Trudeau thanks Pinoys for enhancing Canadian culture

CHICAGO – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked the Filipino community in Toronto for enriching the Canadian culture, which contributes to “extraordinary diversity that makes Toronto one of the best cities in the world.”

Trudeau made the statement during the Taste of Manila, an annual Filipino street festival held in Bathurst Parkette which features Filipino culture and food.

Wearing a barong tagalog, Trudeau greeted the crowd with “mabuhay (long live) and “kamusta” (how are you) after he was introduced by Member of Parliament Marco Mendicino.

“Wonderful to see you guys. I want to start by thanking Tito Rolly (Mangante, organizer of Taste of Manila) and all the board and organizers for making the Taste of Manila festival an extraordinary success,” he said.

“But one of the great things as well is that, this is not just a festival for Filipino Canadians. Our neighbors, our friends, people across Toronto are all coming to celebrate the extraordinary diversity that makes Toronto one of the best cities in the world that makes Canada the best country in the world.

“But we all understand the differences are a source of strength, not a source of weaknesses. When we learn from our neighbors, we got to know the different cultures, stories and different backgrounds. Our community gets richer, stronger. Our future we build for our kids gets better and better and that is why we are celebrating today,” he added.

The 44-year-old Prime Minister also thanked the Filipinos in Canada for all the “incredible contributions” they make every day “to make Canada better” and “stronger.”

“Thank you all for everything you do. The sun shining down in Little Manila let me tell you it’s an extraordinary time to be here. I was lucky enough to be in big Manila last year, this is much more fun,” he added.

Trudeau was in Manila in November 2015 for the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, shortly after he became prime minister.