City proclaims June as Philippine Heritage Month

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John has declared June as Philippine Heritage Month to increase understanding of Filipino immigrant and Canadian culture. 

The Filipino flag will also be raised at city hall throughout the month. 

The Philippines declared independence from Spain on June 12th, 1898, and that declaration has been observed annually since then, making June a special month for its people. 

Alan Yu, founder and chairman of the Barangay Fort St. John Society, accepted the proclamation from council during its June 10th meeting. 

Yu was joined by Mary Joice Santillian, a newcomer to the city and a trained Filipino medical doctor who is pursuing her credentials as a Canadian doctor. 

“Hopefully, I will be taking a qualifying examination next year and will be able to practice medicine in Fort St. John,” said Santillian.

Santillian is eager to practice and help with the medical profession shortage in the province. 

According to Yu’s request letter, Filipinos have a long synergistic history in the city, dating back to the mid-60s, when the first Filipino nurse landed in town.

“We still see an influx of Filipinos in Fort St. John, the majority of whom are temporary foreign workers and students,” said the letter. 

In 2024, the Canadian International Student Program will see a reduction in new students in September due to student intake. 

More people still come to the city yearly; 1,300 Filipinos now call Fort St. John their home.

The proclamation can be viewed below: