Posted by ReyFort Media
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2025
Mabuhay House Responds to City Hall Statement: “We Have the Provincial Plan, Not a Private Developer Plan”
Vancouver, BC — In response to recent statements from Vancouver City Hall identifying the Filipino Legacy Society (FLS) as the only organization with a current proposal in the city’s pipeline for a Filipino cultural centre, Mabuhay House Society would like to clarify its position and broader vision for the community.
While the City of Vancouver acknowledges that only the FLS proposal—anchored to a private hotel development—is actively progressing through municipal channels, Mabuhay House Society stresses that it is leading efforts at the provincial level, advocating for a comprehensive and community-first model for a Filipino cultural and community centre in British Columbia.
“Just to confirm,” said Lester De Guzman, Chair of Mabuhay House Society, “we based our plan with the BC Government Supported Investment Capital Project plan—not a private developer plan. Our focus is on a sustainable, intentional and inclusive centre that’s driven by community needs and long-term cultural preservation, not attached to a for-profit real estate project.”
The Society is currently engaged in a consultative process with stakeholders across British Columbia, ensuring that Filipino voices from all regions—not just Vancouver—are represented in shaping a cultural hub that reflects the diversity, contributions, and aspirations of over 900,000 Filipinos in Canada, with more than 170,000 in BC alone.
Community-Driven, Province-Wide Vision
Unlike proposals tied to commercial development, Mabuhay House is pursuing a dedicated, stand-alone facility that will serve as a true cultural, educational, and social gathering space. The Society continues to work with provincial partners to secure funding and identify a location that reflects accessibility and community ownership.
“This is not about competition. It’s about vision,” De Guzman added. “Filipino Canadians deserve a cultural centre that exists for them—not one that exists because it fits within a hotel plan. Our efforts reflect the broader interests of the community, beyond property lines.”
Mabuhay House’s Next Steps
Mabuhay House will continue its consultations across BC and a round table is planned to consult with the What We Heard Report. Aside from the project, the society is also building it’s capacity by developing programs to support the community and governance to make the project sustainable and inclusive. The Society invites collaboration and dialogue with all organizations, including FLS and Filipino BC, to ensure that any and all efforts toward a cultural centre are transparent, inclusive, and truly reflective of the community’s collective voice.
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