Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver Convenes Business Session for Filipino-Canadian Entrepreneurs in Vancouver

(Left Photo) Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin (standing behind the podium) delivers a message to the audience during the Business Session for Filipino-Canadian Entrepreneurs in Vancouver. (Right Photo) Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) Executive Director Thi Be Nguyen, MLA and Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Paul Choi, and Philippines-Cananda Trade Council (PCTC) Vice Chair Eric Ching as facilitator during the Philippine and Canadian Governments' Response via Panel Discussion. (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

Vancouver, BC, 15 August 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, in partnership with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Toronto, Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Vancouver, Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC), and University Canada West (UCW) convened a Business Session for Filipino-Canadian Entrepreneurs in Vancouver and companies doing business with the Philippines at Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB) in Vancouver on 14 August 2025.

Other partners which made the event possible were Megaworld International and Jollibee Corporation.

In her remarks, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin highlighted that the purpose of the business session was to equip new and existing Filipino-Canadian Entrepreneurs with valuable knowledge on managing, owning and operating small businesses in Canada and help them navigate all the challenges and opportunities to be prepared of their entrepreneurial journey in Canada.

The business session opened with a Special Presentation on the Philippine Economy by Trade Commissioner Mario Tani, who joined virtually from the Philippine Trade Investment Center in Toronto. The event featured five major sessions:

• (Session 1) Provincial Business Support Resources, Rules and Regulations on Registration and Application for Business Permits, Licenses, Franchise, and Taxation in BC by Small Business and Economic Development Division (SBED) Senior Director Swin Chai;
• (Session 2) Access to Capital in Canada by Bank of Montreal (BMO) Director Carlo Acosta, BMO Relationship Manager Rodrigo Martinez de la Torre, InBC Investment Associate Amanda Tong, and Innovate BC Managing Director Sheila Schindel;
• (Session 3) Government Regulation on Human Resource Planning (Hiring, Labor Standards) in Canada by WokSafeBC Senior Manager Kristine Carrick and MWO Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama;
• (Session 4) Issues Affecting Filipino-Canadian Import-Export companies doing business in the Philippines with the insights from Frobisher International Ltd. Senior Account Manager Mark Hendrickson, Corinthian Distributors, Ltd. President Vincent Uy, and New Almanic International, Ltd. President Christian Chan; and
• (Session 5) Philippine and Canadian Governments' Response via Panel Discussion with Member of Legislative Assembly  (MLA) and Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Hon. Paul Choi, Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) Executive Director Thi Be Nguyen; and Trade Commissioner Tani as speakers and panelists.

Hon. Mable Elmore, BC Deputy Speaker and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), also delivered a message highlighting the expansion of free trade across Canadian provinces and the exploration of trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines.

The program concluded with a summary presented by PCTC President Neil Mort and results of the business survey, offering valuable insights into current trends, challenges, and opportunities for bilateral business collaboration.

The day-long gathering served as a vital platform for Filipino-Canadian entrepreneurs to connect with government officials, financial institutions, and business leaders, fostering meaningful discussions on establishing, sustaining, and expanding businesses across Canada and the Philippines. END

(Left Photo) PTIC-Toronto Trade Commissioner Mario Tani delivers a Special Presentation on the Philippine Economy and one of the resource persons during Session 5: Philippine and Canadian Governments'  Response via Panel Discussion. (Right Photo) MLA and Deputy Speaker Mable Elmore delivers her remarks during the Business Session. (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

Ms. Swin Chai of Small Business and Economic Development Division (SBED) under the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth who also joined virtually, discusses Session 1: Registration and Application for Business Permits, Licenses, Franchise, and Taxation in BC. (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

(Clockwise) Mr. Carlo Acosta, BMO; Mr. Rodrigo Martinez de la Torre, BMO; Ms. Amanda Tong, InBC; and Ms. Sheila Schindel, Innovate BC deliver their respective presentations during Session 2: Access to Capital. (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

(Left Photo) Ms. Kristine Carrick of WorkSafeBC and (Right Photo) Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama of MWO-Vancouver deliver their presentations during Session 3: Government Regulation on Human Resource Planning (Hiring, Labor Standards) in Canada (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

(Left to Right) Mr.  Mark Hendrickson of Frobisher International, Ltd., Mr. Vincent Uy of Corinthian Distributors, Ltd. and Mr. Christian Chan of New Almanic International, Ltd. deliver their presentations during Session 4: Issues Affecting Filipino-Canadian Import-Export Companies Doing Business. (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

Front row (Left to Right) Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama (MWO in Vancouver), Ms. Celulu Hing (Megaworld International), Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin , Mr. Rodrigo M. de la Torre (BMO), Consul Analyn D. Ratonel, and Mr. Carlo Acosta (BMO) and Back row (Left to Right): Mr. Christian Chan (New Almanic International, Ltd.), Ms. Kristine Carrick (Innovate BC), Mr. Neil Mort (PCTC), Mr. Mark Hendrickson (Frobisher International, Ltd.), and Ms. Merryjoy Nicolas (UCW) in a photo opportunity during the business session. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

(Left  to Right Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama (MWO in Vancouver), Hon. Thi Be Nguyen (CABC), Mr. Christian Chan (New Almanic International, Ltd.), Mr. Mark Hendrickson (Frobisher International, Ltd.), MLA and Deputy Speaker Mable Elmore, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Paul Choi, Mr. Vincent Uy (Corinthian Distributors, Ltd.), Mr. Neil Mort (PCTC) and Mr. Eric Ching (PCTC) in a photo opportunity during the business session. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

(Left  to Right Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama (MWO in Vancouver), Hon. Thi Be Nguyen (CABC), Mr. Christian Chan (New Almanic International, Ltd.), Mr. Mark Hendrickson (Frobisher International, Ltd.), MLA and Deputy Speaker Mable Elmore, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Paul Choi, Mr. Vincent Uy (Corinthian Distributors, Ltd.), Mr. Neil Mort (PCTC) and Mr. Eric Ching (PCTC) in a photo opportunity during the business session. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

The resource persons respond to the audience’s queries during the panel discussion. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

(Left Photo) Jollibee Vancouver at the business session. (Right Photo) Megaworld International Head of Sales Operations and Acting Deputy Sales Head for North America Teams Ms. Celulu Hing, presents Real Estate Investment Opportunities in the Philippines. (Photos by Vancouver PCG)