A Historic and Meaningful Gathering: Filipino Community in British Columbia Welcomes His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

By Christian Cunanan

His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. – Engagement with the Filipino Community in Canada during his official visit to Canada on July 3, 2026, at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver, BC, at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The visit showed the strong and enduring friendship between Canada and the Philippines, which date back to 1861 when Benson Flores became the first recorded Filipino immigrant to arrive in British Columbia. Today, nearly one million Canadians of Filipino heritage live across the country, including approximately 200,000 in British Columbia, and remain an integral part of Canada’s multicultural society.

President Marcos Jr.’s visit further strengthens the partnership between Canada and the Philippines, creating opportunities for greater cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, economic growth, and support for Filipino-Canadian communities and entrepreneurs.

The visit will further strengthen the partnership between Canada and the Philippines, creating meaningful opportunities that benefit Canadians and Filipino communities across the country while building stronger connections and advancing a future of friendship, collaboration, and shared prosperity.