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26 February 2024, Ottawa – The Philippine Embassy in Canada hosted the Pinoys on Parliament 2024 (POP 2024) Gala Night at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa on 23 February 2024. More than 250 members of the Filipino-Canadian youth attended the event.

This year’s theme is “Laro”, relating the act of playing to the experience of childhood, specifically highlighting the concept of healing the “inner-child”.

The event started with an interactive activity, facilitated by the principals of Architects at Play, challenging the participants in making a model of a modern bahay kubo based on predetermined concepts.

Ms. Myca Magnolia Fischer, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., greeted the participants and lauded them for participating in this year’s conference. CDA Fischer remarked that the “Filipino diaspora serves as the cornerstone of Philippines-Canada bilateral relationship, galvanizing the friendship and partnership between our two countries. You are here because your forefathers or parents came here to contribute both to the Philippine and Canadian society. You have decades ahead of you and you are a source of hope both for the Philippines and Canada.”

Filipino-Canadian Senator Flordeliz “Gigi” Osler and Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez also attended and shared their messages. The leader of the official opposition of Canada and the leader of the  New Democratic Party sent their welcome messages through a letter and video, respectively. Kyne Santos, the first Filipino-Canadian contestant on season one of Canada’s Drag Race and popularly known on Tiktok as the Math Queen and author of the book, “Math in Drag,” delivered the keynote address.

The Embassy treated the participants to Filipino cuisine such as pancit palabok, chicken pancit, chicken and pork adobo, and biko. The Embassy also installed a mini-exhibit showcasing the “Archipelagic States: Identity, Consciousness, and Law” as well as tourism banners.

The conference was capped with cultural performances and fellowship.

Pinoys on Parliament (POP) is the first and largest national leadership conference for Filipino-Canadian youth organized by Kabangka, a youth-led and youth-centered leadership organization that unites and supports young Filipino-Canadians in a variety of sectors.   POP hosted workshops, discussions, and cultural events from 23 to 25 February 2024. This year is the 6th Annual POP Youth Leadership Conference since its launch in 2019. END