Elijah Simangan
So when I was walking around Subic Bay, I already felt like I was part of the Filipino culture. When I first got off the ship, I was throwing away some waste when I saw the locals. I smiled at them and said in Tagalog, “Hello po, nasaan po ’yung basura?” They were all excited—like, “Wow, a Filipino! Finally, someone we can actually talk to.” They were very happy, and I was happy too that I could connect with the locals and show them that I’m serving as well.
TJ Correa
Isang simpleng pagbati sa pinagmulang wika ngunit may malalim na pinanghahawakan para kay Able Seaman Elijah Simangan ng Royal Australian Navy. Ang pagdaong ng barkong HMAS Toowoomba sa Subic Bay ay hindi lamang isang regular na deployment, ito ay isang paglalakbay pabalik sa kanyang pinagmulan bilang may dugong Pilipino.
Elijah Simangan
So when we first pulled to Jakarta, I felt a sense of, reminiscence and nostalgia. How it was back in the Philippines, so I was very excited to step into Subic Bay, so when we step into Subic Bay, I felt like I was home even though I wasn't born there.
I felt connected with my grandfather who felt spiritually connected by seeing him innocence and I was just, I just felt home.
TJ Correa
Ang tinutukoy na great grandfather o lolo sa tuhod ni Able Seaman Elijah ay si Melchor Simangan Sr. na isang tinyente sa Philippine Army na laging bihag ng digmaan o prisoner of war.
Matapos ang Battle of Bataan noong matapos ang tagumpay sa Pasipiko, nagpatuloy itong magsilbi bilang Reservist Captain sa Philippine Army hanggang sa maging isang university professor at nagkaroon ng anak. Kaya naman nang malaman ng pamilya ni Elijah ang biyaheng ito sa Pilipinas, hindi mapigilang maging masaya ng kanyang mga magulang.
Elijah Simangan
I first went around Subic Bay. They were surprised, like, “Oh wow, you were in the Philippines.” They told me to have fun and look out for myself, but they were also, in a sense, proud and emotional that my serving in the navy for Australia is stepping into a country where they both lived and grew up, and where my great-grandfather grew up and served that country.
TJ Correa
Sinabi ni Commander Alicia Harrison, ang commanding officer ng HMAS Toowoomba na ang kuwento ni Able Seaman Elijah ay nagpapakita kung paano magkakakonekta ang Australia sa iba't ibang regional partner nations kabilang na ang Pilipinas. Dagdag nito, ang kanilang crew ay diverse at maituturing na cultural snapshot pero lahat aniya ay proud Australians.
At para kay Elijah, ang pagiging Filipino-Australian ay hindi hadlang kundi isang tulay sa kanyang karera.
Elijah Simangan
Social envy is made out of different backgrounds and different cultures.
But that’s what Australia really is—a country where freedom of expression and cultural diversity are celebrated. The way we do things in the navy is different due to the different diversities; everyone thinks differently, everyone acts differently, but it still gets done, and we learn a lot from each other as well.
I think my story will help other people who might be scared to join the Royal Australian Navy because they come from a different country. Born different cultural background, roots show them that they shouldn't be afraid to join and serve Australia because they could be the bridge and be tied in the relationship between their country and Australia.
TJ Correa
Ayon sa 2019 Defense Census, 6% ng mga permanenteng miyembro ng Australian Defence Force ang nagsasalita ng wika maliban sa Ingles. Ang mga pinakakaraniwang wikang hindi Ingles ay Hindi, Indonesian, Pranses, Aleman at Espanyol, bagamatt ang bawat isa ay isinasalita ng mas mababa sa 1% ng mga miyembro.
Ayon sa ulat at ayon sa Australian Public Service Employee Census, nitong 2023, 3% ng mga miyembro ng ADF Public Service ay may kultural na pinagmulan mula sa timog at gitnang Asya at 7% naman ang may kultural na pinagmulan mula sa Southeast Asia o timog silangang Asya kung saan bahagi ang Pilipinas.
Elijah Simangan
Just join, doesn't matter the background, as I mentioned earlier, the navy is filled with different backgrounds and different cultures.
I've already been talking to someone who also has a Filipino background, who wanted to join the navy. I told him it's a great experience, it doesn't matter what your cultural background is, just join and you'll enjoy it, you'll love it.
And it is a good career building opportunity as well.
TJ Correa
Sa pahayag ng Australian Defence Force, ang presensiya ng HMAS sa rehiyon ay bahagi ng Regional Presence Deployment ng Australia upang panatilihin ang kapayapaan at katatagan sa rehiyon ng Indo-Pasipiko.
Unang dumaong ang barko sa Subic Bay sa Pilipinas noong ika-16 ng Pebrero kung saan nagkaroon ng maritime activity ang Royal Australian Navy kasama ang Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard at United States Navy bago simulan ang pangalawang paglayag sa South China Sea.
Para naman kay Able Seaman Elijah Simangan, ang kuwento niya ay tila simbolo ng kooperasyon ng dalawang bansa pero bukod sa pagsisilbi, nais din tingnan ni Elijah na ang pagsali sa Royal Australian Navy ay paraan para matulungan ang kanyang pamilya.
Elijah Simangan
Australia and Philippines have already had a long history and a long relationship as well and with my parents being more overseas and I am being born in Australia.
I like to think that me serving for the Australian navy is to help my family who move for a better future and for better opportunities for me and for my siblings and for my other family. So me serving the Australian Defence Force is how successful- shows how successful.
TJ Correa
Ako si TJ Correa para sa SBS Filipino.
