Building a Filipino Legacy in Victoria: The Future Bayanihan Centre

By Darryl Wilson

In 2001, the Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society opened the Bayanihan Centre in Victoria with the intention of serving the needs of our kababayans. Over the past two decades, the centre has welcomed Canadians of Filipino ancestry in various forms including new immigrants, caregivers, temporary foreign workers, families, and seniors. It is a place where the spirit of community cooperation and providing mutual assistance to help one another has been embraced. More than twenty years since its inception, the spirit of Bayanihan continues to live on, but inhibited by the size of the existing centre to meet the demands of a growing city and local Filipino community.

An Exciting New Vision by Filipinos for Victoria

We are excited to introduce a vision for a new Filipino Cultural Centre in Victoria. It will be a vibrant and inclusive space that celebrates Filipino culture while nurturing community connections and growth. The new Centre aims to serve as a hub for cultural engagement, offering a variety of spaces and services for the Filipino community and the people of Victoria and Vancouver Island.

Key features of the new Filipino Cultural Centre include: 

• Gathering Spaces: Areas for families, friends, and visitors to connect, share, and build relationships.

• Learning Areas: Dedicated spaces to celebrate and share Filipino heritage through educational programs and cultural events.

• Performance Venues: A platform to showcase Filipino arts, music, dance, and performances.

• Affordable Housing: Providing safe, accessible housing options for community members in need.

The new Filipino Cultural Centre will be more than just a building. It’s a space where culture thrives, families grow, and connections are made.

Come As a Visitor, Leave As Family

Hospitality is a fundamental aspect of our Philippine culture, where strangers are welcomed as friends, and guests are treated like family. This warm and inclusive atmosphere that has been the signature of the Philippines and Filipinos around the globe, has also become a hallmark of our Bayanihan Centre rooted in the value of magiliw na pagtanggap – to treat guests with kindness and generosity. In Victoria, our hospitality is not just a gesture, but is part of our core identity that will become the signature of our new cultural centre. It is where our tradition of building strong bonds and relationships between Filipinos and with the wider community will remain a top priority. It is where visitors of all ethnicities will come, and leave as members of our family.

The Bayani Challenge: A Filipino Legacy for Victoria

Your support is vital in bringing this vision to life. With your help, you can help us create a space where everyone belongs – a place where Filipinos can connect to serve the wider community of Victoria showcasing Filipino culture and hospitality.

We are asking you to be a Bayani! With your donation, we can:

• Build a community that embraces Filipino culture

• Provide affordable housing for those in need

• Create a space for all to come together and celebrate

Together, we can create a space that builds a culture of caring by Filipinos for Victoria. It will serve our kababayans, our community, and our city. This is our legacy, this is our future. Walang iwanan!