19 September 2023, Vancouver – Consul General Arlene T. Magno met with Mayor Darcy Dober of Dawson Creek, Burnaby City Councillor Maita Santiago, Dawson Creek Councillor Gregg Apolonio, and Kitimat Councillor Edwin Empinado during their visit to the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver on 19 September 2023.
The officials were in Vancouver to attend the Annual Union of B.C. Municipalities held at the Vancouver Convention Center from 18 to 22 September 2023. This annual event brings together municipal politicians, senior provincial officials and policymakers for meetings, consultations and cabinet town halls.
The visit to the Consulate provided an opportunity for the parties to briefly engage in discussions regarding mutual interests, cultural exchange, and areas of cooperation.
The three Councillors are of Filipino heritage and were elected in the 2022 local elections in British Columbia along with school board trustees Rod Belleza in Richmond and Lailani Tumaneng in North Vancouver. This is regarded as the largest representation of elected officials from the Filipino-Canadian community in the province at one time. END
