May 16, 2024 - Not-for-profit group Filipino BC recently announced a partnership with Hungerford Properties in the pre-development and feasibility study of a future Filipino community centre to be based in Vancouver, BC.
Hungerford Properties is an Indigenous-owned (51 percent or more owned and controlled by Indigenous persons) real estate developer with commercial and residential projects located in Western Canada.
At a press conference held April 27 marking Lapu-lapu Day, Filipino BC Chair RJ Aquino, Project Director Kristina Corpin-Moser and Director of Marketing and Communications Lani Baybay highlighted the achievements and plans of Filipino BC, a non-profit that aims to empower the Filipino community in British Columbia.
They emphasized the diverse backgrounds of their board members and commitment to uplifting the community.
RJ Aquino, Filipino BC Chair, announces the partnership between Filipino BC and Hungerford Properties for a future Filipino cultural centre in Vancouver in front of crowds at the first Lapu-lapu Day Block Party.
In an exclusive with Canadian Filipino Net (CFNet), Aquino explained the rationale around the choice of Hungerford Properties to partner with: “Hungerford Properties was chosen because of their expertise, as renowned Indigenous developers and their commitment to creating dynamic and inclusive spaces that enhance communities and enrich lives.”
He further shared that the Filipino community centre project is now “in the early stages of pre-development with further public engagement in the Filipino community to follow.”
In an interview with CTV News, Aquino also confirmed: “We're going to be leaning on the expertise of Hungerford to further engage the community and be more specific about where we want to have this centre."
The Filipino community centre is envisioned to be a hub for cultural events, educational programs and social gatherings to connect, learn and celebrate Filipino culture.
In a media release, Corpin-Moser emphasized the importance of the partnership as “a pivotal milestone for the Filipino community in BC, culminating four decades of dedicated advocacy.”
She invited community to “join us on this transformative journey.”
The Filipino community centre project has received funding from both provincial and federal governments and support from the City of Vancouver. In 2024, the Philippines and Canada are celebrating their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Filipino BC also announced a fundraising campaign to support various community programs including Filipino language classes, legal advocacy, mental health support and STEM classes that have been informed by public engagement and town hall meetings with the Filipino community.
About the Author
Rachel Ramos-Reid started writing for magazines and newspapers when she was still a junior at the University of the Philippines’ Communication degree program majoring in Journalism. She continued to write in a public relations/corporate communications capacity in various private and government offices until moving out of the country in 1997 to work as Programme Officer for the arts and culture branch of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO-SPAFA) in Bangkok, Thailand. At the end of her term, Rachel found herself immigrating to Canada in the year 2000 and again searching for new beginnings. Currently she is the Executive Assistant to a small rural college on Vancouver Island.
Canadian Filipino Net is an independent, non-profit digital magazine produced by volunteer writers, editors, and webmasters. Your donation will go a long way so we can continuously publish stories about Canadian Filipinos. Click on a donate button and proceed either through PayPal, Debit, or Credit Card.
