Member of Parliament Rechie Valdez (front row, seated left) and Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Myca Magnolia Fischer (front row, seated right), together with Consul Rea G. Oreta, Vice Consuls Leo Vidal and Mary Jaselle Menteer, and interns during the briefing

18 May 2023, Ottawa - The Philippine Embassy in Canada hosted the eleven participants of the National Philippine Parliamentary Internship Program of the Canada-Philippines Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group (CPIPFG). The CPIPFG is currently chaired by Member of Parliament Rechie Valdez, the first Canadian woman of Filipino heritage to get elected to the House of Commons, and only the second Canadian of Filipino heritage to sit as a member of Canada’s Parliament.

Embassy officers provided a comprehensive view of Philippine foreign policy, trade and economic development, history and culture, geography, and bilateral relations between Canada and the Philippines, as well as the Embassy's daily operations and engagement with the Filipino community.

In her welcome remarks, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Myca Fischer highlighted the robust relations between the Philippines and Canada, which is underpinned by the strength of people-to-people ties. She encouraged the interns to know more about the Philippines and engage with the Filipino community in Canada.

The National Philippine Parliamentary Internship Program aims to bring Canadian youth of Filipino descent to Ottawa to work as interns with a Member of Parliament or Senator for a few weeks. The internship program is timed to coincide with Filipino Heritage Month and Philippine Independence Day so that the interns can also be immersed in the Filipino community and experience the different celebrations. This year, the program runs from 8 May to 16 June 2023. END