Posted by ReyFort Media
Following provincial election, FLS says it is ready to work with government, community organizations and partners to turn decades of advocacy into a lasting cultural home
VANCOUVER, B.C. — October 28, 2026 — As British Columbia moves forward following the provincial election, the Filipino Legacy Society (FLS) is ready to work with all levels of government, community organizations and partners to advance a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre (FCC). The newly elected Conservative Party of BC government committed $15 million towards the creation of the centre “in the heart of Vancouver.” This follows the federal government’s 2025 budget commitment and its work with the City of Vancouver, which included identifying a soon-to-open interim FCC.
“From the first Filipino migrant in 1861 to growing to a community of more than 174,000, our community is entwined with the rich story of B.C.,” said Warren Dean Flandez, Chair of the Filipino Legacy Society. “We are ready to work with the government to tell this story by building a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre that will honour the contributions of Filipino Canadians and serve generations to come”
For more than four decades, Filipino community organizations, cultural leaders, advocates, and volunteers have helped advance the vision of a permanent FCC. As a founding community partner in the recently announced Filipino Cultural Centre proposal at 160 East 2nd Avenue, FLS remains dedicated to engaging the community, building cultural programming and helping establish an inclusive institution and governance framework that reflects the diversity of Filipino Canadians. The Society is also committed to working collaboratively with other organizations and partners who share the goal of establishing a lasting cultural home.
“The Filipino spirit of bayanihan teaches us that meaningful progress happens through collective effort,” added Flandez. “We may have different perspectives and different ideas about how to get there, but there is room for everyone at the table as we build it.”
FLS looks forward to engaging with the incoming provincial Legislature, elected representatives from across the political spectrum, municipal and federal governments, and community stakeholders to identify practical next steps toward realizing a permanent cultural centre. The Society remains committed to ensuring that the next phase is guided by transparency, community participation and the long-term cultural needs of Filipino Canadians.
“For too long our community has had to gather in borrowed spaces like church basements, people’s homes, and community halls,” said Flandez. “We will work with levels of government to ensure that our community knows it is seen and valued by creating a Filipino Cultural Centre for all.”
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About the Filipino Legacy Society
The Filipino Legacy Society (FLS) is a community-focused non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating Filipino culture, preserving heritage and strengthening connections between Filipino Canadians and the broader community. Guided by the spirit of bayanihan, FLS is working with community partners and stakeholders to advance a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre that will serve generations to come.
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Karm Sumal
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