24 April 2006 – Philippine Ambassador to Canberra Cristina Ortega reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that twenty-four Filipino-Australians (FilOz) in Darwin and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory have reacquired their Philippine citizenship as she “urged  the FilOz to actively take part in nation-building.”

Ambassador Ortega, who visited Darwin on 6 and 7 April 2006, said she witnessed the oath of allegiance of 12 FilOz in Darwin and another 12 in Alice Springs.   "By being dual citizens, you will have the best of both worlds," Ambassador Ortega said in her remarks following the citizenship reacquisition ceremony.   She urged the 12 FilOz in Alice Springs “to  spread the good news" to others.

Records of the Philippine Embassy in Canberra show that there are approximately 6,000 Philippine-born residents in Darwin and around 300 Filipino families in Alice Springs.

Darwin, the capital of Northern Territory, is 3,140 kms. from Canberra and has a tropical climate. Alice Springs, meantime, is about 1,200 kms. from Darwin and has a semi-arid climate with very little rainfall.

In both places, Ambassador Ortega said the Filipino migrants are recognized by state and local officials for being skilled, very organized, and good community leaders. Employers choose Filipino workers because of good work habits, their ability to adapt to local conditions, and their facility for English language.

In Darwin, Ambassador Ortega met with Chief Minister Clare Martin, Minister Kon Vatskalis, Acting Lord Mayor Helen Galton and officials of the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development (DBERD) and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA).

The issue of skilled migration is vital to local officials and businesses who have indicated preference for Filipino workers, thus, their desire to understand the recruitment and deployment procedures in the Philippines, the Ambassador said after this meeting.

In Alice Springs, Ambassador Ortega discussed with Mayor Fran Kilgariff the positive contributions of Filipinos to the local economy. She also campaigned for dual citizenship in a local radio program anchored by Miguel Ociones, a Filipino who migrated to Alice Springs years back when it was just starting to flourish as a tourist destination.

"There is much to be gained for being a dual citizen. Since you have always nurtured in your heart being a Filipino, why not be legally Filipino again," the Ambassador urged her FilOz listeners.  (Please refer to the accompanying photo release on this subject matter.) END