15 May 2012 - The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Philippine culture expressed in art, dance, food and film, was in full display at the 2012 Asian Heritage Month in Gatineau City.

Philippine paintings from the personal collection of Ambassador and Mrs. Leslie B. Gatan adorn the walls of the Gatineau City Library for the whole month of May, with the works of Joel Mataverde and Edwin Jumalon, among others, brandishing hallmarks of the Philippines' vibrant cultures.

With the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Cinemalaya films Pepot Artista and Batad were screened at the Jean-Despréz Hall on May 12 to a Filipino and French-speaking audience.

Filipino food was sold out in just a couple of hours at the Agora Gilles-Rocheleau de la Maison du citoyen to a large French-Canadian crowd on May 13.

The culture of the Cordillera people depicted in the independent film Batad came to life at the Agora Gilles-Rocheleau de la Maison du citoyen on May 13 as the Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga (BIBAK) Association in Ottawa presented tribal dances that captivated members of the audience, including Member of Parliament Nycole Turmel.

Philippine presentations at the Asian Heritage Month were organized by the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa in coordination with Ms. Ming Zhang, President of the Chinese Community of Outaouais.

Now on its 10th year, the Asian Heritage Month takes place every May as an occasion for Canadians across the country to acknowledge the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to Canadian economic growth and prosperity. END