By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Rounding off his multiple engagements in Vancouver before heading back to the Philippines, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Philippine delegation met with the Filipino community in Canada on Saturday [Philippine time].
As the President entered the events place, he was warmly welcomed by more than 500 members of the Filipino community who traveled from different parts of the country to meet him.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. hailed the long-standing people-to-people exchanges between both nations, which stretches further into the past—even beyond the nearly 8-decades long bilateral ties between Vancouver and Manila as of press time.
He expounded, “The first recorded Filipino in Canada’s records, Mr. Benjamin Benson Flores, arrived in Bowen Island sa British Columbia noong 1861—nasa ilalim pa tayo ng Kastila noon. This marks 165 years of people-to-people relations between the Philippines and Canada.”
The President likewise praised the hard work, perseverance, and dedication of Filipinos in their adopted country, bringing world-class hospitality and services that benefit Canadians as well as their families in the Philippines.
“I was heartened by their presence and the positive remarks of the Canadian government officials and ordinary Canadian citizens about the Philippine diaspora and how they are very glad and very happy to have the Filipinos that are here in Canada,” President Marcos said.
The Chief Executive concluded his remarks by reassuring overseas Filipinos of continuing government support in honor of their sacrifices for the Motherland.
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