Caption: (Top: Embassy officers, members of Mann Lawyers, and other guests sit down to a sumptuous feast of traditional Filipino dishes at Tahanang Rizal. Left to right: 1. Singers perform “The Prayer” in Filipino and English, 2. Guests at the benefit dinner, 3. Ambassador Garcia talks about the history of Philippines – Canada relations)

4 May 2017, Ottawa – For the second year in a row, the Embassy of the Philippines hosted a benefit dinner for Family Services Ottawa (FSO) at the Tahanang Rizal, the Official Residence of the Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada. The dinner was offered as part of a silent auction during Family Services Ottawa’s Music on a Mission fundraiser held in 2016.

Ambassador Petronila Garcia welcomed Mann Lawyers, the winner of the auction, and invited them to learn more about the Philippines. She expressed that the Embassy is keen to participate in worthy charity projects that enable it to engage all sectors in Canada, which is the adopted home of more than 700,000 Filipino – Canadians. Ambassador Garcia also noted that the dinner coincided with Canada’s celebration of Asian Heritage Month and the Philippines’ National Heritage Month, and assured the guests that the evening ahead would give them a glimpse of Filipino heritage.

Guests were treated to an evening of Filipino music and cuisine featuring tuna kinilaw with stuffed Portobello mushrooms, slow-braised beef mechado, and mango cheesecake prepared by Tamis Café, Ottawa’s first Filipino café run by Filipino – Canadian couple Liza and Lito Sare. Mr. Miguel Moreno of the Philippine Embassy and Ms. Angelique Maiquez, Co-President of the Filipino Students Association of uOttawa, regaled the audience with Sitti Navarro’s Para sa Akin and a Filipino – English rendition of The Prayer.

Family Services Ottawa is a multi-service, non-profit organization that provides programs, support and counselling to build strong and resilient individuals and families. END