23 November 2005 – Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose S. Brillantes reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that hundreds of Filipino-Canadians from all over Canada converged at the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, for the First Canada-Philippines Friendship Reception, held at the West Block of the House of Commons on 15 November 2005, with participants coming to the national capital from as far as Vancouver, British Columbia, Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, Regina, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Ambassador Brillantes explained that the reception highlighted the numerous contributions of the Filipino community to Canadian society and economy and showcased the best of Filipino culture and heritage to Canadian parliamentarians. The event also served as the inaugural meeting of the Canada-Philippines Friendship Society, which brings together leaders of Filipino-Canadian organizations across Canada.

Ambassador Brillantes was assisted in this event by Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard B. Angeles, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Rhenita B. Rodriguez and the Embassy’s finance officer, Mr. Alvar Rosales. The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto was represented by Consul General Alejandro Mosquera, Consul Julius Torres and Vice Consul Indhira Banares.

The occasion also served as a "meet and greet" reception for a number of parliamentarians, as they welcomed their Filipino-Canadian constituents and the representatives of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto to Parliament Hill. Among the Members of Parliament present were Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Milliken, Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, Defense Minister Bill Graham, Winnipeg MPs Pat Martin and Judy Wasylecia-Leis and British Columbia MP Randy Kamp.

Speaking on behalf of Canada’s Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Paul Martin, Deputy Prime Minister Anne Mclellan, who is also Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, officially welcomed to Canada Philippine Ambassador Jose S. Brillantes, who was warmly received by kababayans at the event.

The event was also a celebration of Filipino culture, with a wide array of Filipino food and delicacies garnering praises from the parliamentarians and other Canadian guests. The barong tagalog and baro’t saya as well as the eye-catching ternos proudly worn by Filipino-Canadians were likewise much admired.   Filipina opera singer Lilac Cana also rendered classic Filipino songs.

The Canada-Philippines Friendship Reception was sponsored by Member of Parliament Lui Temelkowski. His assistant, Mr. Ed Joaquin, was the overall chairperson of the organizing committee. END
 
 

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