27 January 2015 - Officials from the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver sat down with leaders of the various Filipino community organizations for an organizational meeting and planning session on January 16 at the activity hall of the Multi-Cultural Helping House Society in Fraser Street, Vancouver.

The meeting, which was organized by the Philippine Consulate General, discussed preparations for the 2015 celebration of Philippine Independence Day across Metro Vancouver. One of the agenda of the meeting was the selection of new volunteers who will replace the outgoing members of the Pista ng Bayan Executive Committee. Leaders of the different Filipino organizations quickly signed up for the various committees which were opened to expand the current pool of volunteers and to encourage the more active involvement of newcomers in the Independence Day activities.

Before the discussion on the calendar of activities for 2015, Philippine Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer took advantage of the huge gathering of Filipino community leaders to deliver a presentation on the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea issue. He gave a brief background on the current maritime dispute in the area and the arbitration case initiated by the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Consul General Ferrer underscored the Philippines commitment towards a peaceful settlement of disputes and the rule of law. END