Tess is the Principal Policy Officer of Water Economics at the Strategic Water Initiatives, Department of Natural Resources and Water in Brisbane, Australia. She finished her Bachelor's degree in Forestry (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 1978. She obtained her Ph.D. from University of Melbourne in 1997.

Australia has been my second home for 23 years. People can search on the internet about Australia but here is a snapshot of the country. It is the hottest, flattest, and one of the driest continents on earth. It is about 2.9 million square miles in area (almost similar to the USA), with just about 21.3 million (2008 figure) people. The country only has six states and two territories. About 61% of the population live in capital cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, most of which are located near the sea. The centre of Australia is mostly desert, and the vast country areas are devoted to pasture lands and large scale agricultural production. Kangaroos outnumber people (6:1). Climate ranges from tropical (north), subtropical (middle east coast) to temperate (down south). Government type is parliamentary democracy. Educational system is similar to the British system (7 years primary, 6 years high school, 4-5 years University). Most people adore sports heroes rather than actors and actresses.

Tessie, daughter Erin and husband Peter at Erin’s graduation, University of Melbourne, April 2008.

The country’s national day is the 26th of January, which coincides with the UPVL Forestry anniversary. English is the official language in this country which used to be called 'terra australis incognita' by early explorers. The country is very cosmopolitan so there are many other ethnic languages such as Filipino. Before Australia was claimed by the British in 1788, the country was inhabited by Indigenous people, who are claimed to have come from South East Asia by land bridges. Relatives ng relatives natin, say? Some indigenous people look Melanesian like our Filipino Itnegs from the northern Philippines, some look very Polynesian like Fijians in the Pacific.

I live in Brisbane, the third largest city (population is only about 2 million). The brods and sis I have been in close touch with in Australia are brods Ur Bala (Flood Victims '72), Manuel "Manny" Marquez (Friends '72), Angelito "Lito" Lawang (Tagsibol '78) and his brother Joselito "Joey" Lawang (Multitudes '79). I have met sis Nina Pangahas (Devastating '79) and Rosario "Chito" Pangahas-Labaro (Dirty Dozen '69) several times as well. Brod Ur works in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations in the capital city, Canberra. He has two children, both university* graduates. Brod Manny also works for the government in the Department of Immigration and just recently moved here to Brisbane. He is the most available Varrons bachelor, on a global basis!

Above: Lito Lawang with wife Leonie and Tessie in one of their gatherings at Melbourne, April 2008. Right: Manny, the most available bachelor Filipino-Aussie cowboy.

Where else could you find a bachelor Varron at the tender age of . . .? [a big 'secret' or whatever the age of the lady he's chatting up with.] He said his age is pegged at 40 - maximum 49. Walang tawad. He reckons women are not looking for “di bale nang guapo, basta mabait at matalino” types and have not, therefore noticed him in the last decades . . . Oopps.. I will be in trouble, and brod Manny may no longer come with us Friday clubbing (mostly to the Irish Club to listen to live Irish bands). Very retro ang aming hilig ano?

Brod Joey Lawang works for Australian Customs and brod Lito Lawang works for the State of Victoria’s Treasury Department. Joey has one daughter, who also just finished her university degree, and Lito has three sons, Adji, Arvee and Alvin. Adji completed university as well. Both Joey and Lito are based in Melbourne. I work for the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water as a Principal Economist. I have one daughter, Erin Pobjie, who is now a lawyer in Melbourne.

Life in Australia is fairly relaxed, although we live in capital cities. Australia is considered consistently as one of the six most livable countries in the world (not much pollution, lots of social amenities, low crime rate). People here work hard, but most have one job each, to have more time to enjoy the surf, sun and sports. Although the country is so vast everyone seems to cope with the tyranny of distance and pursue weekend activities on the beach or at sports grounds. Aussies are very outdoor-loving people, and very friendly, calling each other “mate” - the equivalent of compadre.

For those who intend to visit or live in Australia, just be mindful of the few Aussie-specific slangs (apart from spelling the English way, such that color becomes colour), here are a few introductory slangs: footpath (sidewalk), sheila (chick/lady), bloke (man), brollie (umbrella), rubbish bin (garbage can), take away (to go), chips (French fries), crook (sick), bastard (it is a term of endearment, not swear), cranky (angry), fair dinkum (true, genuine), petrol (gas), outback (anywhere out of town), woop woop (unimportant town), among others. People here are very friendly to everyone, especially tourists (very visible with their maps, cameras and backpacks). So if you come here for the first time, you will be in conversation with a total stranger as long as you are aware of the three common conversation starters: weather, sports and politics (national or international).

To all our brods and sis OS (overseas) we say G’Day, Mates! Come visit us soon in the Land Down Under.

Other First Person Accounts:

• Janis Ian Samiano
• Rhodora Romero-Aldemita

Read other interviews in the following links:

Read the In Focus articles on Asuncion Karganilla-Raymundo, Melin de la Peña-Bandalaria, Ryan Jaranilla.

Read the list of Varrons-related Bibliography.

Go to the Marketplace page: