By Bert Morelos (Guest Writer)
Mga Kuwento ng Inspirasyon, Katatagan, Tagumpay at Ugnayan sa panulat ni Jo Ann Cordero Belen Jo Ann Cordero Belen is an accomplished visual effects compositing supervisor, artist and community advocate based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She writes about arts, culture, film, community initiatives, and the achievements of the Filipino-Canadian community.
BERT MORELOS – Designer, Community Leader and Visionary Behind the Filipino Plaza.
In Honor of the 40th Anniversary of Filipino Plaza Celebrating Philippine Heritage Month and the 128th Philippine Independence Day
As Vancouver celebrates Philippine Heritage Month and commemorates the 128th Philippine Independence Day, one landmark continues to stand as a powerful symbol of Filipino pride, unity, and cultural identity: Filipino Plaza.
Located on Vanness Avenue, just west of Nanaimo SkyTrain Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Filipino Plaza is a beautifully landscaped linear park situated beneath the SkyTrain Expo Line. Established in 1986 as part of BC Transit’s Parkway Program, the plaza forms part of a 26-kilometre network of cultural parks that reflect the diverse communities that helped shape Metro Vancouver. For four decades, Filipino Plaza has served as a gathering place and enduring testament to the contributions of Filipino Canadians.
At the heart of this achievement is architect and community leader Bert Morelos, whose vision, talent, and dedication helped transform a dream into a lasting cultural landmark.
Designing a Legacy
Filipino Plaza was designed by Bert Morelos, a Registered Architect in the Philippines whose work combined cultural symbolism with community pride. The plaza features a distinctive wooden arch, the colorful Sarimanok emblem, and two commemorative walls constructed from 2,000 red bricks donated by Filipino Canadians. Each brick represents the generosity and commitment of community pioneers who believed in creating a permanent space that celebrated Filipino heritage in Canada.
The project was built through the spirit of bayanihan—the Filipino tradition of collective cooperation and community support. Under the leadership of the Filipino Plaza Committee of 1985, volunteers, families, organizations, and community leaders came together to raise funds and mobilize resources. Their shared efforts ensured that the plaza would be completed in time for Expo 86, one of Vancouver’s most significant international events.
When Filipino Plaza officially opened in June 1986, it became the first park in British Columbia dedicated to Filipino heritage, marking a historic milestone for the growing Filipino Canadian community. A Distinguished Architectural Career Bert Morelos brought extensive professional expertise to the project. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of the Philippines in 1969–1970 and later obtained a Certificate in Planning Practice and Plan Implementation in 1973. He became a Registered Architect in the Philippines in 1971 before immigrating to Vancouver in 1974.
Over the course of a remarkable career spanning more than four decades, Morelos worked in architecture, urban planning, design, and project management across Canada, the United States, Australia, the Middle East, China, and the Philippines. Following 13 years of architectural practice and collaboration with leading architects, he spent the next 31 years working with major development companies, including Concord Pacific Ltd., United Properties Ltd., and Westmana Development Inc.
His professional journey allowed him to oversee numerous large-scale projects while contributing to the growth and development of cities throughout North America. Yet despite his international accomplishments, he remained deeply committed to serving his local Filipino community.
Community Leadership Beyond Architecture
Retirement did not diminish Bert Morelos’s passion for community engagement. Instead, it opened new opportunities to pursue his interests in travel, photography, and visual arts. An accomplished painter, he remains active with the Dimasalang III International Artist Group and continues to support community initiatives as a board member of the Filipino Seniors Club of British Columbia (FSCBC).
His dedication to preserving Filipino culture and history has remained steadfast throughout the years. In 2010, a new Filipino Plaza Committee was established to guide proposed enhancements to the site and ensure its continued relevance for future generations.
Honoring a Founding Visionary
As Filipino Plaza marks its 40th anniversary, Bert Morelos stands among the remaining founding visionaries whose leadership helped bring the project to life. Reflecting on the efforts of the mid-1980s, he recalls the determination of a growing Filipino community that sought to create a lasting symbol of identity and belonging.
By 1985, thousands of Filipinos had already made Greater Vancouver their home. Through perseverance, volunteerism, and a shared vision, the community successfully raised the funds needed to build Filipino Plaza. Their achievement created more than a public space—it established a cultural landmark that continues to educate, inspire, and unite generations of Filipino Canadians.
Today, Filipino Plaza remains a living reminder of the values that shaped its creation: community, cultural pride, and the spirit of bayanihan. As visitors walk beneath its archway, admire the Sarimanok, or pause to reflect beside its commemorative walls, they are reminded of the vision and dedication of leaders like Bert Morelos.
Forty years later, his legacy endures—not only in the design of Filipino Plaza but also in the strengthened sense of identity and belonging it continues to foster within the Filipino Canadian community.
Maraming salamat, Bert Morelos, for your vision, leadership, and lasting contribution to the Filipino Canadian story.
Photo Credits: Bert Morelos
ReyFort Media 
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