Filipino Canadians Unite for Filipino Presidential Candidate with Calgary Connection – Calgary | The Canadian News

Hundreds of Filipino Canadians gathered in Bowness Park on Sunday to show their support for a Filipino presidential candidate with a connection to Calgary.

Holding signs and waving Canadian and Philippine flags, people called for a change in the small island nation and advocated for Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo to become the next president.

Robredo runs against Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of a former dictator, and retired boxer Manny Pacquiao, among others.

Antonio Gerona, Robredo’s brother who lives in Calgary, was moved to see so many Filipinos supporting his sister.

“The Filipinos here in Calgary expressed their support for Leni Robredo,” Gerona said.

“There are a lot of Filipinos here in Calgary, so right now, I’m a little surprised that almost 200+ cars joined this caravan.”

Those attending the rally criticized the current Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, who they claim to have been negligent in his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused him of human rights abuses.

“What we perceive in the current government is not doing the Filipinos much good,” Gerona said.

“Based on my sister’s performance, it helped a lot of Filipinos.”

Organizers said Sunday’s event was part of a simultaneous caravan across Canada in Winnipeg, Vancouver and Toronto.

The election in the Philippines is scheduled for May 9, 2022.