As part of the Filipino Heritage Celebration, the FIL-CAN Association proudly hosted its inaugural Ginoo at Ginang (Mr. & Mrs.) Filipino Heritage event in Neepawa. The event was designed to celebrate and showcase the beauty, talent, and rich culture of the Filipino community.

NACTV had the opportunity to speak with the Ginang Heritage winners, who shared their personal journeys to Canada and their experiences participating in the event. This year’s winners include:

• Gerilyn Abe-Abe, representing the BISDAK (Visayan) region

• Leslie Gutierrez, representing the CABALEN (Kapampangan) region

• Paula Gunda, representing the National Capital Region (NCR)

Many participants arrived in Canada during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and faced challenges settling into the Neepawa community. Some spoke of the difficulty in finding jobs aligned with their interests, while others mentioned taking any opportunity that could provide a decent income for their families.

Leslie Gutierrez expressed her gratitude and excitement about the event:
“I’m so thankful, especially to my region for all their support and to everyone who is part of the Filipino Heritage. I’m really grateful they were able to organize this Ginoo at Ginang Filipino Heritage. It was a lot of fun because, as parents, we usually have a routine in life—this was something different. We did things outside of our usual responsibilities at home and work. Through this, we were able to share our lives and our contributions to the Neepawa community.”

She also highlighted the importance of cultural events like this:
“It’s really important for us to be active in events like this so that the Filipino Heritage celebration can continue every year here in Neepawa. That way, our youth and the next generation will be able to experience and embrace our culture.”

The FIL-CAN Association hopes the Ginoo at Ginang Filipino Heritage event will become an annual tradition, fostering cultural pride, community involvement, and unity among Filipino-Canadians in Neepawa and beyond.