𝐏𝐀𝐅𝐈𝐎𝐎 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐅𝐎 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 “𝐊𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤” 𝐀𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐈

Mr. Emanuel Nacario, a 1996 recipient of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) under the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino category, paid a courtesy visit to Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II yesterday at the CFO Central Office.

Mr. Nacario is currently in the Philippines as part of the Canadian delegation participating in Winter Escapade 10, a 10-day cultural and travel program organized by the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, in partnership with the Department of Tourism. The program brings together Filipinos and friends of the Philippines to visit Manila, Dumaguete, Siquijor, and Bicol, allowing participants to experience the country’s rich heritage, scenic landscapes, and warm Filipino hospitality.

During the meeting, Mr. Nacario shared that he was recently designated as Area Commander of the Knights of Rizal (KOR), Western Region in Canada. In this role, he discussed the organization’s plan to donate a bust of Dr. José Rizal to the City of Edmonton, which will be installed at Mabuhay Park. Mabuhay Park—meaning “Long Live” or “Welcome” in Filipino, was officially inaugurated by the City of Edmonton on 1 October 2023 as the first Filipino concept park in Alberta, in recognition of the valuable contributions of the Filipino community in the city. The Knights of Rizal also plan to install additional Rizal busts in other Canadian cities, including Calgary and Saskatoon, to further promote Filipino history, values, and national pride.

Mr. Nacario also emphasized the importance of sustaining the active involvement of the Filipino diaspora in community development. He shared the three pillars he continues to advocate, community involvement, entrepreneurship, and political participation, which he described as interconnected and essential for migrants to succeed and contribute meaningfully in their host countries.

As part of the discussion, Mr. Nacario proposed holding a CFO caravan or roadshow in Canada, in partnership with Filipino artists, to promote CFO programs and services to overseas Filipinos. He suggested that the activity could also include on-site CFO services, as well as the participation of other Philippine government agencies providing assistance to migrants.

Secretary Ang welcomed the proposal and shared that the CFO is preparing for its Global Conference scheduled for June 2026. In response, Mr. Nacario expressed his willingness to personally invite representatives from all ten provinces of Canada to participate in the event. Secretary Ang also suggested extending an invitation to Hon. Rechie Valdez, the first Filipino Canadian to serve as a Cabinet Member and Minister of Parliament in Canada, to further strengthen dialogue and representation.

The courtesy visit is in line with the Secretary’s thrust of continuous engagement with the Filipino diaspora, recognizing their role as partners in nation-building and in strengthening ties between overseas Filipino communities and the Philippines.