27 May 2013 - Employing a mix of cultural and economic diplomacy, the Philippine Embassy continued to broaden the visibility of the Filipino community in Ottawa through various cultural platforms in the Canadian capital throughout the month of May.
In Gatineau, Philippine food and dances were presented at the annual Asian Heritage Month on May 4 with the support of the Philippine Dance Troupe of Ottawa and Ms. Melba Panuncio.
In Ottawa, the Asian Heritage Month featured the award winning films Dekada '70 and Batad. Both films engrossed the attention of Canadian audiences during no-frills screenings at the Ottawa Public Library on May 9 and May 23, respectively. "The movie was amazing. I didn't know that the Philippines had a culture like that. I would love to see Batad someday, definitely," a Canadian moviegoer remarked.
The Asian Heritage Month is a program of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that acknowledges the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and provides an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Canadians of Asian heritage to the growth and prosperity of Canada.
Also in Ottawa, Filipino comfort food was sold out in the opening minutes of the first Desserts of the World Festival on May 8 at the Shenkman Arts Center where the Philippine Embassy's turon and buko pandan salad was given special mention by the Embassy, Canada's Foreign Policy Newsweekly and other community newspapers. Hosted by the Committee for a Better Tomorrow in support of St. Mary's Home, the event launched a new Mother's day tradition in Ottawa.
The Embassy likewise spearheaded Philippine participation in the 2013 Canadian Tulip Festival where Filipino food and ethnic dances were showcased at the food bazaar and international stage, respectively, from May 9 to May 19. Festival goers sampled Filipino delicacies prepared by Fely and Art Flores whose halo-halo was a crowd drawer. During the opening weekend on May 4, BIBAK entertained Canadian audiences with a traditional thanksgiving dance from the Cordilleras.
This year's festivities took place at the Ottawa City Hall. 300,000 tulips in 60 different varieties transformed the capital city's landscape into a colorful canvas ushering in a long-awaited spring.
Finally, at the Ambassador's official residence on May 25, Mrs. Debbie Mijares Gatan and Ms. Rebecca Meuse conducted a floral demonstration as part of the Filipino community's celebration of Flores de Mayo. Mrs. Gatan and Ms. Meuse masterfully demonstrated the fine art of flower arrangement using blooms, leaves and twigs found in the participants' own gardens. Ambassador and Mrs. Leslie Gatan led the offering of the participants' inspired creations to the Blessed Virgin Mary during the annual Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan at the Assumption Church in Ottawa on May 26.
"The month of May has been especially busy for the Embassy as we raised the Philippine flag at various cultural events in Ottawa and Gatineau. Through extensive cultural diplomacy and people-to-people ties, we hope that more doors are opening for two-way trade, investments and tourism as the Philippines and Canada pursue mutual economic interests of job creation, greater prosperity and inclusive growth," Ambassador Gatan explained. END