Ties

I am currently in the land down under, writing this piece from Australia. It is my first time in this beautiful country, one marked by an incredibly diverse culture. As diverse as Australians are, they have not forgotten the importance of fostering ties with neighboring countries and regions. The Philippines is one of the nations with which they have maintained one of the longest relationships, now spanning 80 years. It is a partnership that has, in many ways, stood the test of time with little to no tension at all. Allies, at most.

I wander around the place and try to get a feel of what it truly is. The people inhabiting this land constantly acknowledge those who came before them and thank them for the permission to use the area. There is rich knowledge here about what they call the First Peoples, alongside narratives surrounding the arrival of British forces centuries ago. Those who live here know their history all too well, even if that history has evolved over time into a hodgepodge of races, cultures, and identities. It is a country shaped by migration, but one that still attempts to reckon with its past while embracing the present.

Perhaps that is why Australia also understands the value of regional ties. Bilateral relationships are beneficial one way or another, and our country has certainly found advantages in engaging with nations such as Australia. Just recently, Australia has become an active participant in military exercises with the Philippines, a sign that ties between the two nations are no longer confined to diplomacy and trade alone. Security cooperation has become just as important, especially at a time when tensions in the West Philippine Sea continue to intensify.

There is much discussion nowadays about how the Philippines is trying to defend itself, particularly as the situation in the West Philippine Sea refuses to de-escalate. Day after day, reports emerge about confrontations at sea; water cannons aimed at Filipino vessels, and repeated incursions into waters recognized internationally as part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. It seems that China remains adamant in claiming what is not theirs. For a small country like ours, it often feels as though we need all the help we can get.

This is where partnerships matter. The relationship between the Philippines and Australia is not simply ceremonial. It is practical, strategic, and increasingly necessary. Australia has repeatedly expressed support for a rules-based international order and for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea. While geography may separate our countries, shared democratic values and mutual interests have drawn them closer together.

Yet beyond defense and geopolitics, the relationship is also deeply human. Thousands of Filipinos now live and work in Australia, contributing to its workforce and multicultural society. Many Australians, in turn, continue to visit the Philippines, invest in its industries, and engage with its communities. These exchanges create familiarity between peoples, making the alliance feel less like a political arrangement and more like a genuine partnership.