MP Valdez meets with GTA Filipinos

MPRechie Valdez being interviewed by Canadian OMNI broadcast media.

By Tony A. San Juan

In an apt afternoon gathering, the first Filipina elected as Member of Parliament to Canada’s House of Commons Rechie Valdez, meets with the leaders and members of the Filipino Canadian community in the GTA-Greater Toronto Area on the eve of Thanksgiving Day in Canada on October 10, 2021, at the Filipino Centre Toronto, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. The event was organized and hosted by the Filipino Centre Toronto led by Mary Ann S. San Juan and Efren De Villa, President & CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, respectively.

The three-hour occasion provided an opportunity for the newly-elected MP to meet and address the proud and excited Filipino kababayans about her historic win. R. Valdez’s fellow Liberal parliamentarians, like Salma Zahid, MP for Scarborough Centre and Shaun Chen, MP for Scarborough North also graced the gathering. Both Zahid and Chen gave their greetings, short messages and introduced Rechie Valdez. FCT Board Member Philip Beloso hosted the program while CEO Mary Ann S. San Juan thanked the guests and attendees in her closing remarks. A Pinoy favourite merienda treat by FCT was served.

In her emotional address, Rechie Valdez expressed her profound gratitude to the community for their warm support and best wishes. She said, “what a great honour, what a blessing, and what a responsibility” of being elected. The rookie MP reiterated her pledge to be working towards a “strong voice that matters” and considerably, “to advocate for front liners and for seniors” and represent my constituents in Mississauga Streetsville, Ontario and the Filipino community as well.

Among those present, and who have joined in posterity photo ops were: Nestor Arellano, Paul Arena, Joey Baking, Nestor Canton, Ted Dayno, Ronnie Dela Gana, Eva De Villa, Suzy Llanera, Richie Pardinas, Nenette Salcedo, Theresa Salcedo, Joy San Juan, Tony San Juan, Joy Sarmiento & her daughters, Monina Lim-Serrano, Edgar Sulit, Fe Paca-Taduran, Dodong Tumulak, Carlos Unas, Lorenzo Villaruz, and FCT officers and directors Wendy Arena, Philip Beloso, Frank Cruzet, and Precy Tumulak. Moreover, Edgar Sulit’s IPEN-International Professional Entertainment Network beauties who attended were Miss Earth Canada 2022, Miss Teenage Canada 2021, and Miss Ontario-Canada 2021.

Indeed it was definitely a pre-Thanksgiving Day meet-and-greet event, with the honouree, guests, and attendees thanking for the blessings that they have received, enjoyed and shared generously while living and working in this bountiful and beautiful country.