Vancouver, B.C.
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
Marchand: your contributions remind us of the vital role legal professionals play in strengthening communities
Five outstanding lawyers who gave their time and used their expertise to serve others are recipients of the first ever Awards of Excellence from the Filipino Canadian Lawyers Network (FCLN).
The five awardees – Vicente Asuncion Jr., Maria Luningning Alcuitas-Imperial, Winston Sayson, KC, Joseph Cuenca and Dulce Amba Cuenca – received plaques of recognition during a special celebration at the Terminal City Club in Vancouver over the weekend.
The inaugural awarding ceremony in British Columbia (BC) was attended by legal luminaries, including Supreme Court Justice Scott Morishita, Attorney General of BC Niki Sharma, Thomas Spraggs of the Law Society of BC, Mylene De Guzman of the Canadian Bar Association of BC, FCLN Past President Alicia Natividad, FCLN President Rachel Sachs, and many others.
BC Court of Appeals Chief Justice Leonard Marchand, in a message read by De Guzman, congratulated the five awardees and the FCLN for organizing the event.
“Congratulations to this year’s award recipients—trailblazers—who have demonstrated outstanding service, advocacy and leadership in advancing justice for all. Your contributions remind us of the vital role legal professionals play in strengthening our communities. On behalf of myself and Access to Justice BC Network, I thank you all for your contributions and hope that you have a wonderful and successful evening.”
Morishita, in his brief remarks at the event, said having a community where you can thrive in helps lawyers survive and be successful in the profession.
“’I’d like to acknowledge the FCLN for putting on this wonderful event. It’s so great to see a room full of people who are celebrating wonderful lawyers and contributors to the justice system from the Filipino Canadian community. It’s just great to see the FCLN growing its presence here in BC,”
Sharma, the Attorney General of BC, in her speech at the gathering, also commended the awardees for being role models.
“I’m inspired by you. I’m inspired by how you’ve shown up for the community, shown up for the justice system and persevered in so many ways, not only through immigration. Through taking the bar (with English) as a second language and all that took and the way you’re showing up in your professions. And I know this is the first one, but there’s many, many more to celebrate from the Filipino community, so my hands up to you for being in the inuaugural list here tonight,” she said.
Philippine Embassy Vice Consul Marco Harder, for his part, said “to all our honorees tonight, we are very proud of achievements, your dedication and passion.”
Natividad said they plan to hold various Awards of Excellence events across Canada.
Standing applause
She also individually introduced the awardees, who each received a standing applause from their fellow lawyers, mentees, guests, family members and friends who gathered to celebrate them that night.
Vicente Asuncion Jr., according to Natividad, is given the award for “his perseverance and tenacity” in continuing his legal profession in BC. He also paved “the way for foreign-trained lawyers to become lawyers in Canada.”
Asuncion, 92, recently received a pin on his 50th year as a member of the Canadian Bar Association, said he also continues to practice his law profession in the Philippines while still running a law firm.
Winston Sayson, KC, a recipient of the BC Medal of Good Citizenship in 2022, and several awards for his commitment to justice for girls and women victims of domestic violence and sexual assault as well as advocating for mental wellness in the legal profession, was recognized for “his excellence in the practice of law and his contribution to the legal community and community at large,” Natividad said.
“Throughout my career, I sought to uphold justice, to protect the vulnerable and serve with excellence. The path was difficult at times especially when racism and discrimination reared its ugly head. But excellence is never achieved without struggle; excellence is never achieved alone. It is cultivated through community, mentorship, courage and an unwavering commitment to growth,” Sayson said in his speech.
Maria Luningning “Ning” Alcuitas-Imperial was awarded for her expertise in administrative law in the Workers Compensation Board. She is the Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal.
“..the accomplishment that she had made in that role in a quasi-judicial capacity, which is actually quite rare. And in fact, she’s the only Filipino Canadian who has achieved that role in British Columbia,” Natividad said.
In her speech, Ning, who is a mentor, thanked her mentors and acknowledged her mentees during the event.
“I also wish to extend my gratitude to my parents and my two sisters and their families. They couldn’t be here with us tonight. But they really did lay the foundation for my career in law by instilling the values of empathy and fairness while never forgetting where we came from—the Philippines,” she added.
Dulce Amba Cuenca received the award for her pro-bono legal clinics and partnering with various organizations.
“We’re very pleased to give this award to Dulce for her volunteerism, her commitment to the community at large and, in particular, provide access to justice,” Natividad said.
Dulce thanked her fellow awardees who helped her and her husband Joseph when they newly immigrated to Canada from the Philippines.
“This is a celebration for and of us all. I was raised by chronic volunteers long before they even knew what to call this word—that is volunteerism. This award should go to them,” she said.
Dulce was inspired by her parents, who always helped in the community and even set up an informal settlement office for migrant workers from Saudi Arabia from the 70s to the 90s.
Joseph Cuenca was recognized for his volunteer work. He is also the co-chair of the Internationally Trained Lawyers Program of the CBA of BC.
Joseph, himself, is an internationally trained lawyer who completed the National Committee on Accreditation Process prior to requalifying as a lawyer in Canada.
“Tonight, I accept this award as a reminder to myself and to all of us of the volunteer work that still lies ahead. I encourage each of us to continue using our knowledge, skills and influence to uplift those who need us the most. Because when we strengthen access to justice, we strengthen our entire community,” he said in his speech.