February 12-18, 2025 - Visiting Heads of Philippine foreign service posts in Canada led by Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita S. Austria; Consul General in Toronto Angelica Escalona; Consul General in Calgary Emma Sarne and Consul General in Vancouver Gina Jamoralin met and exchange ideas with local government officials during the week-long Winter Escapade Tour 2025 held from February 9-18, 2025 in Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Baguio and Pangasinan.
On February 10, Day 2 of the WE, Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin Nieto and Ambassador Austria, accompanied by the three (3) Consuls General and witnessed by the WE delegates, offered a wreath before the statue of Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park, Manila. Vice Mayor Nieto exchanged views with Canada HOPs about the yearly WE program. The undersigned mentioned to Vice Mayor Nieto about the possibility to forge Sister-City between Vancouver and Manila, as proposed by the undersigned during her meeting with the Mayor of Vancouver Ken Sim on 27 January 2025.
Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc and Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos met with the Philippine diplomats on the sidelines of the dinner hosted by Governor Manotoc at the Malacanang of the North on February 12 for the Winter Escapade delegates from Canada. Both sides exchanged views on how to promote trade, investments and tourism between Ilocos Norte and Canada. On February 13, Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson met with the Philippine officials during dinner hosted by the provincial government and discussed economic and educational linkages between the province and the different provinces in Canada. On February 14, Mayor of Candon City, Ilocos Sur, former Congressman Eric Singson and his wife Mrs. Grace Singson hosted a lunch for the WE delegates at Vitalis Villas. Mayor Singson narrated the historical links between Candon and Hawaii, Candon being the origin of the first Filipino plantation workers or “sakadas” who first arrived in Hawaii on December 20, 1906. Mayor Singson also recalled his collaboration with national artist Mr. Ben Cabrera (BenCab) to do a painting honoring the Filipino sakadas to commemorate the first Sakada Day celebration in 2005, which was spearheaded by then Consul General in Hawaii Gina Jamoralin.
At the latter part of the tour, Mayor of Baguio City Benjamin Magalong and Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario of Manaog, Pangasinan welcomed the Winter Escapade delegates on February 16 and February 17, respectively. END
