Rechie Valdez to advocate for proposed PH Cultural Center in Vancouver

Screencap from Leah ilongga/YouTube

From being a baker to a cabinet member, Filipino-Canadian Rechie Valdez is now ready to support fellow Filipinos in achieving their community goals.

Valdez, the Minister for Small Business in Canada, has emerged as a beacon of hope for the Filipino community in Canada. In the recent “Pista Ng Bayan” event held in Vancouver on Aug. 26 and 27, Filipino community leaders reached out to her with an earnest request for support in building the first Filipino cultural center in British Columbia.

Mabuhay House Society leader Sammie Jo Rumbaua asked for her support in laying out the historic initiative that could redefine Filipino cultural celebration in Vancouver.

Collaborative dreams

Various Filipino community leaders penned an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, appealing for the government’s backing of this project. Minister Valdez, as an advocate, vowed to raise this to Ottawa.

However, she emphasized the need for a collaboration between federal and other levels of government to bring this vision to fruition.

“I will take some of those concerns up with me to see what is viable and what we’re able to do. For now, I can be your advocate and continue to bring this forward and see what can be done,” says Valdez, whose story of humble beginnings continues to inspire many Filipinos.

Out in Vancouver today with my colleagues @HedyFry @pbainsy and the United Filipino Canadian Associations in British Columbia (UFCABC) celebrating Filipino culture at the Pista Ng Bayan Festival! pic.twitter.com/1Xb3NDW8yF

— Rechie Valdez (@rechievaldez) August 28, 2023

Furthermore, Annie Miles, president of United Filipino Canadian Associations in British Columbia (UFCABC), the organization behind Pista Ng Bayan, echoed her sentiments of hope and optimism.

She believes that Valdez can help propel the long-time dream of the Filipino community towards establishing a cultural center in Vancouver. Having arrived in Canada in 1968, Miles noted that this dream has been a steadfast advocacy nurtured over many years of dedication.

You may also like: How Rechie Valdez went from a self-taught baker to Canada’s first Filipina minister

Other political support

Joel Castillo, former president of UFCABC, revealed in a TFC interview that Member of Parliament Hedy Fry and two other federal legislators, along with Senator Yona Martin, stand in support of the Filipino cultural center advocacy.

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A post shared by Dr. Hedy Fry (@hedyfry)

Drawing motivation from Victoria where the Filipino Canadian Association successfully constructed their own Bayanihan Community Center in 2001, the Vancouver community is optimistic they’ll follow suit. The association also assured they would provide details and assistance to the Filipino leaders aiming for the creation of the cultural center.

Annette Beech from the Victoria Filipino Canadian Association, who was also present at the event, shared in a TFC interview that despite their five-year fundraising journey “a lot of people came forward to donate.”

With Rechie Valdez’s commitment to help and unwavering community support, Vancouver’s Filipino community should see this development as another step in the right direction.