ISLAMABAD, 25 April 2026 — Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, accompanied by his wife, Mme. Alicia Kalaw-Fernandez, attended the ANZAC Day Dawn Service hosted by the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Timothy Kane, at the Australian High Commission in Islamabad.

ANZAC Day, observed annually on 25 April in Australia and New Zealand, commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli in 1915 during the First World War. The day honors the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of servicemen and women who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

The solemn dawn service paid tribute to the ANZAC spirit of bravery, mateship, and resilience, bringing together members of the diplomatic corps, defense officials, and community representatives.

Following the ceremony, guests partook in the traditional “Gunfire Breakfast,” a customary ANZAC observance believed to have originated among soldiers who would take a simple early morning meal—often accompanied by tea laced with rum—before heading into battle. Today, it serves as a symbolic act of remembrance of the ANZAC landings.

Ambassador Fernandez’s attendance underscores the Philippines’ strong and enduring diplomatic relations with Australia, reflecting shared values of remembrance, partnership, and mutual respect.