Filipino and Indigenous women gathered at Charles Darwin University (CDU) last week to celebrate the contribution of the Philippines to the Territory and to recognise the linkage between Filipino and Indigenous people.
The Dean of Indigenous Research and Education, Professor Mary-Ann Bin-Sallik, hosted an afternoon tea in honour of the Philippines Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia, Cristina Ortega, and the Philippines Consul, Maria Lourdes Salcedo.
Key Indigenous women, including Mary Lee, Senior Larrakia Elder of Darwin; businesswoman Maisie Austin; and Bilawara Lee, Manager Indigenous Arts Development at Arts and Museums NT attended to recognise their own Filipino ancestry.
Also in attendance were a number CDU Filipino staff including Maysie Procianos, International Admissions Officer; Susana Lu-Dizon, Assistant to Head of School for the Centre for Access and ESL; and Margie Dizon, CDU lecturer and PhD Psychology student.
The Ambassador was pleased at the number of students from the Philippines studying at CDU and was delighted to meet Indigenous women who share Filipino ancestry.