Filipino Heritage Month

On Tuesday May 17th, I spoke in the Manitoba Legislature at third reading of Bill 205 The Filipino Heritage Month Act.  My comments are below.  

Bill 205–The Filipino Heritage Month Act

 

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, it is a joyful and exciting day that we will recog­nize the Philippine com­mu­nity in Manitoba and dedicate the month of June as Philippine heritage month.

      Over the last six decades, tens of thousands of people have come from the Philippines to Manitoba, and that has made a big difference and a big benefit to our province.

      I've had the chance to work and spend time with many people in the Philippine com­mu­nity, including with Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, where we worked together at the Children's Hospital and later in Ottawa as members of Parliament. He and many others have provided extra­ordin­ary con­tri­bu­tions for our province.

      A number of years ago, I had the op­por­tun­ity to visit the Philippines and to have an op­por­tun­ity with Kevin Lamoureux and with the MLA for Tyndall Park to meet many people in the Philippines and to see the interest that they had in Manitoba and Canada and in the potential of coming here to live and to work.

      People in the Philippine com­mu­nity have made an extra­ordin­ary con­tri­bu­tion to health care, to agri­culture, to edu­ca­tion and to many other areas in Manitoba.

      I have partici­pated in many celebrations of Philippine in­de­pen­dence. I've attended gatherings–the Philippine busi­ness com­mu­nity, Philippine nurses, Philippine com­mu­nities from different parts of the Philippines–in different parks in Winnipeg and have enjoyed learning about people like Jose Rizal, who made an in­cred­ible con­tri­bu­tion early on to the in­de­pen­dence of the Philippines.

      I thank the MLA for Brandon for his initiative. It is an im­por­tant one, and one that can bring us all together to celebrate together the Philippines, and the Philippine people who have come to Manitoba have made a big difference. In diversity is our strength. In developing relationships, personally and individually, we have built a strength here. We are improving trade. We are improving Manitoba. And we're contributing to a better and more congenial and co‑operative planet.

      Thank you, Madam Speaker. I look forward to this being passed and moving forward.

On the evening of June 4th, I attended the Philippine Independence Ball.  In the photo above, I am at the ball with Cindy Lamoureux (MLA Tyndall Park) and Kevin Lamoureux (MP Winnipeg North).