4 Philippine Showbiz Today
Headline News
November 8 - 21, 2018
Philippine Consulate hosts Kapihan
for Fil-Canadian Community
The Consulate General of the
Philippines hosted its third Kapihan
sa Konsulado for the Filipino-
Canadian Media, to consult with
the group on matters that affect
the Filipinos in the community.
Hosted by Consul General Maria
Andrelita S. Austria, Filipino-
Canadian media representatives
attended the event. Notable
publications and television media
outfits, as well as online Fil-
Canadian media present were the
Reyfort Media Group, Canadian
Filipino Net, Dahong Pilipino,The
Philippine Journal, The Philippine
Chronicle, Welnoun Media, and
ABS-CBN TFC.
Fil-Canadian public service
media personalities Marieton
Pacheco of ABS-CBN’s TFC-
Balitang America, and Rosette
Correa , senior editor and
host of the Philippine News
Canada, a TV program aired on
SHAW Multicultural Channel 4,
interviewed ConGen Austria who
shared her ideas on how the
various media organizations and
the Consulate can collaborate
in addressing issues faced by
the Filipino community in Metro
Vancouver.
The
Consulate
hosted the fourth Kapihan
Philippine Consul General Maria Andrelita Austria (front, 4th from left), with the Filipino-
Canadian media representatives who attended the Kapihan sa Konsulado. ( Christian Cunanan)
sa Konsulado with Filipino-
Canadian media to solicit
suggestions and explore areas for
possible cooperation.
The first Kapihan was hosted
in July 2018, Vancouver with
members
of
FILNET,
an
informal network of Filipino
professional
and
volunteer
social service providers in
B.C.Labor Attaché Margarita
Eugenia F. Victorino conveyed
her appreciation for FILNET’s
enthusiastic response to the
Consulate’s invitation.
Consul Arlene T. Magno
welcomed the community service
providers to the second edition
of the Kapihan sa Konsulado.
The Consulate discussed the
action points arising from the
first Kapihan in July aimed at
addressing the identified gaps
in information dissemination,
coordination
and
delivery
of
services.The
community
service providers participated
in a group activity facilitated by
POLO Vancouver that mapped
out where they are located in
B.C., the various services they
provide,
and
their
target
communities.Consul
General
Austria led the third part of the
agenda with a discussion of a
matrix of Filipinos in Canada
and their issues, with the
objectives
of
determining
which services are available for
them and where the Philippine
Consulate can come in. As in the
first meeting with the community
service providers last July,
the conversations on the floor
were animated and produced
invaluable
inputs
for
the
Consulate moving forward.
The Kapihan series will be
held every month and is intended
to be a forum where the Consulate
can get to know and engage
different stakeholders for a more
coordinated, comprehensive and
inclusive approach to carrying out
its mandate. ●
Parliament approves motion recognizing June
as Filipino Heritage Month in Canada
On October 30, 2018, the
House of Commons approved
a motion recognizing June as
Filipino Heritage Month every year
across Canada.
The private member’s motion
M-155 was filed last year by Salma
Zahid, MP for Scarborough Centre
in Ontario.
Zahid said in a statement
on November 5 that the motion
passed unanimously.
“Diversity
is
Canada’s
strength,” Zahid said. “We are a
diverse and welcoming country
where people of all backgrounds
can have a real and fair chance at
making a better life for themselves
and their families, and a key part
of that diversity is our Filipino-
Canadian community.”
According to Zahid, the
motion “recognizes, celebrates
and raises awareness of the
Filipino community in Canada”.
“It is also a way of showing our
in the opinion of the House, the
government should recognize
the contributions that Filipino-
Canadians
have
made
to
Canadian society, the richness of
the Filipino language and culture,
and the importance of reflecting
upon Filipino heritage for future
generations by declaring June,
every year, Filipino Heritage
Government’s official appreciation Month.”
of the Filipino community for
Based on the 2016 Census,
their
important
contribution Filipinos in Canada number
throughout Canadian history and
for helping to make our country
the rich and vibrant place it is
today,” she said..
Zahid said that
Filipino
Canadians are “making a
difference in communities from
coast to coast to coast and across
all walks of life – from singers
like Canadian Idol finalist Elena
Juatco to athletes like soccer star
Jonathan de Guzmán”.
“Rey Pagtakhan was the first
Filipino-Canadian MP and cabinet
minister, and the late Senator
Tobias Enverga was a champion
for his community in the Senate.
Filipino Heritage Month will
help celebrate these important
contributions, and many more,
that have enriched our Canadian
society,” she said.
Zahid motion reads: “That,
837,130. Filipinos comprise the
third biggest Asian community
in the country after Chinese and
East Indian.
In June this year, the province
of Alberta issued a proclamation
designating June of every year as
Filipino Heritage Month.
It is not immediately known
if British Columbia has either
an existing proclamation or
a plan to introduce a similar
proclamation. ●