Photo caption: Top: Ambassador Garcia with officials from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, FCC and the Windsor Police Department; Meet and greet at the Filipino Community Center; Bottom left and right: Ambassador Garcia joins the meet-and-greet at the Filipino Community Center; Bottom center: Ambassador Garcia delivers her keynote speech during the FCC 25th Anniversary celebration. (Photos courtesy of Mr. Jayvee Macasaet)

 14 October 2017, Windsor - Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia, together with other officials from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, joined the Gala Dinner held on Saturday, 14 October 2017, in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Filipino Community Center of Windsor and Essex County. This was the Ambassador’s first visit to Windsor, ON, a city with a thriving Filipino community dating back to the 1970s.

In her keynote address, Ambassador Garcia lauded the FCC for continuing to play an active role in the community and encouraged them to serve as a bridge for the younger generations of Filipino-Canadians to learn more about their Filipino heritage.

Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese Fernandez of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto briefed the FCC members on upcoming consular outreach missions of the Consulate and the ongoing Overseas Voters Registration, while First Secretary and Consul Greg Marie Mariño talked about the upcoming Winter Escapade tour.

The following day, a meet-and-greet was held in honor of Ambassador Garcia at the Filipino Community Center. Filipinos from different sectors in Windsor joined her for brunch and for a question and answer session on the Embassy’s programs and consular services. – END--