Vancouver Convention Center
Vancouver, Canada
9 May 2015
More than a thousand Filipinos in Vancouver warmly welcomed President Benigno S. Aquino III during his meeting with them at the Vancouver Convention Center.
In his speech, the President reiterated his gratitude to the government of Canada for its hospitality and generosity not only to him and his delegation throughout his visit but to the thousands of Filipinos working and living in the country. He specifically lauded British Columbia Premier Christy Clark for her efforts to help the Filipino community in the province and mentioned her commitment to the just signed Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation in Human Resource Deployment and Development.
President Aquino then proudly described how the economy improved and grew during his term and stated the government’s remarkable projects and programs such as in the areas of education, infrastructure, security and labor.
“Ito na nga lang po ang hamon sa ating lahat: Diligan pa ang ipinunla nating mga reporma sa Daang Matuwid; pagyamanin pa ang maganda nating nasimulan; patuloy pang abutin ang mga pangarap na inakala nating hindi natin mararating. Magagawa natin ito, kung muling pipiliin ng Pilipino ang mga nararapat na pinuno. Tulad ng makailang-beses nang pinatunayan ng ating lahi: Basta’t sama-sama, lahat ng hamon, gaano man ito kahirap ay kayang lampasan; anumang pangarap, gaano man ito katayog, kaya nating abutin. Sa pagkakaisa at malasakit sa isa’t isa, tiyak, mararating natin ang nais nating paroonan: isang patas, maunlad, at masiglang Pilipinas,” said the President.
As of the official statistics done in 2011, there are about 136,000 Filipinos residing and working in the British Columbia wherein 112,000 of it are from Vancouver. They are usually in the areas of health, engineering, architecture and caregiving.
Together with more than 200 Filipino community organizations in Metro Vancouver, the Philippine Consulate is encouraging new registrants for the 2016 elections and educating more Filipinos about the Absentee Voting Bill.
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