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No lead group yet for PH cultural center project in British Columbia

A Fil-Canadian lawmaker in British Columbia clarifies there is no lead group yet for the proposed Filipino cultural center project in the province.

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Rowena Papasin

TFC News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/22EQ8GcXf0c?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Filipino-Canadian lawmaker Mable Elmore has clarified that there is no single organization that has been designated yet as the lead group for the Filipino cultural center project in British Columbia. </p><p>Her remarks at a recent townhall by Filipino BC came after BC launched a website and an online survey for the project. </p><p>“The message is really we want to hear from the whole community, the broad community, individuals and organizations,” said Elmore.</p><p>At the meeting, Filipino BC laid out its roadmap to building the center. It shows that the group is now on its fourth stage which involves developing a funding strategy from grants, donations, and corporate sponsorship.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/3/clarity-sought-over-ph-cultural-center-project-in-british-columbia-1711">Clarity sought over PH cultural center project in British Columbia<br/></a></div><p>Filipino BC is also conducting a separate survey from that of the government. </p><p>“It&#x27;s not just a plan for us to tell people,” said Filipino BC chairman RJ Aquino. “It&#x27;s a plan for us to empower the community, to know exactly what needs to happen in order to build a community center.”</p><p>Rob Nijjar of the Sunset on Fraser Business Association asked Aquino during the forum if he has the support of the Filipino community. </p><p>The former provincial lawmaker explained that the government tends to shy away from cultural projects if it sees signs of a rift in the community. </p><p>“They get messages, phone calls, and conversations,” he said. “When they see there&#x27;s a rift, they are trying to protect taxpayer money and they will not give money where it&#x27;s endangered by rifts.</p><p>Aquino, however, refused to give Nijjar a definite answer on whether or not he has the backing of the community. </p><p>For her part, Elmore said a hundred percent agreement within the community is simply unrealistic. </p><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/25/ph-cultural-center-in-british-columbia-gets-gov-t-support-2245">PH cultural center in British Columbia gets gov&#x27;t support</a></div><p style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">“I don&#x27;t accept that,” she said, “the expression of that unity is everybody has to agree on everything. That’s not my expectation, that the community is going to agree on everything in terms of the project.”</p><p>Filipino BC was also asked about its rift with the Mabuhay House Society. One of its members, Marina Hamoy, admitted that she is also confused as to why two groups are working separately towards the same goal. </p><p>“If we can focus away from this personalizing of things, of groups and people, we can move forward,” she said. “This should not be about being able to prove oneself as an organization. This should be about making peace, making an effort to reach out.”</p><p>Mabuhay House earlier said that it remains open to a dialogue with Filipino BC to address the issue. In turn, Aquino expressed the same willingness.</p>

<p>A Fil-Canadian lawmaker in British Columbia clarifies there is no lead group yet for the proposed Filipino cultural center project in the province.</p>

Official: No lead group yet for PH cultural center project in British Columbia

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Official: No lead group yet for PH cultural center project in British Columbia

Rowena Papasin,

TFC News

Published Jun 12, 2024 11:44 PM PHT

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