Clockwise from top: CFO and NCCA delegates together with Ambassador Garcia and members of the Philippine Embassy; Usec. Pimentel-Naik shares updates on the Philippines to the audience; Joey Ayala regales Filipino-Canadians with his songs; Usec. Pimentel-Naik shares a light moment with the audience at the end of the event as they take a group photo.

10 May 2018, Ottawa – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas headed by Executive Director Astravel Pimentel – Naik launched the first leg of “Ugnayan sa Canada,” an initiative to engage the Filipino Diaspora overseas, today at the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa.

The event was attended by members of the Filipino community in Ottawa and Montreal and featured prominent Filipino singer and song writer Joey Ayala. Mr. Ayala delivered an inspirational message to the audience, exhorting them to rethink concepts of culture and identity and to reach out to the younger generations of Filipinos living overseas. He also sang renditions of his popular songs Walang Hanggang Paalam and Tabi-Tabi. Undersecretary Pimentel – Naik also briefed the audience on developments in the Philippines and the proposal for a federal form of government.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia welcomed the delegations of the CFO and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, noting the importance of continued dialogue with overseas Filipinos. “I am certain that much information may be gleaned from the experiences of the Filipino Diaspora in Canada and we are very glad that the delegation chose Canada’s capital city as their starting point for this project,” she stated.

After the event in Ottawa, Ugnayan sa Canada will move to Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver for more consultations with first and second generation Filipino – Canadians. END.