NEW PHILIPPINE AIRLINES REGIONAL HEAD FOR NORTH AMERICA PAYS COURTESY CALL ON PHILIPPINE CONSUL GENERAL IN VANCOUVER

Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin receives Philippine Airlines Regional Head for North America, Mr. Jose Maria “Chema” Alvarado (center) and Country Head for Canada, Mr. Allan Coo at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. [Photo: Vancouver PCG]

27 May 2026, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver welcomed Mr. José María “Chema” Alvarado, the newly appointed Regional Head for North America of Philippine Airlines (PAL), during a courtesy call on Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin. Mr. Alvarado, who is four months into his new post and expressed great enthusiasm for collaborating with the Consulate, was accompanied by Mr. Allan Coo, PAL Country Head for Canada.

The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding partnership between the Philippine Consulate General and the country’s flag carrier in promoting travel, tourism, and community-driven initiatives across Western Canada.

Consul General Jamoralin thanked Philippine Airlines for its steadfast support and active collaboration on major Consulate projects. Specifically, she lauded PAL’s valuable support for the upcoming Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (Canada YouLeaD 2026) program, running from 11 to 17 August 2026. By providing special travel discounts, PAL is directly empowering Filipino-Canadian youth to reconnect with their roots and tap into a vital new niche travel market.

L-R: Consul André Peter C. Estanislao, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin, Mr. Jose Maria “Chema” Alvarado, PAL Regional Head for North America and Mr. Allan Coo, PAL Country Manager for Canada at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. [Photo: Vancouver PCG]

Additionally, the Consul General recognized PAL’s generosity in providing raffle prizes for the successful launch and execution of the Filipino Restaurant Month in Canada (FRMC) this past April, as well as its sustained partnership in the annual Winter Escapade tourism project in collaboration with Rajah Tours.

"We are delighted to welcome Mr. Alvarado to his new post and look forward to an even more dynamic collaboration with Philippine Airlines," said Consul General Jamoralin. "As the premier gateway between the Philippines and Canada, PAL is more than just a commercial carrier; it is a vital bridge for our kababayans and a strategic partner in bringing Canadian tourists and investors to Philippine shores. We are eager to explore innovative tourism and cultural partnerships that will drive economic growth and development for our country."

Mr. Alvarado highlighted several new innovations and robust commercial improvements under his leadership, including a remarkable 10% growth in the North American market to date. He revealed that PAL is set to launch a new route this November featuring direct flights from Chicago to Manila.

He also discussed the roll-out of PAL’s new state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. While currently utilized for New York routes, deployment of the A350-1000 will be expanded to other key North American destinations as PAL continues to cultivate its premium market niche. PAL operates daily nonstop flights between Vancouver (YVR) and Manila (MNL), serving as a crucial link for the thriving Filipino-Canadian community and the growing tourism market in British Columbia and the Yukon territory. END.