I am very honoured to have had the support and blessings of the Filipino community over the past year as they worked with my office to ensure the passage of Bill-217: An Act to Proclaim the Month of June Filipino Heritage Month in Ontario.
Throughout the past year, I have had the wonderful fortune of getting to work with many members of the Filipino community, including leaders, elders, and youth, to make this bill and this commemoration a reality.
Filipino Heritage Month must be marked as a celebration of the vibrant Filipino community here in Ontario, but also a reminder to acknowledge the immense contributions of Filipino-Canadians.
This year, especially, many Filipino Canadians have been on the front lines fighting to keep Ontarians safe and protected. As we celebrate the wonderful culture and this community, we must also actively work towards building awareness and solutions for the challenges and barriers that Filipino-Canadians face in Ontario.
I am humbled to have the privilege of working with the Filipino community, and representing the many Filipino-Canadians in my riding of Scarborough Southwest. Mabuhai!