Filipino Diaspora in Canada Speak Out on the Need to Protect the Biodiversity in the West Philippine Sea

Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa Maria Andrelita S. Austria delivers her welcome remarks (Ottawa PE photo).

To mark this year’s celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) 2023, the Philippine Embassy in Canada, in partnership with Division 215.1 of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, organized a forum on 22 September 2023 at the Embassy’s Mindanao Hall entitled “Protecting the West Philippine Sea’s Biodiversity:  Voices from the Filipino Diaspora in Canada”.  The forum was immediately followed by the opening of the photo exhibit entitled “Archipelagic States: Identity, Consciousness, and Law” curated by the Philippine Mission to the UN in New York.

This year's MANA MO theme, "Kapuluan, Kabuluhan, Kaunlaran" (Archipelago, Significance, and Development), underscores the interconnectedness between the country's geographical makeup, its historical importance, and its journey towards progress.  To further amplify this year's national theme, the Department of Foreign Affairs has adopted the sub-theme: “Setting Sails Towards Sustainability: Ocean Science for Archipelagic Philippines.”

In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita S. Austria called for the Filipino diaspora to support the promotion of biodiversity in the West Philippine Sea.  She added that science-based policy-making and a rules-based maritime order are values that Filipinos share with Canada and are thus avenues for Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians in Canada to support efforts to protect and defend the West Philippine Sea.

The forum featured video responses by Dr. Deo Onda of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and Atty. Ronely Bisquera-Sheen of Tanggol Kalikasan (TK), Inc. to questions earlier posed by the participants upon registration.

This was followed by a lively open forum where members of the audience, who came from all walks of life – students, retirees, artists, writers, among others – discussed how they, though living in Canada, can contribute to the preservation and prosperity of our maritime heritage. Some suggested taking up relevant science and research courses in Canada that would benefit the cause of the Philippines; Some mentioned using social media to increase awareness of the issue among the youth; while others said that they can provide financial support to relevant projects in the Philippines. 

Upon registration, the participants were provided a postcard with a QR code linked to a timeline detailing PH’s contribution to the development of the concept of archipelagic state.

Many participants expressed appreciation to the Embassy for increasing their awareness of the situation in the WPS, beyond what is shown in the traditional and social media. They said that the MANA Mo activities were able to highlight the importance of the WPS to the present and future generations of Filipinos, both in the Philippines and abroad, and that they were enthusiastic to support efforts to preserve their maritime heritage in their own personal way. END

Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa Maria Andrelita S. Austria (left) with University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute Dr. Deo Onda (right) during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the photo exhibit entitled “Archipelagic States: Identity, Consciousness, and Law” (Ottawa PE photo).

Some of the participants of the forum (Ottawa PE photo). 

For more information, visit https://www.ottawape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy.ca, https://www.facebook.com/PHinCanada/ or https://twitter.com/PHinCanada.