Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver Highlights Historic Milestones and Community Unity at UFCABC’s 11th Heritage Gala

9 July 2026, Vancouver, B.C.  –  Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin attended the United Filipino Canadian Associations in BC (UFCABC) 11th Heritage Gala held on 27 June 2026  at the Italian Cultural Centre.

At the start of her remarks, Consul General Jamoralin led attendees in a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the June 8 earthquake in Mindanao and the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban, expressing solidarity with the affected families and communities.

She congratulated UFCABC for successfully organizing its 11th Heritage Gala and highlighted the three (3) significant milestones: the 128th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, Philippine Heritage Month, and the 70th Anniversary of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, the first Philippine diplomatic and consular post established in Canada in May 1956.

Reflecting on the strength of Philippines–Canada relations, Consul General Jamoralin cited the successful official visit of Philippine Ambassador to Canada H.E. Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga to British Columbia in May 2026. During the visit, the Ambassador met with senior provincial and municipal officials, including Premier David Eby, Speaker Raj Chouhan, MLA Mable Elmore, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, and Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. These engagements reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship and highlighted the Filipino diaspora's vital role in strengthening ties between the two countries.

Consul General Jamoralin also emphasized the message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.  on the occasion of the 128th anniversary of Philippine independence, the importance of remembering the nation's history while embracing active citizenship and solidarity in building a "Bagong Pilipinas." She noted that UFCABC's sustained collaboration among its member organizations exemplifies these values and reflects the community's commitment to nation-building, even while overseas.

The Consul General likewise presented several key initiatives of the Philippine Consulate General aimed at empowering and protecting the Filipino community:

• YouLeaD 2026 (11–17 August 2026): The Consulate's flagship Canada Youth Leaders in the Diaspora Program, which offers Filipino-Canadian youth aged 19 to 25 a leadership and cultural immersion experience in Metro Manila and Batangas.
• Dual Citizenship and Overseas Voting: The Consul General encouraged qualified Filipinos to reclaim their Philippine citizenship through dual citizenship and register for the 2028 Philippine National Elections before the September 2027 registration deadline.

END