We, in the Filipino-Australian community have been fortunate over the years to have dedicated and supportive Consular and Embassy officials whose leadership and community involvement further inspire us to undertake initiatives and projects.
They not only perform their various duties in their offices, during Monday to Friday. They also attend and participate in events on various hours during weekends ie could be early morning or till late at night. It could be to provide advice, speak, induct officers, present awards, offer wreaths, cut ribbons, even join in sing along or public dancing at the end of events. The interaction over time results in forming a warm and friendly relationship between the officials and community officers and members. Then there’s some sadness when their tour of duty finishes.
Soon to leave us is Vice Consul Frances Cleofas who commenced her duty in the Philippine Consulate General Sydney on 22 January 2023 and will end her assignment on 30 April 2025. Aside from her various duties as the Supervising Officer for Dual Citizenship, Civil Registry, and Notarial Services, as well as the focal person for Gender and Development, Oversees Voting, and Cultural and Community Affairs, Vice Con (as we fondly refer to her) became part of Radio Tagumpay with her weekly ‘Consular Updates’. Like her equally hardworking and accommodating predecessors – then Consul Marford Angeles (now Consul General in Dubai) and then Consul Melanie Diano (now Consul General in Chicago) - she squeezed doing recordings during her busy office schedule and even on weekends. We are grateful to these three officials whose regular contributions helped Radio Tagumpay until its final broadcast on 29 January 2025.
Through Kai Cruz (presenter of Migration Matters in Radio Tagumpay), our little group, Radio Tagumpay and Friends, invited Vice Con to a simple farewell for her on 27 March 2025, held at aptly named location - Darling Square. Just a social night out - no official program, just eating, a lot of talking and socialising. Present in this soiree were Gordy (Kai’s son), Charles Chan (Immediate Past President of APCO Official and Co-Founder of FLAGCOM & Friends); Chi de Jesus (Chairman, FLAGCOM & Friends; Creative Director); Grazie Panlican (Newscaster & Presenter of RT); Raffy Palma (Lawyer & Parting in Calamba actor), Violi Calvert (RT Producer & Co-Broadcaster) and her husband John. The occasion doubled up as a celebration of Grazie’s recent Adhika & KRI IWD award and her overdue birthday dinner and just spoiling the senior of the group. Did I say no program? Well, I guess the presentation of lovely flower arrangements by Kai with few words and gifts from group, was informally done.
(L-R: Vice Consul Frances Cleofas, Violi Calvert, Grazie Panlican, Kai Cruz)
(L-R: Chi de Jesus, Raffy Palma, John & Violi Calvert, Charles Chan
Kai Cruz & Gordy, Grazie Panlican, Vice Consul Frances Cleofas)
(L-R: Grazie Panlican, Violi Calvert, Kai Cruz, Raffy Palma,
VC Frances, John Calvert, Charles Chan, Chi de Jesus)
Vice Con expressed her thanks and said: “I will remember the wonderful and great people of Sydney, the scenic places and diverse multicultural society.”
Kai Cruz commented:
“Wishing you all the best in your next chapter, VC! It’s been a pleasure working with you in Radio Tagumpay. Thank you for your dedication and service to the Filipino community in Sydney. We will miss you!”
Charles Chan
“My fondest memories with Vice Consul Frances Cleofas are that she has always supported APCO Official during my Presidency. I can’t remember the time that I invited the Consular staff to our events that she did not attend. When she attended, she made sure to say hello to me and the other officers and members. It is always sad to lose our active and supportive consular staff.
Thank you Frances for the time you spent with the Filipino community, especially with APCO Official, which I led. We wish you the best and look forward to meeting you again sometime in the near future.”
Grazie Panlican
"Thank you VC Frances for your outstanding service to Filo community here in Sydney. Personally, I'm grateful for the time we've worked together (Radio Tagumpay and Rizal Day projects). You left a mark in my heart and as the Supervising Officer for Dual Citizenship, you literally left a "signature" that will always remind me to be a proud Filipino-Australian. All the best and we will miss you."
From me: "Sincere thanks Vice Con for your friendship, wonderful support to Radio Tagumpay and your great service to the Filipino-Australian community. I join all in wishing you many more years of good health and more success. As you take up your post in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, please give our warm regards to our dear Undersecretary for Administration Hon. Maria Hellen De La Vega (formerly Philippine Ambassador to Australia) and Ms Nova De Lara (formerly Cultural Officer of PCG)."
I wish to take this opportunity to welcome Ms Rowena Garcia, who took the position of Cultural Officer when Ms Nova left in April 2025. The Philipine Consulate General Sydney is currently led by Consul General Charmaine Rowena Aviquivil (commenced duty on 25 October 2022) and Consul Sheila Marie C. Tario (from 21 February 2024). The replacement of Vice Consul Cleofas is due for an announcement.
Messages from Social Media
Typical of Filipino gatherings, many photos were taken as memento of the social outing. I shared the photos on social media, which drew some messages for Vice Con. A couple are herewith shared, with permission.
Beth de Guzman Lofthouse
(Mother of Chloe, multi-awarded talented girl)
"Beautiful pics! Chloe & I will miss her so much! 
. But will visit her and Ms NL De Lara in Pinas
"
Cen Amores
(Founding President of APCO; Chairperson, Multicultural Assistance Task Force)
“Such a beautiful despedida to our much loved and respected Vice Consul Frances Cleofas. We wish you all the best on your next diplomatic posting. Till we meet again!!!
Cheers,
Tito Ruben & Tita Cen Amores”
About Frances Cleofas
Vice Consul Frances Cleofas’ areas of responsibilities in the Philippine Consulate General Sydney were as mentioned above. She was previously assigned at the Office of Protocol and Office of ASEAN Affairs in Manila.
Her previous assignments in Foreign Service Posts are at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland from April 2016 to May 2017, and Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from February 2019 to January 2023. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication from the University of the Philippines.
Her family no doubt is happy that Vice Con will be back in the Philippines for at least a couple of years before her next assignment. Her mother hails from Valenzuela while her father is from Caloocan. She is one of two siblings and has younger brother.