Mable Elmore has extended warm wishes to Mabuhay House Society as the nonprofit unveiled its new board and strategic plan.
Elmore also emphasized the need for the community to come and work together to realize its aspirations, particularly the realization of a Filipino community and cultural centre in British Columbia.
“Count on my support as we bring the entire community together to realize this long-awaited dream of a cultural centre,” Elmore said in her remarks.
Elmore congratulated Mabuhay at a community gathering at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby on March 1.
“I have faith in the community. I know we can do it by working together,” Elmore said.
Elmore is currently Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of B.C., the first woman of Asian origin in the province to assume this role.
Elmore is also the first and only Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of B.C. who is of Filipino heritage.
At the event, outgoing Mabuhay chair Sammie Jo Rumbaua passed the torch to Lester de Guzman, who assumed the new role as chair of the organization.
Rumbaua is a former staff at the community office of Elmore, who represents Vancouver-Kensington as MLA.
Also present at the event was Maita Santiago, a former long-time staff at the Vancouver-Kensington office of Elmore. Santiago is now a Burnaby city councillor. During her time at Elmore’s office, Santiago became the founding chair of Mabuhay.
Elmore was instrumental in the 2023 award by the B.C. provincial government of a $250,000 grant to Mabuhay.
The provincial government issued a media release on April 14, 2023 announcing the $250,000 grant, and it quoted Elmore, who was then Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives.
“Our government is committed to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion,” Elmore said in that news release.
As well, “It’s been a long-standing desire to have a physical space for the Filipino community to come together and celebrate culture and heritage. This is an important first step towards creating a community space that gives the Filipino community a place to call home.”
In her remarks at the March 1, 2025 gathering called by Mabuhay, Elmore noted emerging challenges in connection with fast-developing events in the U.S., saying “these times are unprecedented”.
Elmore said that as B.C. and Canada deal with these issues, the need for unity becomes more important.
“We really need to support ourselves and each other,” Elmore said.
Elmore has long championed the cause to develop a Filipino centre in B.C.
In a statement on June 3, 2024 marking Filipino Heritage Month, Elmore highlighted the importance of a Filipino centre.
“As the daughter of Filipino immigrants and the first Filipino elected to the B.C. legislature, I am excited that we have started public engagement for a provincial cultural centre dedicated to honouring the Filipino community in B.C. This centre will serve as a lasting legacy, recognizing the deep roots Filipinos have established in our province over the past 140 years,” Elmore said.
