CANBERRA, Australia – Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega joined the Filipino Australian Health Professionals Inc. (FAHPI) at a benefit dinner on 08 December 2018 at Filiipino restaurant, Delikase, in Canberra to support typhoon victims of Itogon, Benguet. Itogon is a mining town that was severely affected by Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) in September this year.

H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, (1st row, 4th from the left) was the guest of honor at a benefit dinner for typhoon victims in Itogon, Benguet held by the Filipino Australian Health Professionals Inc. (FAHPI) on 08 December 2018 at Delikase Restaurant in Canberra. Ambassador De La Vega is joined by the officers of FAHPI and guests of the benefit dinner.

FAHPI is a young organization based in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) that aims to bring together Filipino health professionals and to strengthen the brand of excellence that Filipino health professionals are known for.

In her remarks, Ambassador De La Vega said she was pleased that FAHPI has taken the opportunity to shed light on the plight of families who were severely affected by the typhoon. She said she appreciates FAHPI’s strong partnership with the Philippine Embassy especially with the successful implementation of the first Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for international Filipino students in Canberra held in July 2018. Labour Attaché Ms. Cynthia Lamban expressed her desire to continue the implementation of the PAOS particularly for students in health-related courses.

Ambassador De La Vega encouraged FAHPI to contribute to medical tourism in the Philippines noting that the Philippines is already ranked 8th in the world as a top tourism destination catering to around 250,000 foreign patients annually.