by Tessie “Tess” Tumaneng-Diete (Watergate ’74)

Tessie Tumaneng-Diete

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.

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!

Where else could you find a bachelor Varron at the tender age of . . .?

Last Updated on May 7, 2018 by Tudla_Admin