(Photo Credit: Department of Foreign Affairs’ Overseas Voting Secretariat)
31 May 2023- In a forum organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) on women and suffrage on 23 May 2023, Filipino-Canadian Parliamentarian Rechie Valdez, Member of the Parliament representing Mississauga—Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, shared her experience and insights on women political participation. Joining live from Canada, MP Valdez also encouraged Filipinos overseas to volunteer and be more involved in their communities. She also shared the ongoing internship program for Filipino-Canadian youth which provides them opportunities to work under Canadian Senators and Members of Parliament.
MP Valdez is 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. She also serves as the Chairperson of the Canada-Philippines Interparliamentary Friendship Group.
The DFA-OVS forum entitled "Beyond Suffrage" is a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Republic Act No. 10590 and the 86th anniversary of women's right to suffrage. The forum gathered resource speakers from the government and the academe to speak on the milestones achieved in overseas voting and to honor the pivotal role of Filipino women in the democratic process. - END