Highlights
- Mark Fulgueras and Florian Franco are among the numerous Filipino welders in Gnowangerup, WA.
- The Horsepower Highway is a tractor trail in Gnowangerup that is aimed at revitalising the town.
- Mark, Florian and other Filipino welders worked on the DYIPNI, a tractor-Filipino jeepney hybrid installation featured in the Horsepower Highway.
Mark Fulgueras and Florian Franco were like any other Filipino workers seeking an overseas dream - they tried, they waited, they struggled and they overcame. But more than just seeking the dream, they sought to be part of something bigger.
Along with other Filipino migrant welders, Mark and Florian worked on an initiative that would help revitalise Gnowangerup, WA, the small town they now call home.
Florian Franco and Mark Fulgueras Source: Florian Franco
Migrant welders
Best friends Mark and Florian met in the Philippines, right before they moved to Australia.
"We came from one agency," Florian shares, laughing, "We were both told separately one day that we would leave the next day. We met at the airport."
Mark adds, "When we arrived in Gnowangerup, there were around six Filipino welders who have been living there and working for the same company for around a year."
Mark and Florian, who had worked in the Middle East and South Korea respectively, admit that living in the countryside town took some getting used to.
Mark, Florian and their families Source: Mark Fulgueras and Florian Franco
"The closest small city to us 1.5 hours, 150 km drive. Perth is 4 hours, so it's quite far," Mark says, adding, "But we Filipinos know how to adapt. We can make it in the city. We can make it in the country."
"Filipinos are resilient. We're good, creative workers. We know how to make do with what we have," Florian says.
Our town
What the two friends do have is a town in need of revitalisation.
"A lot of people leave because we live in a fairly remote, farm area. We have a post office and news agencies. The only shops we have are hardware stores, shops that sell farming supplies and an IGA. We had ANZ and NAB when we arrived, but they've since closed. The owners of the IGA were retiring as well and there was no buyer, but luckily, our local community group help saved it," Mark shares.
Mark likens the plight of the small town to that of the animated movie, 'Cars'.
The countryside town of Gnowangerup Source: The Horsepower Highway
"If you've seen the movie - what happened there happened here. Traffic was diverted to the Albany Highway as a shortcut from Perth to Albany where the beaches are. Our town was the detour before, but that stopped because of the highway."
DYIPNI: Da King of Da Road
In order to counter the outflow of people and the absence of tourists, the local community group created the Horsepower Highway, a 75-km trail of tractor art installations approaching the Stirling Range National Park.
"We may not have the ocean, but we have the mountains," Mark shares.
Florian adds, "We have hidden treasures here. We have windmills, mountains and vintage farms. We have a lot of art in our small town, one of which is ."
The two welders, along with an Australian designer, took the lead in their part of the installation.
Old tractors are upcycled into art for The Horsepower Highway. Source: Mark Fulgueras and Florian Franco
"We created DYIPNI, a tractor-jeepney hybrid. I had to bargain for the installation because I wanted to initially do it from scratch. However, part of the requirement of the project was to use a tractor," Mark explains.
Donated by a farming family, the tractor now resembles a jeepney, one of the main modes of public transportation in the Philippines and a cultural symbol known for its loud colours and striking decorations.
The DYIPNI taking shape Source: Mark Fulgueras and Florian Franco
"There are a lot of Filipinos in our area now, so they wanted Filipino representation in the project," Florian shares, adding, "The design is inspired by the Filipino flag. The rear fender merges with the Southern Cross. It has two massive airhorns, eight horses and the names of the welders who worked on the project are painted inside the vehicle."
While it took a while for the installation's completion, Mark and Florian are grateful for the time and effort their fellow Filipino welders put into DYIPNI.
"I have so many memories of the jeepney. It was what I rode to work when I was in Cavite. I remember hanging on to the back, like a lot of people do," Florian shares, laughing, "I miss the whole experience - of passing coins to other passengers to give to the driver, of telling the driver 'para!' ['stop!'] when you've reached your destination."
Painting the installation Source: Mark Fulgueras and Florian Franco
The welding crew Source: Mark Fulgueras and Florian Franco
"The jeepney is a cultural icon. I'm proud to be part of this project and proud to be Filipino," Mark shares.
