Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver Officially Launches Dr. Ambeth Ocampo’s BC Lecture Tour with Welcome Reception

VANCOUVER, BC, 26 September 2026 — The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver officially launched the British Columbia lecture tour of distinguished Philippine historian Dr. Ambeth R. Ocampo with a welcome reception at the Consulate’s Multipurpose Hall on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

Prior to the reception, Dr. Ocampo paid a courtesy call on Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin, during which he was introduced to the officers of the Consulate General. In their meeting, they reviewed the week’s schedule and program, while discussing the national significance of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMO) and the critical role of public diplomacy in promoting Philippine historical consciousness and maritime heritage.

The evening reception brought together distinguished members of the Consular Corps, led by Consul General Dr. Ricardo Arredondo of Argentina and Dean of the Consular Corps, leaders from institutional partners, academia, media and the Filipino-Canadian community across British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. The event officially opened a week of commemorative activities marking MANAMO 2026 and the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Ruling on the South China Sea.

Consul General Jamoralin highlighted her long-standing professional association with Dr. Ocampo dating back to 2007. Accompanied by a visual presentation featuring archival photographs from her past diplomatic postings in Tokyo, Honolulu, Chicago, and Jakarta, Consul General Jamoralin remarked on Dr. Ocampo’s unique ability to leave "cultural footprints" and make Philippine history vibrant and relatable to global audiences. She also acknowledged the generous support of the Department of Foreign Affairs – Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (DFA-MOAO) and host institutional partners—Simon Fraser University (SFU), the University of Victoria (UVic), and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC).

Remarks were also delivered by Dr. Ricardo Arredondo, Dean of the Consular Corps and Adjunct Professor at SFU, and a representative from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, both affirming the importance of academic collaboration and rules-based international engagement.

In his response, Dr. Ocampo expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Consulate and its host institutions, sharing how wonderful it was to reunite with Consul General Jamoralin and continue their shared work in promoting Philippine history abroad. Expressing his excitement and anticipation for the upcoming lectures across British Columbia, he offered an engaging preview of his presentation, "Maps and the Emergence of the Filipino Nation," highlighting how historical cartography offers a fascinating lens into the country's maritime roots and national identity.

The formal program concluded with the presentation of a Certificate and Token of Appreciation to Dr. Ocampo by Consul General Jamoralin, followed by a book signing session and reception.

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