By Dax Camarsi, President of Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society
August 24, Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall. L-R: Special guest MP Randeep Sarai, Awardee Mable Elmore (MLA, Vancouver-Kensington), Lita Cabal, FCCHS Treasurer, organizer. Awardees: Cely and Rey Fortaleza of REYFORT MEDIA, UFCABC President Christian Cunanan, True North Hinirang Eagles Club President James Mark Villamayor, Hon. Taleeb Noormohamad, MP Vancouver, Granville (representative Conor Hammond), Ken Chau, Owner 88 Supermarket, Rene Alcantara, President, Rotary Club of Vancouver Mountainview, Dr. Gina Jamoralin, Philippine Consul General Vancouver, BC, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, Noemi Victorino, Special guest, Awardees: Hon. Ken Sim (Mayor of Vancouver), Mr. Jason Pires (Anchor, Global BC News), Special guests MLA Garry Begg, MLA Jagrup Brar, MLA Jessie Sunner and FCCHS President and Organizer Dax Camarsi.
Surrey, British Columbia – Sunday, August 24, 2025, the Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society (FCCHS) gathered at the community at Surrey City Hall for a solemn and heartfelt event titled Honouring Our Community Champions.
Honourees and guests arrive at Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall for the Honouring Our Community Champions event.
What began as an afternoon of remembrance—reflecting on the tragedy that struck at the Lapu-Lapu block party—became a powerful testament to the resilience, compassion, and unity of the Filipino-Canadian community. This event was more than a ceremony; it was a collective embrace, a way to say thank you to those who chose hope over despair and service over silence.
The honourees and guests singing the National Anthem of the Philippines and Canada during the Honouring Our Community Champions event at the Surrey City Hall in August 24, 2025.
FCCHS President Dax Camarsi gives his welcome remarks and heartfelt message to all honourees and guests.
The event was hosted by Miss Universe Philippines-Canada West Kristel Davis and singer, host and entertainer Michael Unso.
Among those honoured were:
- Hon. Mable Elmore (MLA, Vancouver-Kensington),
- Hon. Ken Sim (Mayor of Vancouver),
- Hon. Brenda Locke (Mayor of Surrey)
- Hon. Taleeb Noormohamed (MP, Vancouver Granville),
- Dr. Gina Jamoralin (Consul General, Vancouver BC),
- Mr. Jason Pires (Anchor, Global BC News),
- ReyFort Media Group (Rey & Araceli Fortaleza)
- United Filipino Canadian Associations in BC (UFCABC)
- Rotary Club of Vancouver Mountainview: District 5040
- True North Hinirang Eagles Club
- Special recognition was also given to 88 Supermarket for their unwavering support to the Filipino community.
Each honouree was recognized not just for their titles or positions, but for their humanity—their courage, their compassion, and their leadership that helped guide our community through one of its darkest chapters toward healing, unity, and renewed hope.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim (3rd from right), Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke (2nd from right), FCCHS President Dax Camarsi (right) and guests.
The program stood as a testament to the generosity, creativity, and solidarity of our community partners—true pillars of Filipino resilience and pride.
Solemn yet uplifting, the program was gracefully guided by hosts Kristel David and Mike Unso, whose words carried both sincerity and warmth. Together, they led the audience through moments of reflection, recognition, and celebration, ensuring every honouree and supporter felt embraced by the collective love in the room.
The Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society extends its deepest gratitude to Drive & Dish, Inarte, The Miss Universe Philippines Canada, Miss Filipinas Worldwide, Miss Universe Philippines, United Way BC, City of Surrey, True North Hinirang Eagles Club, East Manila Ink Tattoo, UFCABC, ideas.on.fire., ReyFort Media, 88 Supermarket, and Spectrum Prints.
At the heart of Honouring Community Champions were the officers of the Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society: Dax Camarsi (President), Rey Fortaleza (1st Vice President), Roldan Robles (2nd Vice President), Lita Cabal (Treasurer), Andrew De Jesus (Secretary), and John Raganit (Auditor) in collaboration with Darwin Dumelod (ideas.on.fire.) and Joel Castro (Spectrum Prints).
Their vision for this event was not simply to bestow awards, but to carry forward a mission: to honour the champions who walk beside us in times of trial, to reaffirm the values of bayanihan, malasakit, and pagmamahalan, and to inspire future generations to live by them.
In their hearts, this event was an offering—a collective prayer for healing, a step toward greater unity, and a promise to keep building a society rooted in love, care, compassion, and respect.
By recognizing these leaders, FCCHS has preserved not only the memory of what we have endured together but has also illuminated a brighter path forward—one where community is strengthened by kindness, and where even tragedy becomes the foundation for hope.
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