Walter Villagonzalo left the military in the Philippines during the 1986 revolution and moved to Australia with his family soon after. He built a career, then found himself needing something no job could give him: a sense of belonging. That search took him from volunteering in Werribee's Filipino community to founding The Migrant Hub, sitting as Wyndham City Councillor and Deputy Mayor, and now leading a cooperative planting trees across the western suburbs.

In this episode of My Migrant Soul, Walter sits down with Imran to talk about the twelve years it took him to feel at home in Australia, the moment his own children told him they were Australian, and why he believes belonging isn't given — it's built by showing up for your community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Belonging isn't handed to you when you arrive in a new country. Walter didn't feel it for over a decade, and it only came after he threw himself into community work.
The deepest test of his identity didn't happen in council chambers — it happened when his own kids told him, through tears, that they were Australian.
He ran for council five times before winning. Losing four elections didn't change his approach; it sharpened it.

Walter draws a clear line between being an activist and being a reformist — one makes noise, the other gets in the room and changes the policy.
His concept of "the Filipino in the middle" reframes an entire community: most migrants aren't struggling or thriving, they're quietly present, and that quiet middle is where real leadership can start.

At 73, his answer to "what's next" is the same as it's always been: keep working for the community, this time through a tree nursery cooperative aiming to help plant a million trees.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Cold Open: "I Am First Class Citizen, I Am Australian"
00:38 - Welcome to My Migrant Soul & Introducing Walter Villagonzalo
02:36 - From Naval Officer to Migrant: Leaving the Philippines in 1986
03:52 - Building a New Life in Melbourne
04:44 - The Struggle to Feel Like You Belong
05:47 - Bringing the Family Back to the Philippines — and the Kids Who Said No
06:39 - Diving Fully Into Community Work
08:16 - Founding The Migrant Hub
09:15 - Turning Advocacy Into Real Change at Council
11:05 - Running for Council Five Times Before Winning
12:59 - Life as One of Two Migrant Councillors
15:10 - The Filipino in the Middle: Lessons on Belonging
16:44 - Advice for New Migrants: Give Back to Belong
18:34 - Current Projects: Tree Nurseries and the Canopy Accelerator Co-op
20:26 - Partnering With Lions Club to Plant a Million Trees
21:24 - Closing Thoughts

GUEST INFORMATION

Walter Villagonzalo
OAM Founder & President, The Migrant Hub Inc. and Canopy Accelerator Co-operative Limited Community Development
Social Enterprise

Connect with Walter Villagonzalo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltervillagonzalo/
Website: https://canopyaccelerator.coop/

Every migrant has a story—of dreams, struggles, and triumphs. My Migrant Soul brings you powerful, real-life conversations with migrants from diverse backgrounds who have navigated the challenges of starting over in a new land. Hosted by Imran Abul Kashem, this podcast sheds light on personal migration journeys, cultural transitions, and the resilience that fuels success.

HOST INFORMATION

Imran Abul Kashem
Founder, My Migrant Soul
Serial Entrepreneur, Former Journalist and Personal Branding Expert

Connect with Imran:
Website: https://westendpodcast.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mymigrantsoul-aus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imran_abul_kashem_melbourne/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imranabulkashem/

Subscribe for more real stories of migration, identity, and human experience.
Got a story to tell? Start your podcast with Westend Podcast: https://www.westendpodcast.com.au