Ambassador Petronila Garcia (center, in black) poses for souvenir photograph with some of the founding members of the Filipino Heritage Society in Montreal

09 March 2020, Ottawa – Upon the invitation of the Filipino Heritage Society in Montreal (FHSM), Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia attended, as Guest of Honor and Speaker, the celebration of its second founding anniversary held in Montreal on 07 March 2020.

In her speech, Ambassador Garcia recalled the unanimous passing of Motion-155, authored by Member of Parliament Salma Zahid in 2018 which declares June of every year as Filipino Heritage Month. Motion 155 was considered as a milestone decision that was welcomed by Filipinos all over the Canada and was well regarded as a recognition of their history and the sacrifices they have made in moving to their adopted country.

She also recalled that Filipino Heritage Society of Montreal organized itself after the Council of the Borough of Cotes-de-Neiges-Notre-Dame-des-Grace declared June as Filipino Heritage Month in the Borough, an initiative of Councilors Marvin Rotrand and Lionel Perez, after seeing Toronto and the Province of Ontario passing the same recognition to honor their Filipino diaspora.

In closing, Ambassador Garcia expressed her wish for the continued success of the organization and noted the preparations being made for this year’s June celebrations of the Filipino Heritage Month and the 122nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. -END-