Westman Filipinos celebrate Christmas

Westman Filipino Community members gathered Saturday evening at Knox United Church for their annual Christmas party to celebrate culture, welcome newcomers and recognize volunteer contributions.

The celebration was open not only to Westman Filipino families, but also to guests from other communities, president Joseph Mamuric said.

“The goal is to celebrate the community and welcome newcomers who came in within the last year or so,” Mamuric said. “Newcomers were introduced during the evening, including some who arrived in Canada only weeks ago, and welcoming them is an important part of helping them feel at home in Brandon.”

The evening featured Filipino food, including traditional lechon, and community dance performances. Awards were also presented to recognize outstanding volunteerism and contributions to both the Filipino community and the broader Brandon area.

“We’re handing out community awards for members who have shown outstanding volunteerism and involvement,” Mamuric said. “It’s our way of showing 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 an outstanding volunteer award after years of service to the community.

“It means a lot to us,” Roben Tuvera said. “They recognize our time and effort. Serving the community can be stressful at times, but after that, you feel grateful and happy when you see people happy.”

Suzette Tuvera said the recognition reflects a collective effort within the Filipino community.

“It’s not just us,” she said. “Most Filipinos help each other. We’re grateful for our leaders, and we hope the new Filipinos who came here will continue the dedication to the community.”

An Outstanding Student Award was also presented to Vincent Massey Collegiate Grade 11 student Shaia Llagas, who said the recognition came as a surprise.

“I’m very proud of myself,” Llagas said. “This means a lot because I worked hard for it. 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 has seen the community continue to grow and remain active in city life.

“They do a great job of maintaining their Filipino culture, but they’re also very active Brandonites,” Fawcett said. “People are proud of where they come from, but they’re also proud to be Canadian and proud to be part of Brandon.”

Fawcett said events like the Christmas party help strengthen community ties.

“Just sitting down with people, families, grandparents and grandchildren, that’s what makes for a healthy community,” he said.

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