From Manila to Canberra: siblings Ella and Danny Esguerra’s 60-year journey in Australia

Embarking on a journey that spans six decades and two continents, the Esguerra siblings' saga from Manila to Canberra is a tale of resilience, perseverance, and the enduring spirit of community.

Esguerra siblings (L-R) Robert, Ella, Susan, Vic, Danny and Patricia at their mum’s 100th birthday celebration in Canberra. Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

Key Points

• Siblings Ella and Danny Esguerra moved with their family to Australia in 1964 during the White Australia Policy period.
• A lot of hard work and perseverance describe the Esguerra’s journey in Australia.
• Giving back to community is ingrained in Ella and Danny as they continue to be active members of Filipino organisations in Canberra.

Everyone has a story to tell.  Pinoys in Australia feature stories about new beginnings. challenges, failures, and success, faith, hope, and bayanihan. It is all about being Filipino in Australia.

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A view of Hyde Park where it all started

Mesmerised by Hyde Park the night she first arrived in Sydney – trees covered with lights on a foggy August winter – Ella Esguerra Bleach never looked back as her family built a life in Australia since.

On 28 August 1964, Ella arrived in Sydney just before midnight. Her plane was delayed from Manila, which was supposed to take her to Melbourne, so the airline arranged overnight accommodation for her at the Hotel Australia.

“I had a room overlooking Hyde Park and the view was like a picture postcard,” she vividly recalled.

Ella’s first experience of snow in Australia Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

At 20, Ella, the eldest daughter of 6 siblings, was the first one from her family to travel to Australia after they were granted an 8-year special visa for distinguished and highly qualified persons of Asian origin.

Her father, Captain Jose Esguerra, joined the Philippine Army in 1940 after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy and was transferred to the Navy where he served for 21 years. Among his notable assignments were Commander of the Mindanao and Sulu Sea Frontier, superintendent of the Naval Training Command and Naval Aide-de-Camp to former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines, Ella’s mother, Rosalina Mendoza Esguerra was a retired Home Economics teacher. Rosalina also studied a master’s degree in nutrition at Columbia University in New York, USA.

Esguerra family in Sydney (except Susan Esguerra who only followed to Australia in 1968, after she graduated from San Agustin University in Iloilo, Philippines) Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

The family of 8 weren’t ready to uproot their lives in the Philippines but had to move overseas due to the brewing political upheaval in Manila.

Ella’s eldest brother, Robert, was still in Europe when the approval to migrate was issued, so the family decided for Ella to go to Australia first. Ella stayed with an Australian family that sponsored them in Melbourne for a couple of weeks before she moved back to Sydney to look for a job.

(L-R) Robert, Patricia and Danny Esguerra in Sydney Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

“I went back to Sydney and quickly ran out of funds. I was determined not to ask my father for more money, so the lady I was staying with helped me look for jobs advertised in newspapers that were close to where I lived at that time,” Ella shared.

Having studied for an accounting degree at the University of the Philippines, which she did not finish because of their relocation to Australia, Ella applied for clerical and accounting jobs in Sydney.

Out of 7 applications, she got accepted in 4 of them. She rang her dad and told him that it was easy to get a job in Australia. This news encouraged her father to move with the rest of the family later that year, except Susan who was still finishing her university degree.

Mr Whippy ice cream and the White Australia policy period

Ella’s family moved into a rental property in Sydney while they found their feet in a city that none of them really knew. Her father, who started working as a carpet layer but had always been business-minded, later opened a petrol station in Sydney.

Their first Christmas experience in Australia was memorable albeit strange.

Being the eldest daughter, Ella was determined to make it a great Christmas for the family, with traditional ham and stockings present in the celebration as they would normally have in Manila sans the “parol” (Philippine Christmas lantern).

But as they sat on their balcony on Christmas Eve, they noticed how quiet the neighbourhood was, which made them quite depressed. Her father wondered if he had done the right thing for his family. But the Esguerras decided to persevere.

And persevere they did - but not without challenges. Their move to Australia was during the White Australia Policy era when the entry of coloured migrants to the country was restricted and some were deported if deemed undesirable.

(L-R) Patricia, Ella and Danny Esguerra with their dog Archie Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

Luckily for Ella, she didn’t have a hard time adjusting to life in Sydney. One of her greatest challenges though was understanding the Australian accent, which made her defer a year of attending the University of New South Wales to complete her accounting degree.

Counting pence and shilling were also a hurdle. By the time Ella learned how to count money in pence and shilling, Australia changed to decimal currency, so she had to learn the new system.

Meanwhile, Danny, her youngest brother, had a different experience settling in.

Danny Esguerra moved to Australia when he was a young boy in the ‘60s. Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

Danny Esguerra moved to Australia at 10 years old. The taste of Mr Whippy ice cream with chocolate sprinkles from a food truck near their house welcomed him to what was going to be an exciting but challenging 2 years in Sydney.

In year 4, Danny was the only Asian in his class. He found it difficult to find friends, and on top of that was called names such as “slant-eyed” and “chink”.

“From the start, I just ignored and didn’t really care. Finally, when we moved to Canberra I met some good friends,” Danny shared.

Canberra: ‘a country town which happens to be the capital city’

In 1966, Sydney was beginning to be a rat race, so Ella’s mum decided to go around the country to look for a better place to raise her younger siblings and live permanently – Canberra was the chosen location.

(L-R) Patricia, Jose, Susan, Vic, Robert and his girlfriend, and Danny with their dog Archie in Canberra Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

“My parents described Canberra as an intelligent and broad-minded city because of the diplomats and international students,” Ella said.

At that time they moved to the capital city, there were only 75,000 people. Rarely Asians around even in schools. Danny described Canberra as ‘a small town which happens to be the capital city’.

The Esguerras bought their first house in Lyons, ACT while Ella headed to the north-western region of New South Wales.

Ella got married to Lance Bleach in May 1966 and moved to Tamworth, New South Wales. Lance worked in the Australian public service and moved around for work.

Ella and Lance Bleach with their firstborn Michael Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

“It took a while for me to make friends [in Tamworth] and this was also where I experienced discrimination, not so much against myself, but against both my sons who suffered a lot of humiliation until their high school days.

“People in those days were very cliquey and I assumed the community just did not know what to do with me.”

It was also in Tamworth that Ella decided to apply for Australian citizenship. Along with a Greek and six Chinese nationals, she pledged allegiance and loyalty to her adopted country. And because she was the only one from the group who could speak good English, she was asked to give a speech at the ceremony.

Ella with son Michael in Tamworth, New South Wales Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

In December 1971, Ella’s young family joined her parents and siblings in Canberra. By this time, her parents had already established themselves in the community, owning an import-export business which later branched out to opening travel agencies and a record shop.

Ella enjoyed living in the capital city as it reminded her of Baguio, where their family spent most of their childhood while her father taught at the Philippine Military Academy. The only thing that upset her was that shops close at 5:30 pm and it was very quiet after sundown.

Despite the quietness of the city, Ella kept herself busy helping in their family business.

“I worked part-time for our travel agency, Saturday afternoons at the TAB and also did bookkeeping one day a week for a restaurant while she and Lance were saving for a deposit to purchase their first home.”

Ella also worked in the public service and as a manager of an Ansett Airlines office in Canberra until the company’s demise in 2001.

Danny, on the other hand, managed their family’s record shop. He enjoyed looking after the family business until 1978 when he decided to move back to Sydney and open his own travel agency.

Esguerras with Lance, all dressed up to attend a Frank Sinatra’s concert Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

A dedicated member of the Filipino community who loves to give back

In 1977, a group of Filipinos including Ella decided to form the first “Philippine Australian Association” in the Canberra and Queanbeyan region. They were meeting socially and had discussed how they could expose their children to Philippine culture.

The group’s first function was held at the Albert Hall in 1978. They organised a Barrio Fiesta event – a cultural show with Filipino song and dance performances. After that, they met every weekend and practised for a Christmas carolling project.

(L-R) Michael, David, Ella and Lance at a Filipino event in Canberra, ACT Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

Due to Ella’s visibility in Filipino community events, the Ambassador’s wife at that time invited her and a few ladies in the community to be members of the “Philippines Ladies Group”. The group’s role was to assist the Embassy with social functions.

Ella was also a core member of the “Philippine Studies Group”, an informal group that organises monthly seminars and invites speakers to talk on any topic relating to the Philippines.

Five decades on, Ella continues to give back to the community she loves and still performs at cultural events.

Ella with her sisters and friends at her mum's 100th birthday. Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

When asked what advice she’d like to give new Filipino migrants, Ella said new migrants should be prepared to work.

Siblings Ella and Danny Esguerra in Canberra Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

They should be ready to accept lower-paying jobs at the start – if they’re good, it shouldn’t take them long to be promoted. After all, Filipinos are generally good workers.

Ella Esguerra Bleach

“They should also join at least one association or any group or function if they want to meet friends, avoid homesickness and never experience loneliness.”

Danny, who moved back to Canberra in 2021, said it’s going to be a big adjustment.

Danny with his children Candice and Dylan Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

“Filipinos are good. They don’t live in clusters and are good at mixing and are sociable.

“Plenty of opportunities out here, just grab it. Don’t complain and you’ll have a good life. Life here is good.”

Ella and Lance with their children Michael, Charmaine, Mignon and David. Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

At present, Ella happily lives with Lance in Canberra, while their children and grandchildren forged their lives across Australia. As a person who loves community work, she remains active and busy attending Filipino events in the ACT.

After 58 years of married life, Ella and Lance's family has grown to 4 children and 12 grandchildren - their greatest achievement. Credit: Ella Esguerra Bleach

“I love Australia and consider Canberra home, but I will always be a Filipino at heart. I can’t explain it – that’s just the way it is!”