The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, Canada

Philippine Embassy in Canada Engages Participants in a Lecture on Philippine Maritime Heritage and its Importance in 2025 Pinoys on Parliament Workshop

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PR-7-2025

7.1 First Secretary and Consul Alexander Joseph Estomo facilitated the lecture on Exploring Philippine Maritime Heritage and Why It Matters: The Case of the West Philippine Sea.

24 February 2025, Ottawa – The Philippine Embassy in Canada participated in the Pinoys on Parliament (POP) 2025 Workshops held at the University of Ottawa Social Sciences Building on 23 February 2025.

First Secretary and Consul Alexander Joseph Estomo facilitated a lecture titled "Exploring Philippine Maritime Heritage and Why it Matters: The Case of the West Philippine Sea." The lecture aimed to provide the participants with an understanding of the geopolitical, legal, and economic significance of WPS, recognizing the WPS issues’ impact on the Philippines, Canada, and Filipino communities abroad, and explore ways Filipino-Canadians can contribute to raising awareness.

7.2 First Secretary and Consul Alexander Joseph Estomo facilitated the lecture on Exploring Philippine Maritime Heritage and Why It Matters: The Case of the West Philippine Sea.

Consul Estomo concluded the lecture by urging the participants to share their thoughts/action plan on how Filipino-Canadians can support WPS-related advocacy in Canada.

Post also distributed a PH tourism souvenir bag with a comic book, “The Stories of Teacher Jun”, to the participants who attended the lecture.

7.3 PH tourism souvenir bag with a comic book, “The Stories of Teacher Jun”, distributed to the participants who attended the lecture.

The lecture is part of the POP 2025-hosted workshops, with the theme of “Embracing Our Roots: Exploring Cultural Identity and Heritage”, from 22 to 23 February 2025. END

HONORING FILIPINO YOUTH LEADERSHIP’S EXCELLENCE; PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN CANADA HOSTS 2025 PINOYS ON PARLIAMENT WELCOME GALA

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PR-6-2025

6.1 Ms. Myca Magnolia M. Fischer, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., addressed around 300 participants during the 2025 Pinoys on Parliament Welcome Gala on 21 February 2025 at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa

24 February 2025, Ottawa – The Philippine Embassy in Canada successfully hosted the 2025 Pinoys on Parliament (POP) Welcome Gala at the prestigious Sir John A. Macdonald Building, located on Parliament Hill, Ottawa on 21 February 2025. The event was attended by around 300 Filipino and Filipino-Canadian youth from across Canada, as well as prominent leaders of the Canadian government, and members of the Filipino-Canadian community. It was organized by Kabangka, an organization dedicated to fostering connections among Filipino-Canadian youths across the country.

6.2 POP 2025 Welcome Gala participants and the “75 Faces of Migration” exhibit located at the entrance.

This year’s POP event highlighted the theme "Panahon" – a word deeply rooted in Filipino culture, symbolizing the changing seasons and the evolution of time. POP aimed to equip delegates with the tools and confidence to embrace growth and change in both personal and professional aspects of life. It also underscored the shared experiences of the youth as they embrace their heritage while forging new identities in Canada.

The event started with an interactive activity, facilitated by the artists in residence, ka.likha.saan, who guided the participants through an exploration of the Indigenous Filipino understanding of land-based, cyclical, and layered concepts of panahon.

In welcoming the participants to this year’s conference, Ms. Myca Magnolia M. Fischer, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., reminded them of the rich Filipino heritage and culture they bring as migrants to Canada. Ms Fischer further remarked, “Your journey reflects the resilience and adaptability of your parents and ancestors, who navigated the tides of history with strength and determination. As you engage with fellow delegates and speakers over the next few days, I encourage you to embrace the lessons and wisdom shared here—carrying them forward into your own journey as emerging leaders while staying rooted in the identity and heritage that make us proudly Filipino.”

6.3 Video performance of Guest Keynote Speaker Andrea Macasaet

Filipino-Canadian Senator Flordeliz “Gigi” Osler, Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez, Conservative Member of Parliament for Calgary Heritage Shuvaloy Majumdar also attended and shared their messages. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the leader of the New Democratic Party sent their welcome messages through a letter and video, respectively. Andrea Macasaet, a Grammy nominated and Drama Desk Award winning performer who originated the principal role of Anne Boleyn in SIX on Broadway, delivered the keynote address. Macasaet is a Filipina-Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the recipient of the 2024 Trailblazer Award from Pinays of Manitoba.

The POP 2025 Welcome Gala has become a staple in celebrating Filipino youth leadership and creativity, and continues to inspire a sense of unity and pride among young Filipinos across Canada.

The Embassy treated the participants to Filipino cuisine such as chicken inasal, mixed pancit bihon and canton, chopsuey, and tropical desserts such as buko pandan and cassava cake. The Embassy also installed an exhibit showcasing the “75 Faces of Migration”.

6.5
The Embassy treated the participants to Filipino cuisine

The gala was capped with cultural performances, and networking opportunities, all aimed at promoting the cultural richness of the Philippines and reinforcing the strong bonds of youth within the Filipino-Canadian community.

Pinoys on Parliament (POP) is the first and largest national leadership conference for Filipino-Canadian youth organized by Kabangka, a youth-led and youth-centered leadership organization that unites and supports young Filipino-Canadians in a variety of sectors. POP hosted workshops, discussions, and cultural events from 21 to 23 February 2025. This year is the 7th Annual POP Youth Leadership Conference since its launch in 2019. END

THE 289TH MEETING OF THE ASEAN COMMITTEE IN OTTAWA

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PR-5-2025

19 February 2025, Ottawa – The ASEAN Committee in Ottawa (ACO) met for the first time in 2025 at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club to plan for its activities for the first half of the year. Under the Chairmanship of the Royal Thai Embassy, the ACO intends to work closer with Canada’s parliament in advancing shared priorities within Canada and the Indo-Pacific region.

Senators Yuen Pau Woo and Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler shared their insights on promoting greater awareness of ASEAN’s importance to Canada and the region. Both the ACO and the Senators committed to raising the profile of the Canada-ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group as ASEAN’s partner in Canada’s government and Canada’s representative at the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Association (AIPA).

ANNOUNCEMENT TO FILIPINO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN CANADA

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PR-4-2025

PR 4 2025 Database

The Embassy of the Philippines in Canada invites Filipino Organizations in Ottawa and nearby cities in Eastern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the British overseas territory of Bermuda to accomplish the form in the link below for the Embassy's updating of its current database of Filipino Community Organizations in its jurisdiction:

https://bit.ly/Ottawa-FilCom-Directory2025

All private information we receive is used solely by the Philippine Embassy and is not shared with third parties without the express consent of the person(s) concerned.

Maraming salamat po!