Philippine Consulate General Organizes Town Hall Meeting for Visiting Philippine Ambassador to Canada

Vancouver, B.C. 12 May 2026 — The Philippine Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency José Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga officially inaugurated the newly renovated Consular Hall of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver located at 999 Canada Place. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a Town Hall meeting, brought together over 80 participants representing 45 Filipino organizations across British Columbia, while leaders from Yukon and the Northwest Territories joined the proceedings via Facebook Live.

The event was graced by members of the ASEAN Consuls General in Vancouver (ACGV), including the Consul General of Malaysia, the Honorable Ahmad Shazril Bin Suhaimi and the Consul General of Thailand, the Honorable Nattanipa Burusapat, as well as Dr. Matthew Yngson of the Caribbean ASEAN Council, signaling the high level of regional solidarity and the strategic importance of the Philippine mission in the province.

(Photo Above) Ambassador Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga, Philippine Ambassador to Canada and Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin jointly cut the ribbon for the inauguration of the Consular Hall Extension at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver (Photo by Vancouver PCG).

(Photo Above) Consul General Ahmad Shazril Bin Suhaimi of Malaysia (left) and Consul Nattanipa Burusapat of Thailand (right) pose with Consul General Jamoralin and Ambassador Chan-Gonzaga following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

(Photos Above) Consul General Gina Jamoralin delivers the welcome remarks while Ambassador Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga delivers the keynote address before the audience. (Photos by Vancouver PCG).

Strategic Diplomacy and Regional Leadership

With the Philippines serving as the Chair of ASEAN for 2026, the Ambassador emphasized the theme "Navigating Our Future, Together." He outlined the three strategic priorities of the Philippine chairmanship—Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors, and People Empowerment—noting that high-level diplomacy in Manila translates directly into local wins for Filipinos in Canada, such as the historic Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) signed last year.

Championing the Filipino Workforce

Addressing the community's concerns during the Town Hall, the Ambassador reaffirmed his commitment to the ongoing efforts for Foreign Credential Recognition for Filipino ealth care workers.

“It is a missed opportunity for both our nations when world-class professionals are unable to practice their expertise to the fullest,” the Ambassador stated. He further commended the Consulate for its Vancouver Emergency Response Mapping Registry (VERMAP), calling it the "essence of malasakit (compassion) in action."

Launching YouLeaD 2026: "From Maple to Mangoes"

A highlight of the evening was the official launch of Canada YouLeaD 2026 Program: From Maple to Mangoes, an inaugural heritage leadership program for Filipino-Canadian youth. The program, scheduled from 11 to 17 August 2026, will take youth leaders to the Philippines for museum tours, heritage walks in Taal, and dialogues with national leaders.

“We must help our youth find their roots so they can grow even taller here in Canada,” the Ambassador said, officially declaring applications open until June 22.

(Photo Above) Ambassador Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga introduces the Canada YouLead 2026 Program to the audience. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

A Call to Political and Cultural Action

In a stirring closing message, the Ambassador challenged the community to increase its political footprint in Canada. Noting that the community is one million-strong but underrepresented in government, he urged Filipinos to participate more actively in civic life.

“Being Filipino is your superpower,” the Ambassador told the crowd. “Convey what’s best about Filipinos as a nation—may malasakit, may bayanihan, at makabago (compassionate, cooperative, and modern). By always being Filipino, be our best Ambassadors.”

For more information on the YouLeaD 2026 program and upcoming consular outreach schedules, please visit the official website of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, www.vancouverpcg.org.  END.

(Photo Above) The Filipino community joins the officials of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver for a photo opportunity before the Town Hall Meeting. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

(Photos Above) The members of the Filipino community participate in the Open Forum of Town Hall Meeting (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

(Photo Above) The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General, Migrant Workers Office, OWWA and SSS in Vancouver join Ambassador Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga for a memorable photo (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

(Photos Below) The Embassy and Consulate Officials join various groups from the Filipino community for commemorative photos (Photos by Vancouver PCG)