Why Australia could have a big say in the Philippines’ Eurovision Asia selection
- Dale Roberts
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
When the Philippines chooses its first Eurovision Song Contest Asia representative on Sunday night, much of the attention will naturally be on viewers at home.
But thousands of kilometres away, there is another potentially significant audience.
More than 400,000 people born in the Philippines now live in Australia, making it one of the largest Filipino communities anywhere outside the country.
And on Sunday night, they will be able to help decide who represents the Philippines at Eurovision Asia.
International viewers will make up 20% of the Philippine Selection Night result, alongside a 40% professional jury and 40% vote from viewers within the Philippines.
With Australia's huge Filipino population, Australians could become an important part of that Rest of the World vote.
One of the world's biggest Filipino communities
There were 412,530 Philippines-born people living in Australia in June 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
That makes the Philippines the fifth most common overseas country of birth in Australia, behind only India, England, China and New Zealand.
The community has also grown rapidly. In 2015, around 241,000 Philippines-born people were living in Australia, meaning the population has increased by more than 170,000 in a decade.
Internationally, Australia also stands out.
According to 2024 United Nations migration estimates, only the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have larger Filipino migrant populations.
That makes Australia the fifth-largest destination for Filipino migrants in the world, and the largest outside North America and the Middle East.
But Filipino Australia is much more than population figures.
Filipino Australians have long been part of Australian music, television, film and sport, including singer Kate Ceberano, golfer Jason Day, actors Bob Morley and Charlotte Nicdao, The Wiggles' John Pearce and rugby league star Payne Haas.
Among that community is Aussievision's own Paul Basillo.
Paul migrated to Melbourne with his family in the late 1980s and remembers growing up balancing the desire to fit into Australian society with maintaining his Filipino identity.
"The Filipino community is a strong, vibrant, and passionate one," Paul said.
"Though, you wouldn’t necessarily notice it from the outside because we were all trying to integrate within Australian society as fast as we could."
Paul said his parents encouraged him to embrace Australian life while still maintaining a sense of being Filipino.
"There was the pressure of ensuring that you were able to navigate your way through Australian society, but at the same time, you couldn’t be too Australian because you’d be turning your back on your heritage."
"It was a lot to take growing up because the Filipino culture is rich with traditions, history, beauty, and community. There’s so much to be proud of."
For Paul, discovering the Filipino concept of "kapwa" helped bring those two identities together.
"Translated, it is a shared identity and a deep, interconnected sense of self with others," he said.
"It goes beyond treating others nicely; it recognises that your inner self is connected to the other person."
Paul said understanding kapwa helped him become comfortable with being both Filipino and Australian.
The Philippines has already been part of Australia's Eurovision story
That Filipino-Australian connection is also already part of Eurovision.
Sheldon Riley, who represented Australia in 2022, has a Filipino father, while Montaigne, Australia's 2020 and 2021 representative, also has Filipino heritage.
Filipino Australians have also appeared at Eurovision - Australia Decides, including Seann Miley Moore and Erica Padilla.
When Aussievision looked at the connection in 2022, more than 10% of the artists who had either represented Australia at Eurovision or competed at Australia Decides had Filipino heritage.
So while the Philippines itself is only now entering the Eurovision world through Eurovision Asia, Filipino Australians are certainly not newcomers to it.
And the connection makes sense in a country where music and performance are such a major part of popular culture.
Paul already has a clear favourite in Sunday's selection.
"My obvious favourite is Sobra-Sobra by CARMELLE, a modern feminist pop-song that’s serving attitude, serving face, serving Philippine history and references, and serving vocals too."
He is also keen to see DNA, whose musical family includes Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, known as "Asia's Songbird".
"It is a strong line-up and the Philippines definitely know how to stage a show," Paul said.
"So, it’ll be fascinating viewing, no matter what the result may be."
Two countries to support
There is also something particularly fitting about Eurovision Asia for Filipino Australians.
For more than a decade, Australia has had its own country to support at Eurovision, now Filipino Australians will also be able to support the Philippines at Eurovision Asia.
And on Sunday night, that connection becomes more than symbolic.
Australians will be able to vote
The Rest of the World vote represents 20% of the Philippine Selection Night result, and with Australia home to one of the world's largest Filipino communities, it could provide a significant part of that international audience.
Paul will certainly be among them.
"It’ll be a late night on Sunday, but I definitely will be watching."
Philippine Selection Night takes place on Sunday 30 August at 9:45pm Philippine time, or 11:45pm AEST.
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