Members of Westman's Filipino community gathered Saturday night at Knox United Church for their annual Christmas party to celebrate culture, welcome newcomers and recognize the contributions of volunteers.
According to President Joseph Mamuric, the celebration was open not only to Filipino Westman families, but also to guests from other communities.
“The goal is to celebrate the community and welcome newcomers who have come over the last year or so,” Mamuric said. “The evening welcomed new arrivals, including those who arrived in Canada just a few weeks ago, and welcoming them is an important part of helping them feel at home in Brandon.”
Aminika Goodwin, 2, dances at the Westman Filipino Community's annual Christmas party at Knox United Church Saturday night. (Photo by Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
The evening featured Filipino food, including traditional lechon, and dance performances. Awards were also presented in recognition of outstanding volunteerism and contributions to both the Filipino community and the broader Brandon region.
“We present community awards to members who have demonstrated outstanding volunteerism and participation,” Mamuric said. “This is our way of showing our appreciation and encouraging more people to get involved and maybe even lead the community in the future.”
Among those recognized were Roben and Suzette Tuvera, who received the Outstanding Volunteer Award for their years of service to the community.
“It means a lot to us,” said Roben Tuvera. “They appreciate our time and effort. Serving the community can be stressful sometimes, but afterward you feel grateful and happy when you see people happy.”
Suzette Tuvera said the recognition reflects the collective efforts of the Filipino community.
“It’s not just us,” she said. “Most Filipinos help each other. We are grateful to our leaders and hope that the new Filipinos who come here will continue their dedication to the community.”
An Outstanding Achievement Award was also presented to Vincent Massey College Year 11 student Shaya Llagas, who said the recognition came as a surprise.
“I'm very proud of myself,” Llagas said. “It means a lot because I worked hard for this. I hope I can set an example for other aspiring Filipino students.”
Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett, who has attended the celebration for several years, said he sees the community continuing to grow and remain active in city life.
Members of Westman's Filipino community enjoy food, including traditional lechon among other dishes, during their annual Christmas party at Knox United Church on Saturday evening.
“They do a great job of maintaining their Filipino culture, but they are also very active Brandonites,” Fawcett said. “People are proud of where they come from, but they are also proud to be Canadian and proud to be a part of Brandon.”
Fawcett said events like the Christmas party help strengthen community bonds.
“Just sitting with people, families, grandparents and grandchildren is what makes a community healthy,” he said.
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