Building the Dream of a

Filipino Cultural Centre

ABOUT MABUHAY HOUSE SOCIETY

Bayanihan Spirit

•

Lahat Kasama

•

Serbisyo sa Komunidad

•

Bayanihan Spirit • Lahat Kasama • Serbisyo sa Komunidad •

We invite to be part of Mabuhay House Society Mission and Vision for a Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre.

Mabuhay House Society 5 Year Strategic Plan

Mabuhay House Society’s 5-Year Strategic Plan is a bold growth, resilience, and impact roadmap focused on strengthening community connections, expanding culturally responsive programs, and securing sustainable funding for the Filipino Cultural Centre. Over the next five years, we aim to enhance our programming and operational initiatives, empower our community members and leaders, and develop a robust capital project plan. Through inclusivity and collaboration, Mabuhay House Society is committed to creating a thriving, supportive environment for Filipinos.

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Get the latest news and community updates about the Mabuhay House Society, the Filipino community in Vancouver, and the Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre. Find ways to be involved through our various committees and volunteer opportunities toward achieving our mission and goals.

𝓒𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓕𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸 𝓬𝓾𝓵𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓾𝓼 𝓪𝓽 𝓕𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸 𝓕𝓮𝓼𝓽🎉 We’re excited to join our community partner @anahawfilcan at @museumofsurrey on Sat, Sept 6, 2025, 11am–4pm. Free + family-friendly! 🇵🇭✨ Expect: delicious food, live performances, textile displays, Tagalog & English storytelling, family art, exhibitor activations, photo ops, market + food vendors, DJs, and more! Organized by @museumofsurrey, @surreyfilipinocanadians (SPIDS), and @mabuhayhouse. 🎥 Plus: watch ANAHAW’s recent interview on OMNI News #FilipinoFest #MuseumOfSurrey #SurreyBC #Anahaw #SPIDS #MabuhayHouse #FilipinoCulture #Bayanihan

𝘽𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙝𝙖𝙣—the Filipino tradition of communal solidarity—emerged as a strong, recurring theme across the survey. Many respondents called for a cultural centre that lives this value: inclusive and accessible, welcoming to newcomers, providing social supports, and embracing all Filipino identities and cultures. From this, three priorities stood out: 𝗮) 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗯) 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰) 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. View the full 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙒𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 report for the Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre— 🔗 link in our bio.

𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙖𝙮, 𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖! 🇨🇦 Today we honour the workers who keep our communities moving—caregivers and health workers, custodians and maintenance staff, retail and food service teams, artists and cultural workers, educators, drivers, warehouse and logistics crews, farm and temp foreign workers, and everyone showing up—seen and unseen. At Mabuhay House, we believe in bayanihan—building a welcoming, accessible Filipino Cultural Centre powered by collective care, fair work, and dignity for all. Mabuhay ang mga manggagawa! 💛 Artwork by: Khim Mata Hipol, Cart #1, Archival Inkjet Print

𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓸𝔂 𝓼𝓪 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓸’𝓽 𝓭𝓲𝔀𝓪.🇵🇭 From vision to venue: we’re advancing the 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗖—𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗖—hand in hand with community. Haven’t read the 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 yet? Check the link in bio. 📸: @hipolkevin 📖: @mitchellprinters #MabuhayHouse #Bayanihan #FilipinoCanadian #FilipinoCulturalCentreBC

In time with the celebration of Buwan ng Wika in the Philippines, Mabuhay House Society partnered with the Mother Language Lovers of the World Society for the 11th Mother Language Festival on August 10 at Holland Park, Surrey—a gathering of languages, cultures, and community. As a Filipino-led organization working toward a Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre, we champion language access, cultural visibility, and intergenerational learning grounded in Bayanihan. The festival uplifted mother tongues—including Indigenous languages, Braille, sign languages, and minority linguistic traditions—in step with UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day, Canada’s Bill S-214, and B.C.’s commitment to language diversity. Communities from Bangladesh, China, El Salvador, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, and Ukraine shared stories, music, and pride. Maraming salamat to our volunteers, partners and participants—events like this keep our mother tongues alive and our communities connected. 𝙄𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙙𝙞𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙠𝙖, 𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙙𝙞𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣!

Mabuhay House Society joined the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver’s Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for international students and TFWs on July 12 at Executive Suites Burnaby (also streamed via Google Meet and K-Jam). With ~123 attendees, we staffed the Mental Health table alongside Pinoy Pride Vancouver, offering culturally responsive resources and referrals. Thank you to the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver for leading this initiative, and to the Migrant Workers’ Office–Vancouver, and community partners for a successful event.

𝙈𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙞—𝙣𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙣. 🇵🇭✨ On National Heroes Day (Araw ng mga Bayani), we honor those who fought for freedom and those who carry that spirit forward today: caregivers and health workers, migrant and OFW families, teachers and cultural workers, community organizers, artists, land and climate defenders, volunteers, youth leaders, elders, and 2SLGBTQIA+ champions. At Mabuhay House, our vision is a welcoming, accessible Filipino Cultural Centre in BC—a home for bayanihan, learning, and care. We keep our heroes’ legacy alive by building community that is inclusive, intergenerational, and proudly Filipino. Salamat, mga bayani ng bayan. Tag a modern hero you appreciate 💛 #ArawNgMgaBayani #NationalHeroesDay #Bayanihan #MakabagongBayani #FilipinoInBC

𝓜𝓪𝓰𝓭𝓲𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓾𝓵𝓲!🇵🇭✨ Nearly a month since B.C.’s first Filipino Youth Mental Health Symposium—Sulong Kabataan. Together we built a brave, culture-rooted space to talk identity, healing, and community care—by youth, for youth—in proud partnership with @mabuhayhousebc. Speakers: Javen Marchant, Mary Point, Dr. Carla Hilario, Jocelle Refol, Ria Renouf, Esther Chu, Tim Soril, Babette Santos, Bella Cenerezo, Miles Doquiatan Counsellors: Lauren Smart & Isabel Bleim Volunteers: 30+ youth leaders—salamat! Presenting sponsors: @katharasociety @pinoypridevancouver @ubcnursing Partners: @cityofvancouver @unitedwaybc #KapwaStrongFund In-kind: Coal Prints & Signs, Opus Art Supplies, Pampanga’s Cuisine, East Manila Ink Tattoo, Zebra Club | Vancouver, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, MAC Cosmetics, Vancouver Art Gallery, Mesa Photography, Power of Three, Panago Pizza, K-Jam Media Sa uulitin! Mabuhay tayong lahat! 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 — 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙞𝙤!

🇵🇭 🅜🅐🅑🅤🅗🅐🅨 🅣🅡🅘🅥🅘🅐: Cry of Balintawak (Pugadlawin) On August 19, 1896, the Spaniards discovered the Katipunan. Days later, on August 24, Andres Bonifacio gathered ~500–1,000 katipuneros in Caloocan—Balintawak/Pugadlawin (also recorded as Kangkong or Bahay Toro). Poorly armed with bolos, bamboo spears, paltiks, and a few old Remingtons, they chose courage over fear. Amid heated debate, Bonifacio’s call rang out: “Kalayaan o kaalipinan? Kabuhayan o kamatayan?” (Freedom or slavery? Life or death?) He tore his cedula and shouted, “𝙈𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙣!” — a bold act that ignited the Philippine Revolution. This is our history of defiance—and our promise to keep fighting for freedom. Image credit: philippinefolklifemuseum

𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 —𝓕𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸 𝓕𝓮𝓼𝓽 returns to @museumofsurrey 📅 Saturday, Sept 6 🕚 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM 📍 Museum of Surrey 🎟️ Free admission 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: Live performances by @thekuyas, @glishaxnadine, @argelmdr, @imashangel + more Storytime with @surreylibraries Local vendors & artisans Filipino food stalls Crafts, textile studio demos, and family activities Bring your family and friends—and your appetite. Let’s celebrate the richness, resilience, and joy of Filipino heritage together.

🌈🇵🇭 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓸𝔂 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝓪𝓽 𝓓𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓮 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓮! On August 3, 2025, Mabuhay House staff and volunteers proudly joined Pinoy Pride Vancouver Society—this year’s Grand Marshal—for the vibrant return of the Davie Pride Parade after a six-year hiatus. We walked in solidarity to celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ pride, Filipino identity, and community resilience. The streets were alive with color, music, and unity as we waved Filipino and rainbow flags—standing for inclusion, visibility, and cultural pride. This collaboration embodies the spirit we’re building toward the future Filipino Cultural Centre: a home for community, celebration, and belonging—for all. 💛 𝙈𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙠𝙡𝙖𝙖𝙣 🌈

✨ 𝓟𝓐𝓖𝓛𝓐𝓤𝓜 Healing Series 💫 Weekly Healing Circle + FREE 1-on-1 Yoga Therapy An invitation to breathe, feel, move, connect—and begin again in community care. This series supports those impacted by the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy through trauma-informed practices and collective healing. 🧘🏽 Led by: Bernadette Pacana, C-IAYT (Filipino Yoga Therapist) 1) Weekly Healing Circle (FREE) Tuesdays • 2:00–3:00 PM • Aug 26–Oct 28, 2025 📍 Formative Motion Society, 345 West Broadway, Vancouver @333nergydanceandwellness What to expect: breathwork, gentle movement, embodied practices, and a healing circle—closing with fellowship and Filipino snacks by @kape.coffee @leavenlygoodsbakery. ✅ Free to join — register through @byogawellness 2) 1-on-1 Yoga Therapy for Healing & Rehabilitation (FREE) Mondays & Wednesdays • 11:00 AM–3:30 PM • @localhealthclinic A personalized 75-minute session that may include gentle yoga-based movement, somatic practices, breathwork, and guided rest—to support physical recovery, emotional processing, and overall well-being. 🗓 Book a session — register through @byogawellness Offered in partnership with @formativemotionsociety, @unitedway_bc (Kapwa Strong), @mabuhayhouse and community collaborators. 💫 Your body holds the story. Together, we can help it tell one of healing. Please share with anyone who could benefit.

𝓐 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴—𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓕𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸 𝓛𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓾𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓱. On June 18, Mabuhay House Society was grateful to join the Philippine Heritage Month and Pride Month celebration at Louis Brier Home & Hospital. The day was filled with community connection, music, and delicious home-cooked Filipino meals prepared by the dedicated Louis Brier staff. We were also honored to be recognized for reflecting the Louis Brier Home & Hospital and Weinberg Residence CHAI—𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 values. We’re deeply grateful for this recognition and look forward to beginning and growing our partnership.

Did you know Mabuhay House Society has a community calendar? If you’re hosting a Filipino or community event, submit it through the 🔗link in our bio and we’ll add it to the calendar. Let’s build a vibrant, connected community together!

📢 𝓐 𝓗𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓬 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓹 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓕𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸 𝓒𝓪𝓷𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓑𝓒! 🇵🇭✨ Mabuhay House Society, in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, is proud to release the “What We Heard” report — sharing the voices of 1,200+ Filipino Canadians and allies from across the province. This milestone brings us closer to the dream of building a Filipino Cultural Centre — a home that honours our roots, celebrates our contributions, and inspires future generations. What the community told us matters most: 🔵 Bayanihan / Community Spirit – A welcoming, inclusive, and accessible space for connection and collaboration. 🔴 Recognition & Representation – A place that symbolizes Filipino heritage and acknowledges our contributions to BC’s cultural, social, and economic life. 🟡 Learning & Sharing – A hub for education, exchange, and celebration of Filipino culture for everyone. 📄 Read the full report and be part of the journey — link in bio!

🌍✨ International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples ✨🌍 "We need Indigenous communities for a better world." – United Nations Today, August 9, we honour the resilience, knowledge, and cultural richness of Indigenous Peoples worldwide. There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples living across 90 countries. While they make up less than 6% of the global population, they account for at least 15% of the poorest. They speak the majority of the world’s 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 distinct cultures. Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique traditions and ways of living in harmony with the environment. Despite diverse cultures, they share common struggles in defending their rights, lands, and identities. Let us listen, learn, and stand in solidarity — working toward a future built on justice, respect, and reconciliation.

🛖🇵🇭 𝓜𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓱𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼, 𝓓𝓻. 𝓚𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓸! We proudly celebrate your recognition as one of this year’s 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟮𝟱 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝘀 — a national honour that uplifts newcomers who make Canada stronger through leadership, service, and community impact. The Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, also supported by COSTI and Edward Jones, is the first and only national awards program celebrating immigrant success stories from coast to coast. This year’s Top 25 join an inspirational list of past recipients who are community, culture, scientific, and business leaders. Dr. Carino, your work as an advocate, organizer, and cultural leader continues to inspire and empower our Filipino community and beyond. Thank you for paving the way and showing us what it means to lead with heart and purpose. But that’s not all- Dr. Carino is also nominated for the Golden Balangay Awards @goldenbalangay a nationwide search for outstanding Filipino Canadians — the first of its kind, launched in partnership with a service provider specializing in recognition technology. Mabuhay ka, Dr. Carino! 🌺

Today is British Columbia Day — and we choose to reflect. As settlers, immigrants, and newcomers living on these lands, we at Mabuhay House Society recognize that “British Columbia” exists on unceded and ancestral territories of Indigenous Nations who have lived, loved, and cared for these lands since time immemorial. This day is not simply a celebration, but an opportunity to confront the ongoing legacy of colonialism that continues to impact Indigenous communities. ✨ Let us not forget: – The land was never empty. – Indigenous Peoples are not relics of the past — they are leaders, artists, knowledge-keepers, and protectors of the land. – Reconciliation is not a one-day event. It’s a daily, collective responsibility. 🔊 A message from Mabuhay House Society: We are committed to building a Filipino Cultural Centre in B.C. that is rooted in truth, accountability, and solidarity. As we uplift Filipino communities, we also affirm our role in supporting Indigenous sovereignty and amplifying Indigenous voices. We continue to learn, unlearn, and stand beside Indigenous Nations in the fight for land back, justice, and liberation. Today, we don’t just celebrate — We commit. We reflect. We act. 📷 @khim.hipol

🏳️&zwj;🌈 𝓜𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓱𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓑𝓪𝓱𝓪𝓰𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓲! 🏳️&zwj;🌈
Happy Pride, Vancouver!

Mabuhay House celebrates the vibrant spirit of Pride and stands in solidarity with our 2SLGBTQIA+ community — in all your beauty, brilliance, and becoming.

🏳️‍🌈 𝓜𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓱𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓑𝓪𝓱𝓪𝓰𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓲! 🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride, Vancouver! Mabuhay House celebrates the vibrant spirit of Pride and stands in solidarity with our 2SLGBTQIA+ community — in all your beauty, brilliance, and becoming. 🌈 At Mabuhay House, we believe a true Filipino cultural centre must be rooted in inclusivity, intersectionality, and radical love. As we dream and build this home for our community, we hold space for our queer kababayans— for your stories, struggles, and joy to take center stage. Pride is more than a celebration — it is resistance, resilience, and reclamation. And in our shared journey toward representation and belonging, no one is left behind. 🌈 Mabuhay sa malaya at makulay na pagmamahalan. From all of us at Mabuhay House — we see you, we honour you, we stand with you. 📸 @khim.hipol

𝗕𝗨𝗪𝗔𝗡 𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗞𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 🇵🇭 “𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝗸𝗮: 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗸𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮” Ngayong Agosto, Ang Mabuhay House Society ay nakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa — isang paalala na ang ating wika ay hindi lamang kasangkapan ng komunikasyon, kundi ugat ng ating pagkakakilanlan at pagkakaisa bilang isang bansa. 🌱🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 Sa temang ito, binibigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng wikang Filipino at mga katutubong wika sa pagtataguyod ng kasaysayan, kultura, at pambansang pagkakaunawaan. Sa pamamagitan ng paggamit, paglinang, at paggalang sa ating wika, pinapalakas natin ang ating bayan. 💬 “Ang wika ay diwa ng bayan.”

“Our multicultural society is B.C.’s strength and the contributions of the Filipino community in B.C. are an important part of our province’s history, culture and success. Having a Filipino cultural centre where the community can connect and share their heritage has been a dream of the Filipino community in B.C. for a long time, and it’s exciting to support the work towards making this vision a reality.”

— The Honourable Lana Popham, M.L.A., Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

Building the Dream of a

Filipino Cultural Centre

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