All services are by appointment. Please book your appointment at appointment.vancouverpcg.org.
June 13, 2025
OFWs in British Columbia celebrate the 30th Philippine Migrant Workers Day
Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin opening the 30th celebration of Philippine Migrant Workers’ Day in Surrey, BC. (Photo by Migrant Workers’ Office Vancouver)
SURREY, B.C., 07 June 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver together with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Social Security System (SSS) offices in Vancouver in celebrating the 30th Migrant Workers Day at Grandt Kitchen restaurant in Surrey, BC. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from BC cities such as Vancouver, Langley, Surrey, Westminster, Richmond, and Burnaby joined the Consulate’s One Country Team in this celebratory event.
The program featured the commemorative messages from Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers, Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan of OWWA, and Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin underscoring this year’s theme of “Bayan, Bayani, Bayanihan”.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac delivering his Migrant Workers’ Day message to OFWs from various parts of British Columbia. (Photo by Migrant Workers’ Office Vancouver)
In her message, Consul General Jamoralin urged the Filipino community to continue exemplifying the competence, admirable traits, and rich culture of Filipinos. She also emphasized the strong presence of our skilled, resilient, hardworking and closely-knit overseas Filipinos and OFWs in Canada, and that the annual celebration of Migrant Workers’ Day is our way of honoring their positive impact in the various sectors they work in.
She also enjoined the community to participate in and support the new initiatives of the Consulate to promote their welfare and empowerment, such as the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for temporary foreign workers and international students which will be held on 12 July 2025 in Burnaby; the Vancouver Emergency Response Mapping Registry (VERMAP), a database of Filipinos in Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territory that the Consulate’s One Country Team can use in emergency situations, and; a directory of Filipino organizations which aims to facilitate access of newly arrived Filipinos to various community support and services.
Clockwise from top left: Labor Attache Maya Valderrama facilitating an information session for migrant workers in Canada at the 30th Migrant Workers’ Day celebration; SSS Representative Darwin Soria presenting the SSS suite of member benefits; Vice Consul Marco Harder discussing consular services and how they may be availed at PCG Vancouver, and; OWWA Welfare Officer Allan Ignacio discussing benefits of OWWA members and how to access them. (Photo by Migrant Workers’ Office Vancouver and PCG Vancouver)
The program was followed by interactive information sessions on consular, labor, welfare and social security services presented by Vice Consul Marco Harder, MWO Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama, OWWA Welfare Officer Allan Ignacio and SSS Representative Darwin Soria.
As part of the celebration, attendees were treated to a sumptuous Filipino lunch and an afternoon of fun and musical entertainment with special prizes for the winners of a singing contest, games and raffles.
Republic Act 8042, also known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, was enacted into law on 07 June 1995. This institutionalized the commitment of the Philippine Government to protect the welfare and promote the interests of Filipino workers’ overseas. 07 June is celebrated as Migrant Workers’ Day each year to commemorate the signing of this landmark piece of legislation. END
Work hard, play hard: scenes from the afternoon segment of the 30th Migrant Workers’ Day celebrations in Surrey, BC. (Photo by Migrant Workers’ Office Vancouver)
Attendees of the 30th Migrant Workers’ Day celebrations in Surrey, BC pose for a group photo. (Photo by Migrant Workers’ Office Vancouver)