Tuesday March 15, I spoke about the contribution to people who have come from the Philippines to Manitoba, in my remarks on the Filipino Heritage Month Act.
Bill 205–The Filipino Heritage Month Act
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, it is important and significant
that we have a Filipino heritage month in June. It is entirely in–appropriate
because that is the month where traditionally there has been a lot of focus on
Philippine heritage, including celebrations, Philippine ball and
many other events.
There are many, many people who have come
from the Philippines to Manitoba and it's over many years, so that those who
are of Philippine heritage are now one of the largest groups, national heritage
groups, that we have in Manitoba.
It's important to recognize this and it's
important, as well, to recognize that people who are of Philippine heritage
are now working in a wide range of jobs and positions in Manitoba–and they
really are a cross-section of who we are as Manitobans. Now, many nurses,
doctors, engineers, lawyers, even a Cabinet minister, this is–the heritage of
the Philippines is now increasingly becoming part of the heritage of Manitoba.
It is who we are, and it is important to recognize that with this month
designation.
People with a Philippine heritage played
an extraordinarily important role early on in the garment industry, and
since then and currently in health care, but, clearly, it's not restricted to
these areas. It includes many, many other areas of employment in our
province.
There are and should be more attention by
governments than there has been in terms of helping people who come from the
Philippines get the credentials that they need. I met not long ago with a group
of Philippine heritage people, people who'd come from the Philippines and were
here who were trained as doctors and were having great difficulty in getting
their training accepted and the updates that they needed in a reasonable period
of time to be able to practice here.
It's just but one example. There are
blocks in many other areas of employment that need to be attended to, as well.
But, clearly, we could and should be doing much better. This was a weakness,
really, over the last 20 years that has still not been adequately addressed,
and needs to be for people who come from the Philippines, but also for people
who come to our province from other places, more recently, of course,
Afghanistan and Ukraine.
The Philippine heritage is a rich one. We
have notable people like Jose Rizal, who was involved in the Philippine
independence movement, was an individual of many many talents and contributed
to the history and the success of the Philippines as a country.
A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Philippines and to
talk with people not only about coming to Canada but to learn about what is
happening today in the Philippines. It is a country which is growing rapidly
and not just in population but in terms of economic potential, in terms of
stature in the international community.
I think the current president may have set that back a little bit, but there
are always movements forward, movements back. And, in general, the arc of
history for the Philippines has been positive, and the Philippines will have,
I'm sure, an incredible future and an increasingly important role in the
global world in the years ahead.
There are many different groups from the Philippines, from different areas of
the Philippines, and I have had the opportunity on summer days to get
together with groups from different parts of the Philippines at various parks
around the province, enjoying good company and good food and sharing a good
time.
So I welcome the opportunity to speak and support this bill for a Philippine
heritage month, and I hope that we're able to pass it and make it a reality in
time that this June can be the first Manitoba Philippine heritage month.
Thank you.
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