When the new honorary consul of the Northern Territory in Australia came home for his first official visit, he discussed with local leaders the wide range of potentials awaiting enterprising Filipinos who want to realize their dreams abroad.

Consul Januario John Rivas, a native of Kabankalan City,  disclosed the prospects in trade and business, employment and education in the Northern Territory, where he has been living for almost 40 years. “Filipinos in Darwin (the capital of the Northern Territory) are highly regarded,” he told StarLife in an exclusive interview during his visit early this month.

Rivas led the Filipino community in etching its mark deeper in the N.A. society through various activities of the Filipino-Australian Association of the Northern Territory.

He was the association president from 2000 to November last year, after his appointment as honorary consul was confirmed by the Australian government. He served as the FAANT  vice president from 1996 until he became its president at the turn of the century.

He said he is happy that his leadership in the association has given more opportunities in the country to be further integrated into the diversity of the Australian way of life. It was during his leadership when the association was given a government grant for the construction of its own building, the only foreign group in that part of Australia to get such assistance.

Consul Rivas bares details of his priorities in his job be considers “as a labor of love” in his second home –  which will celebrate Australia Day tomorrow –  in our Page 3 story.