26 November 2013 - Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer called on the Honourable Judith Guichon, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (B.C.), at the Government House, her working office and private residence, in Victoria, British Columbia  on November 21.

Recognized as the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, Her Honour Judith Guichon was sworn in as the 29^th Lieutenant Governor of the province on November 02, 2012. Prior to this appointment, she owned and operated Gerard Guichon Ranch Limited in the Nicola Valley in British Columbia’s interior. 

During the call, Consul General Ferrer discussed with the Lieutenant Governor diverse topics ranging from the weather to piracy and Philippine exports of agricultural commodities. Highlights of the meeting are as follows:

• Lieutenant Governor Guichon conveyed her sympathies and wishes for the safety and well-being to the victims of typhoonYolanda (Haiyan) and their families in the Philippines. The Consul General thanked Her Honour for her well wishes and B.C’s support, noting that Canada and the provincial government of B.C. were among the first to respond to the crisis and provide aid for the victims. He also thanked the Lieutenant Governor particularly for the “matching scheme” offered by the provincial government, whereby every dollar donated by British Columbians for the cause would be matched, dollar for dollar by the province, up to CA$300,000.00. 

• On the relief assistance received by the Philippines, Lieutenant Governor Guichon noted that the abundance of aid and assistance to the Philippines was due to the fact that everyone in Canada has friends in the Philippines. “They (Filipinos) are very good ambassadors for your country,” she said.

• Lieutenant Governor Guichon said she wonders if storms in the Philippines are growing stronger and more destructive, and if this was due to global warming. Consul General Ferrer noted that the science on this issue is still developing, but agreed that global warming may be affecting or changing weather patterns, causing more destructive storms. The Consul General added that the Philippine delegation head at the Warsaw Conference of Parties (COP) on Climate Change made an impassioned call for global action in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

• Turning to trade, Lieutenant Governor Guichon inquired whether the Philippines exports agricultural products. The Consulate General’s delegation replied in the affirmative, citing recent successes in the export of fresh mangoes, pineapples and bananas to countries like Australia and the United States, and the availability of fruit juice and dried fruits in retail stores in Canada. The Consulate delegation offered to send dried mangoes to Her Honour in the future.

• Lieutenant Governor Guichon inquired whether the Philippines is a member of the Transpacific Partnership, the proposed trade agreement under negotiation by (as of August 2013) Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. The Consulate General’s delegation replied that the Philippines is not, but that the matter is still under study.

Consul General Ferrer was accompanied during the call by his wife Mrs. Miriam Manaog-Ferrer, his daughter Victoria Grace, Consul Anthony Mandap, and Labour Attaché Bernardino Julve.

Immediately after the call on the Lieutenant Governor, the delegation proceeded to the Bayanihan Filipino Community Centre in Victoria to witness the turnover by Filipino community leaders of a check to the Canadian Red Cross representing donations collected from fundraising campaigns.

The Filipino residents of Victoria, in partnership with local businesses and other ethnic communities, raised a total of CA$30,000.00 in donations. END