(click photo to see the video)

1 June 2023, Ottawa - A series of activities across Canada were held and organized to mark the beginning of Filipino Heritage Month in Canada. In October 2018, the federal House of Commons unanimously passed Motion-155 declaring the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month throughout Canada.

Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville, Ontario Rechie Valdez delivered a statement today before Canada’s House of Commons marking the commencement of the Filipino Heritage Month in Canada. MP Valdez noted the contributions of almost one million Filipinos in Canada. Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita S. Austria and other Embassy Officers witnessed the statement delivered in the House of Commons Chamber.

Ambassador Austria also spoke at the Global Virtual Call, which was jointly organized by B’nai Brith and the Filipino Heritage Society of Montreal. The virtual event coincides with the end of the Jewish Heritage Month in May, and the start of the Filipino Heritage Month in June. The forum was aimed at celebrating  Filipino and Jewish friendship ties, and highlighting the Philippines’ Open-Door policy, which allowed 1,300 European Jews fleeing the holocaust to find safe haven in the Philippines.

Other speakers included Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, Ambassador of Israel Ronan Hoffman and other Members of Parliament and Senators. Former Ambassador of the Philippines to Israel and Canada Petronila Garcia, Ambassador Nathaniel Imperial, and Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino also delivered their messages during the call.

“The declaration of the Canadian government of this month as Philippine Heritage Month manifests the recognition of the significant contributions that our community has made. It is my hope that we will continue to honor and preserve our values and culture, and share these not just with our children but with non-Filipinos in Canada as well. A better understanding of who we are as a people will allow other cultures to not just know us, but also value and respect our unique contributions to Canada,” Ambassador Austria encourages Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians in Canada in a separate message.

We wish everyone a happy and meaningful Filipino Heritage Month!