Statement of Unity for a Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre

We, the undersigned representatives of the Filipino community in British Columbia, reaffirm our united call for a provincial Filipino Cultural Centre and our support for the Mabuhay House Society as the provincial government’s partner in this historic effort.

Like many other immigrant communities, ours is a diverse one.  There are almost 175,000 Filipinos across BC and we are among the fastest growing communities in Canada.  We speak more than one hundred languages, we occupy a range of professions, we hail from different parts of the Philippines and are interested in a broad range of issues and sports activities.  The many community organizations we formed over the decades reflect this.  But after hard lessons from previous attempts, there is one effort that truly unites us: the work to create a provincial Filipino Cultural Centre.

We recognize this is a monumental task requiring one dedicated organization with the capacity and skills needed to manage and move the project forward to completion and beyond.

As such, we welcomed the announcement about the provincial government’s commitment to a Filipino Cultural Centre that will be developed in coordination with the Mabuhay House Society.  

We have a generational opportunity before us.  We know it is the result of the hard work of the many, many leaders and organizations that previously advocated for it.

We fully support the Mabuhay House Society as they navigate the work ahead with all of us as their community partners.  We know the goal is as important as the journey.  And the dream is not simply the opening of a building — it is the opening of a home.  A place that anchors us and that can serve to empower and build connections with the many other cultural and indigenous communities that form the tapestry of our province.  And that has the capacity to continue to operate and flourish for generations to come.

In closing, we the undersigned represent members of our community with deep roots and extensive experience in organizing and advocating for our community.  We reiterate our unified clamor for a Filipino Cultural Centre and support for the Mabuhay House Society.

Together with our community, all orders of government and various stakeholders, we know this long-standing dream will be achieved so that a legacy for all is realized.