Tweddell, whose last posting was in Hanoi, earlier told reporters Canberra has invited Aquino to Australia “and hopefully, President Aquino will take up that invitation within the year.”
He noted that there now around 200,000 Filipino migrants to Australia, some of whose progenies are enjoying fame and fortune back in Manila, such as the Curtis sisters, Jasmine and Anne.
“For us, Australia Day is a celebration of our diverse origins, of our unity of purpose and belief, and of our optimism as we face the future.”
Tweddell replaced Rod Smith, who has been assigned to head the Southeast Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. “I am pleased to say that means he’ll (Smith) retain a close interest in Australia’s relations with the Philippines.”
Manila and Canberra observes the 66th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, and Tweddell said “it is an exciting time in the bilateral relations…that there is a scope for us to deepen (it) even further.”