$15 Million Cross-Party Commitments Announced in Mabuhay House Society’s 5th Anniversary Drive for Provincial Filipino Cultural Center
VANCOUVER, B.C. — October 9, 2026 — Marking its fifth founding anniversary on October 7, Mabuhay House Society welcomes the $15 million commitments announced that day by both the BC NDP and the Conservative Party of British Columbia toward establishing a Filipino cultural centre, and calls on the next provincial government to move promptly toward a permanent home serving Filipino communities across B.C.
BC NDP Leader David Eby announced a $15 million investment in the proposed Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre if re-elected. The Conservative Party of British Columbia separately pledged $15 million toward the construction of a Filipino cultural centre in Vancouver under a Conservative government.
“The community has already told us what this centre must offer: a place to gather, preserve our languages and traditions, support our organizations and pass our heritage on to our children,” said Rudy Antonio, Chair of Mabuhay House Society. “As we mark our fifth anniversary, our responsibility is to ensure that these commitments deliver the permanent home our community has worked toward.”
“The commitments made during an election must continue after the election,” said Dr. Khristine Cariño, Executive Director of Mabuhay House Society. “Mabuhay House and the Filipino community will hold all parties accountable for delivering on their commitments and ensuring that the Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre moves forward without further delay.”
Since 2023, Mabuhay House has worked collaboratively with the Province through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport to advance the Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre. That March, the Province awarded the society $250,000 to support planning and public engagement. Mabuhay House has since met regularly with ministry staff, sought guidance on the project’s next steps, and followed the development processes and timelines communicated by the ministry.
Released in July 2025, the Province’s What We Heard report was compiled with support and technical assistance from Mabuhay House. Drawing on more than 1,200 completed responses to a province-wide public survey, the report identifies three central themes: bayanihan, or community spirit; recognition and representation; and learning and sharing. Access to transit, a location within Metro Vancouver and parking availability were the highest-ranked location priorities. Respondents also emphasized access to green space, room for expansion, accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities, affordable programming and transparent community governance.
Mabuhay House’s proposal offers a practical path to opening the centre through the acquisition of an existing, standalone building for permanent community ownership. The proposed property is near SkyTrain and public transit, with access to green space. Based on Mabuhay House’s assessment, minor renovations and retrofits, including accessibility improvements, could allow programming to begin within a few months of purchase, subject to the necessary approvals.
“An existing building gives us a clear opportunity to open the doors and start serving the community,” Cariño added. “Building from the ground up carries the risk of escalating costs and years of uncertain timelines. Our proposal offers a faster path to a permanent provincial home. The community has waited long enough. We want the Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre now.”
The proposal is being advanced in collaboration with the Pinoy Festival Alliance, with Mabuhay House serving as the lead proponent and the Alliance supporting community engagement and mobilization. Pinoy Festival Alliance has led the annual Pinoy Festival in Burnaby in partnership with Mabuhay House since 2023, bringing proven experience in community mobilization and large-scale cultural programming to the cultural centre initiative.
Mabuhay House emphasizes that the project’s provincial mandate must guide its development. While other proposals emphasize Vancouver as the location, Mabuhay House’s approach places the needs of Filipino communities across British Columbia at the centre of decisions about location, governance, programming and partnerships.
“This is a provincial cultural centre,” Cariño said. “Its physical home will be in one municipality, but its responsibility extends across British Columbia. The location must serve that provincial purpose and reflect the priorities the community has already identified.”
About Mabuhay House Society
Established in 2021, Mabuhay House Society is a registered nonprofit society working toward a Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre that provides an inclusive, intercultural and intergenerational home for Filipino heritage, learning and gathering. Its work brings together community organizations, cultural groups, leaders and families across British Columbia.
Media inquiries:
Dr. Khristine Cariño
Executive Director, Mabuhay House Society
executivedirector@mabuhayhouse.ca
www.mabuhayhouse.ca
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Addendum: Chronological Milestones
2020
During the provincial election campaign, John Horgan pledged support for a Filipino cultural centre in Metro Vancouver. www.straight.com
October 7, 2021
Mabuhay House Society was founded.
December 7, 2022
Premier David Eby’s mandate letters directed provincial officials to advance work toward a provincial Filipino cultural centre. www2.gov.bc.ca
March 2023
The Province awarded Mabuhay House Society $250,000 to support government planning and public engagement for the centre. engage.gov.bc.ca
August 10 and September 28, 2023
The Province held roundtables with leaders of Filipino community organizations. engage.gov.bc.ca
January 2024
Leaders of more than 80 organizations signed a Unity Statement supporting a provincial Filipino cultural centre and Mabuhay House’s role as the provincial government’s partner. mabuhayhouse.ca
February 15, 2024
The Province held a third roundtable with Filipino community organization leaders. engage.gov.bc.ca
May 31, 2024
The Province launched its public vision survey in English and Tagalog, with Mabuhay House leading community engagement in collaboration with the ministry and Filipino community organizations.engage.gov.bc.ca
June 22, 2024
At Pinoy Festival in Burnaby, Premier David Eby reiterated his support for a provincial Filipino cultural centre in Metro Vancouver and confirmed that the Province was working closely with Mabuhay House on community outreach and the vision survey that would inform the What We Heard report .www.vancouverpcg.org
December 31, 2024
The public survey closed with more than 1,200 completed responses. engage.gov.bc.ca
July 2025
The Province released the What We Heard report, compiled with support and technical assistance from Mabuhay House. mabuhayhouse.ca
January 2026
Mabuhay House and the Pinoy Festival Alliance publicly announced their collaborative effort to advance a proposal, identifying the former Burnaby Firefighters Banquet and Conference Centre as a potential site.mabuhayhouse.ca
October 7, 2026
On Mabuhay House’s fifth founding anniversary, the BC NDP and Conservative Party of British Columbia each announced a $15 million election commitment toward a Filipino cultural centre. Vancouver Sun