PHILIPPINE TRADE RECOGNITION AWARDEES: CORINTHIAN DISTRIBUTORS LTD., JOLLIBEE, B2GOLD CORPORATION, AND TELUS ACCEPT PLAQUES OF RECOGNITION AND DELIVER ACCEPTANCE REMARKS

Vancouver, BC - 25 August 2026 - The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, in partnership with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Toronto and the Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC), hosted the inaugural Philippine Trade Recognition Awards for British Columbia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories on 21 August 2026 at the Terminal City Club in Vancouver.

The awards recognized businesses and leaders whose work has helped promote Philippine products in the Canadian market, attract and sustain investment in the Philippines, create employment opportunities, and strengthen the growing services partnership between the two countries.

The five awards were presented during the ceremony to the following distinguished recipients:

1. Outstanding Importer Award – Diversified Products: Corinthian Distributors Ltd., recognized for developing a diverse portfolio of Philippine products and expanding their presence in the Canadian market. The award was received by Mr. Vincent Uy, President of Corinthian Distributors Ltd.;
2. Outstanding Importer Award – Food and Beverage: Jollibee, recognized for its consistent import performance, growth, and contribution to promoting Philippine food products in Canada. The award was received by Jeffrey Santos
   General Manager, JollibeeGranville Downtown;
3. Outstanding Investment Partner Award – Resources: B2Gold Corporation, recognized for its longstanding partnership with the Philippines and sustained contribution to economic cooperation and development. The award was received by Michael Cinnamond, President & CEO of B2Gold Corporation;
4. Outstanding Services Partner Award: TELUS, recognized for its significant partnership with the Philippines and contribution to strengthening trade in services. The award was received by Carl Perron, Senior Director, TELUS Digital; and
5. Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC) Impact Award: Vincent Uy, President of Corinthian Distributors Ltd., recognized for his meaningful contribution to strengthening trade, investment, and economic collaboration between the Philippines and Canada.

The first four awardees and categories were chosen in consultation with Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Toronto, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry–Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) of the Philippines, based on data-driven criteria relating to trade and investment performance.

On the other hand, Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC) Impact Award, recognizes an individual or organization whose leadership and initiatives demonstrated a meaningful and measurable contribution to Canada–Philippines economic relations. Nominees were assessed based on their demonstrated impact on Philippines-Canada bilateral trade, measurable outcomes and sustainability, leadership and innovation, contribution to business and community ecosystems, and alignment with the mission of the PCTC.

The awardees accepted the plaques of recognition and delivered remarks reflecting on their respective journeys, the support they have received from their communities and partners, and their commitment to advancing Philippines–Canada relations.

Corinthian Distributors Ltd. Recognized for Promoting Philippine Products

The Outstanding Importer Award – Diversified Products was presented to Corinthian Distributors Ltd. for its longstanding commitment to promoting a diverse range of Philippine products and expanding their presence in the Canadian market.

Mr. Vincent Uy, President of Corinthian Distributors Ltd., accepted the award and reflected on the company's 32-year journey, noting the importance of perseverance and the support of both the Filipino community and the broader Canadian market in sustaining the business over the years.

In his remarks, Mr. Uy expressed his appreciation for the opportunities that Vancouver and Canada have provided to businesses and entrepreneurs. He recognized the Filipino community as an important source of support and emphasized the role of strong community and market relationships in helping Philippine businesses and products thrive in Canada.

Jollibee Canada Celebrates Philippine Food and Culture

The Outstanding Importer Award – Food and Beverage was presented to Jollibee Canada in recognition of its role in bringing Philippine culinary brands to Canadian consumers and its sustained growth in Philippine food imports.

Mr. Jeffrey Santos, General Manager of Jollibee Granville Downtown, accepted the award and highlighted Jollibee's pride in promoting a Philippine brand while sharing the flavors, warmth, and hospitality of Filipino food with Canadians.

In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Santos described the opportunity to bring Filipino cuisine to Canadian consumers as a privilege and emphasized Jollibee's role in celebrating and sharing Philippine culture and heritage. He also acknowledged that the recognition reflects the collective dedication of the company's employees, partners, and customers whose continued support has contributed to Jollibee's growth.

Mr. Santos reaffirmed Jollibee's commitment to continued growth in Canada and to contributing to the strong and enduring relationship between the Philippines and Canada.

B2Gold Recognized for Longstanding Investment in the Philippines

The Outstanding Investment Partner Award – Resources was presented to B2Gold Corporation in recognition of its longstanding investment in the Philippine resource sector, commitment to responsible mining, employment generation, and partnership with local communities.

Mr. Michael Cinnamond, President & CEO of B2Gold Corporation, accepted the award and highlighted the company's longstanding presence in the Philippines, noting that B2Gold began its operations in the country in 2013 and has since built a significant and enduring partnership with Filipino communities and stakeholders.

Mr. Cinnamond dedicated the recognition to B2Gold's employees, emphasizing their commitment and contribution to the company's success. He noted that the company is now the largest gold producer in the Philippines and a major private-sector employer in the Visayas, with more than a thousand employees, more than 99 percent of whom are Filipino.

He also highlighted the strong collaboration between B2Gold and the local government and communities of Masbate Province, where the company's Masbate Gold Project is located. According to Mr. Cinnamond, the professionalism, dedication, and passion demonstrated by Filipino employees have been central to the company's success and continue to strengthen B2Gold's operations in the country.

Mr. Cinnamond further underscored the importance of continued dialogue between Canadian investors and the Philippine government. He noted that B2Gold representatives met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Vancouver in July 2026, where they discussed the mining sector and opportunities for continued cooperation.

TELUS Celebrates Two Decades of Partnership with the Philippines

The Outstanding Services Partner Award was conferred on TELUS in recognition of its longstanding contribution to strengthening trade in services between Canada and the Philippines and its sustained investment in Philippine talent.

Mr. Carl Perron, Senior Director, TELUS Digital, accepted the award and delivered remarks on behalf of the company. TELUS' partnership with the Philippines dates back to 2005, when the Canadian company invested in Ambergris Solutions, a Philippine-based customer experience provider. The operation was subsequently rebranded as TELUS International and has grown over the past two decades from a single contact center in Manila into a significant customer experience and digital services operation.

Today, TELUS has more than 25,000 Filipino team members, reflecting the depth and longevity of the company’s investment in Philippine talent. In his remarks, Mr. Perron highlighted the remarkable spirit, talent, and skills of Filipino workers and recognized their important contribution to TELUS’ global operations.

Mr. Perron also emphasized the Philippines’ position as a leading global hub for business-process outsourcing, customer experience, digital services, artificial intelligence, and technology-enabled operations. TELUS' continued investment in the country demonstrates the strong potential of the Philippines-Canada services partnership and the important role of Filipino talent in the global digital economy.

Mr. Vincent Uy Receives PCTC Impact Award

The Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC) Impact Award was presented to Mr. Vincent Uy, President of Corinthian Distributors Ltd., in recognition of his personal leadership and sustained contribution to expanding the reach and visibility of Philippine consumer products in the Canadian market.

Mr. Uy was recognized for his role in bringing a wider range of Philippine goods to Canadian shelves and households and for helping establish stronger commercial connections between Philippine exporters and the Canadian market.

The recognition also highlights the significance of Mr. Uy’s 32-year journey in Canada and his continued commitment to promoting Philippine products and supporting the Filipino business community. His experience reflects the opportunities available to entrepreneurs and businesses in Vancouver and Canada and the importance of strong community support in building sustainable commercial ventures.

Building on a Strong Philippines–Canada Partnership

The five awardees represent key sectors of the Philippines–Canada economic relationship, from food and consumer products to natural resources and digital services. Their stories also illustrate the many ways in which Canadian and Philippine businesses are working together to create opportunities, support communities, develop talent, and strengthen economic ties.

The acceptance remarks delivered during the ceremony highlighted a shared appreciation for the people, communities, employees, partners, and institutions that have contributed to the awardees' success. They also underscored a common commitment to building on the longstanding relationship between the Philippines and Canada.

The achievements of this year's honorees demonstrate the important role of the private sector in advancing bilateral trade and investment and in translating the strong people-to-people relationship between the two countries into lasting economic opportunities.

The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, PTIC-Toronto, and PCTC congratulated Jollibee Canada, Corinthian Distributors Ltd., B2Gold Corporation, TELUS, and Mr. Vincent Uy on their well-deserved recognition and expresses its appreciation for their continued contributions to strengthening the Philippines–Canada economic partnership. END