PH Ambassador, Consul General Celebrates Independence Day with Filipinos in Alberta, Canada

Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia delivers the greetings of the Philippine Government at the Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Council of Edmonton Filipino Associations Red Carpet gala dinner, attended by about 1000 Filipinos at the River Cree Hotel ballroom. (Calgary PCG photo)

CALGARY 02 July 2018 – Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia and Consul General in Calgary Gilberto G.B. Asuque conveyed the appreciation of the Philippine Government for the support and contributions of Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians in Alberta Province to the economic and social developments in their mother country.

The Ambassador and the Consul General visited Edmonton over the weekend to join Filipino Community organizations in their celebration of Philippine Independence Day.  

Speaking at the red carpet gala dinner of the Council of Edmonton Filipino Associations (CEFA) on 16 June 2018, Ambassador Garcia highlighted the significance of the Filipino diaspora in the social, economic, and cultural development in Canada, noting, that the Filipino migrants comprise one of the largest and fastest growing ethnocultural groups in Canada.

Ambassador Garcia cited the progress in the bilateral relations of the Philippines and Canada, as well as the economic development and infrastructure projects in the Philippines.

The Ambassador referred to the Independence Day messages of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano conveying the best wishes of the government to Filipinos overseas, and its appreciation for their support and contribution to the development of the Philippines.

For his part, Consul General Asuque also reflected on the importance of the Independence Day messages of the President and the Foreign Affairs Secretary particularly on the courage and patriotism of Filipino heroes who fought for democracy and democratic values as their legacy for the people.

Consul General Asuque invited the Filipinos in Alberta to support the program of the Philippine government to ensure the safety of the people in their communities and homes, deliver an efficient and corruption-free governance, and resolve the problem on illegal drugs.

Ambassador Garcia and Consul General Asuque both cited the significance of the proclamation declaring June of each year as Philippine Heritage Month in Alberta as an opportunity for the Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians in the Province to develop closer links with the Government and the entire community, enhance the ethnic diversity in Alberta, and show that they truly represent a vibrant and dynamic component of the cultural mosaic of Alberta.

The Consul General invited the community leaders to unite and organize the various programs for the first and historic celebration of Philippine Heritage Month in June 2019.

Deputy Premier Hoffman and MLA for Calgary Jason Kenny were among the guest speakers at the CEFA event, where they both conveyed the congratulations and best wishes of the Provincial Government on the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.

The two local officials also cited the valuable contributions of the Filipino-Canadians to the social, economic, and cultural life of Alberta especially the Filipino workers in the health care sector, services industry, and industrial/manufacturing sector particularly in the oil and gas exploration and production companies.

Prior to the CEFA event, Ambassador Garcia and Consul General Asuque met some 100 Filipino community leaders and members of organizations at a lunch forum last Saturday. The meeting with the Filipino community leaders was also an opportunity to introduce the new Consul General  based in Calgary, and discuss programs to deliver consular services to the distant areas in Alberta where there is a large Filipino community.  

Later in the day, the Ambassador and the Consul General greeted the Filipinos at their Family Fun Day at the Millwoods Christian School, NW, Edmonton.

On Sunday, Consul General Asuque spoke at the meeting of the Filipino Seniors Citizens of Edmonton at the Edmonton Korean Community Center, where he discussed specific consular services and the outreach programs of the Consulate General. The senior citizens requested the Consul General to bring consular services to the various Filipino communities in Alberta, especially to distant districts. The Consul General assured the Filipino organization that their concerns will be addressed. END

Consul General in Calgary Gilberto G.B. Asuque speaks before the Filipino Community in Alberta, Canada. (Calgary PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph.