Filipinos in Queensland

30th March 2009

More than one hundred years ago, Queensland hosted what could have been Australia’s first Filipino Community.

It was established that a group of Spanish-speaking Filipinos settled sometime in the late 1800s in the Torres Strait. Families with Filipino surnames like Cruz, Cunanan, Caballo, Escober, Pere, Alfonso, Segovia, Belfonte, Cesar and Tolentino were to be found on Thursday Island.

Oral tradition among the families relates the story of a group of Filipino exiles who fled the Philippines during the reign of terror undertaken by the Spanish authorities after the Cavite Mutiny of 1872. On January 20, 1871, 200 Filipino soldiers and military arsenal workers revolted against the abuses and injustice of the colonial oppressors. Although localized, the event was feared to be part of a greater national movement to liberate the Philippines from Spain. The suspected conspirators were arrested, imprisoned, executed or exiled. Among those unjustly executed were the Filipino patriot-priests, Fr. Mariano Gomez, Fr. Jose Burgos, and Fr. Jacinto Zamora. Others were exiled to Guam and the Marianas from where they escaped to other parts of the world.

By 1896 when the Philippine Revolution began, there was a substantial Filipino population in Thursday Island. A prominent Philippine-born merchant there, Heriberto Zarcal, even organized an Australian support committee for General Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolution against Spanish rule. Filipinos played an important role in the development of the pearl, trochus and beche-de-mer industries in northern Australia. Further Filipino migration into Australia was stymied by the passage of the Immigration Restriction Act in 1901 by the newly constituted Australian federal government, otherwise known as the White Australia Policy.

In 1946, a Filipino US Army sargeant who had married an Australian was refused residence in Australia. The case of Sgt. Lorenzo Gamboa became a celebrated issue in Philippine if not Asian immigration to Australia. Gamboa finally received his visa in 1953 after a long tedious diplomatic process pressured by the rising world opinion against the Policy. Between the late 1950s and the mid-1960s, only a few highly educated mestizos (white Filipinos) from the upper and middle classes were able to enter Australia. By 1965, there were 70 Philippine-born residents in Queensland.

The Colombo Plan made it possible for Filipino students to complete their education in Australia. In 1970, the first and largest group of Filipinos arrived in Queensland. Many students were bonded to serve their country for a number of years after graduation. Most of the unbonded student-nurses completed their qualifications in Australia settled in Queensland.

By 1970, the small community of Filipino students, mestizos, illegal immigrants, wives of Australians and others reached 455. Fr. Tony Fitzgerald CM organized the Australian Filipino Society at the Overseas Students Centre in East Brisbane. Other Philippine organizations developed from this Society. Among them are the Philippine-Australian Society of Queensland, Inc. and the Philippine Cultural League.

1975 witnessed the beginnings of a new migration trend in Australia. Filipino mail order brides began to arrive in droves making the Filipino community one of the fastest growing ethnic communities in Australia. Census figures support the rise of migration-for-marriage among Filipinas. Philippine-born residents between 1981 and 1996 exhibit an increasing ratio between Filipino males and females. In 1996, there were three times more Filipinas than Filipinos; composing 2/3 of the total Philippine-born population.

Australia

Year

Male

Female

Total

1986

9,923

22,834

32,757

1991

25,432

47,575

73,007

1996

32,324

60,621

92,945

2001

50,034

79,787

129,821

Queensland

Year

Male

Female

Total

1986

827

3,543

4,370

1991

2,265

7,170

9,435

1996

3,283

9,959

13,242

2001

6,137

13,494

19,631

The 1996 census places the number of Philippine-born residents in Australia at 92,945 or .5% of the Australian population with . Queensland Filipinos totaled 13,242. The following table is a break-down of Philippine-born residents in selected Queensland cities.

Queensland

Cities

Male

Female

Total

Brisbane

1,261

2,800

4,061

Bundaberg

27

118

145

Cairns

169

545

714

Caloundra

19

109

128

Charterstowers

0

18

18

Gladstone

19

110

129

Gold Coast

440

1,233

1,673

Hervey Bay

13

150

163

Ipswich

69

272

341

Mackay

43

200

243

Maryborough

14

70

84

Mt. Isa

70

196

266

Redcliffe

34

167

201

Rockhamptom

26

115

141

Thuringowa

33

130

163

Toowoomba

45

115

160

Townsville

117

266

383

Others

884

3,345

4,229

Total

3,283

9,959

13,242

A 1994 study of Philippine-born community in Australia indicated that Philippine-born settlers had higher than Australian-average educational and occupational qualifications, a relatively high labour participation rate, and a higher than average annual income, and were more inclined than most other immigrant groups to take up Australian citizenship. Towards the end of 1996, a study by the University of Sydney’s Institute of criminology, commissioned by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, reported that Filipino women in Australia were almost six times more likely to be murdered compared to Australian women and suffered higher rates of domestic violence. The report contained a number of recommendations, including the screening of men sponsoring Filipina women in Australia for marriage.

Settler statistics indicate Philippine-born settler-arrivals reached its peak of 10,429 during the 1988 Australian bicentennial, and declining thereafter. 1998 settler figures dropped to 2,769 which was as low as the 1981 level. The recent immigration policies of Australia would tend to discourage the entry of mail-order-brides. The future prospects of Filipino immigration will be limited largely to people joining family members resident in Australia or those under the economic migration programs.

Philippine-born Settlers in Australia

Year

No. of Settlers

Year

No. of Settlers

1978

1,462

1991

6,388

1979

1,256

1992

5,917

1980

2,013

1993

3,731

1981

2,792

1994

4,179

1982

3,251

1995

4,116

1983

2,735

1996

3,232

1984

2,874

1997

2,808

1985

3,162

1998

2,769

1986

4,128

1999

3,318

1987

6,409

2000

3,186

1988

10,429

2001

3,123

1989

9,204

2002

2,837

1990

6,080

Total

101,399

Filipino Awardees in Queensland

The Filipinos in Queensland are active in the community, and they play significant roles in assisting in the settlement of migrants, in promoting their culture, in education, and in the various professions. In regional Queensland, Filipino women are noted for their willingness to help others, organise multicultural festivals, and religious activities. Over the years, a number of Filipinos have been recognised for their contributions to Australia’s multicultural society.

Medals of the Order of Australia

There are only 6 Filipino recipients of Medals of the Order of Australia todate. Three of them are from Queenland. The following are recipients of the Medals of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List:

  • Dympna E. Kimmorley OAM (1995) Bundaberg
    - for her welfare, cultural and social work with the Filipino community in Bundaberg
  • Agnes M. Whiten OAM (2002) Riverhills
    - for community service particularly in the areas of women’s affairs and multiculturalism.
  • Orlando Vargas OAM (2003) Logan
    - for community service to the Filipino community.

Queensland Multicultural Service Award (Migrant Services Awards)

The Migrant Services Awards is a Queensland Government Initiative which pays tribute to the individuals for their work in the migrant community. In 1994, the Government renamed it to Queensland Multicultural Service Award which pays tribute to the outstanding contributions to multiculturalism by volunteers, schools and organizations in Queensland. The following are recipients:

  • Marvin Dumo (1987)
  • Maria Adams (1988)
  • Sr. Belen Aguila (1990)
  • Adelaida Douglas (1991)
  • Dympna Kimmorley (1993)
  • Maria Cherlita Coop (1995)
  • Jean Bingham (1996)
  • Inocencia Salvadori (1996)
  • Meralda Watson (1997)
  • Orlando Vargas (1999)
  • Edelwina Suede (2001)
  • Fiori Cruz (2001)
  • Milagros Gapas (2002)
  • Virginia Testa (2002)
  • Mena Edmonstone (2003)
  • Agnes Whiten OAM (2003)

For the Organisation Category, the Neighbourhood Centre Maryborough Inc. received the award in 2002, represented by Chit Bodmer, Manager, a well-known community leader in Central Queensland.

Queensland Filipino Women Achievement Awards 2000

The award is the initiative of the former Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Her Excellency Delia Domingo-Albert, who chose Queensland to be the model for other States in Australia because of the demonstrated abilities and dedication of some outstanding Filipino Women in Brisbane and other regions in the area of women’s affairs. It was her aim to counter the negative image of Filipino women because of their portrayal in the media. Other States have since followed the leadership of Queensland women.

The following are the recipients of the award which was a millennium event and a Celebration of Jubilee 2000:

  • Dr. Eva Abal
  • Maria Lourdes Barrios
  • Aurora Briones Foster
  • Connie da Cunha
  • Dr. Tessie Tumaneng-Diete
  • Edelwina Suede
  • Jennifer Yunsay Welk

Filipino Communities Council of Australia Awards

The Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCAA) is the Federal umbrella body of all State Filipino Communities Council in Australia. During its biennial convention, FILCAA gives recognition to Filipinos for outstanding achievements or contributions to the Filipino-Australian Community. The following are recipients from Queensland:

  • Orlando Vargas OAM - Leadership Award (2000)
  • Rudy Marquez - Leadership Award (2002)
  • Agnes Whiten OAM - Achiever Award (2002)

Philippines Presidential Award for Outstanding Filipino Overseas

The Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas was institutionalized in December 1991 by virtue of Executive Order No. 498.

The Presidential Awards is a biennial event which seeks to confer recognition to distinguished Filipino individuals and organizations overseas who, by their exceptional achievements or humanitarian efforts, have given form and substance to Filipino excellence and the time-honored values of pakikipagkapwa, pagtutulungan, and pagkakaisa. There are 5 Award categories, and the Banaag Award is given to Filipino and foreign individuals or associations for advancing the cause of Filipino communities overseas or for supporting specific sectors/communities in the Philippines. The following Queenslanders are recipients of this award:

  • Conrada P. Quiblado
    - 1998 Banaag Award for community services, achievements and leadership as an Overseas Migrant Worker.
  • Orlando Vargas OAM
    - 2000 Banaag Award for continuous and outstanding service to Filipino community in Queensland and commitment to developmental programs in the Philippines.

The Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA) - 2002 Banaag Award as Outstanding Filipino Overseas Organisation under the presidency of Orlando Vargas OAM.

Federal Seat of Dickson 2004 Australia Day Award

  • Nora Welch
    – 2004 Rankin Australia Day Award for services to Logan Filipino Community.
  • Laarni White
    – 2004 Rankin Australia Day Award for services to Logan Filipino Community.

Other Awards

  • Adelaida Douglas
    - 2000 Queensland Premier Award for outstanding Senior Citizens
    - 2001 Certificate for the International Year of Volunteers, Algester State Electorate
  • Dympna Kimmorley JP OAM
    - Editor’s Choice Award- International Poetry Competition- for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry’99
    - Selected as one of the Outstanding Poets to write in Memories of the Millennium (Best Poems and Poets of the 20th Century, ISBN-I58235-262-3)
  • Loida Morante
    - Centennial Medal
  • Mila Fumera Gapas
    - Australian Micro Business Migrant Women Award, Queensland Section (2004) - award sponsored by the Australian Government Office of the Status of Women
  • Ruth Gorry
    - Award in 1998 from The Association of Professional Aestheticians of Australia (APAA) in the National Make-up Championships
  • Fe Stokes
    – 2000 Certificate of Recognition for Queensland Filipino Women Achievement Award
    – 2001 Certificate for the International Year of Volunteers with silver medal, Kurwongbah Electorate (State),
    – 2004 Cultural Award, Local Government Citizenship Award, Pine Rivers Shire
    – Dickson Community Award in Recognition of Outstanding Voluntary Service to the local community presented by Peter Dutton, MP Federal member for Dickson.
  • Virginia Testa
    – 2000 Queensland Filipino Women Achievement Awards
    – 2000 Regional Award Nominee held in Mackay
    – 2001 International Year of the Volunteer.
    – 2003 Australia Day Certificate of Recognition/Achievement to the Community.

The article, including all materials and information herein are based on available documents and are provided "as is" and without warranties of any kind either expressed or implied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we do not warrant that the contents of this article and souvenir program will be accurate, complete, reliable, error-free or non-infringing, or that such content will be corrected.

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