Winnipeg, Manitoba
Three generations of Filipino-Canadian politicians met
Teodoro Alcuitas
Editor, Philippine Canadian News.Com
Three generations of Filipino-Canadian politicians met recently during dedication ceremonies in Winnipeg, Manitoba for a park named in honour of former Member of Parliament Dr. Rey Pagtakhan.
Dr. Pagtakhan was the first Filipino-Canadian to be elected to the Canadian Parliament in 1988 for Winnipeg North . He served for four terms under the Liberal government before being defeated in 2004.
The pediatrician and professor from Cavite started his political career as a School Trustee in St. Vital. Pagtakhan served as parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from 1996, to 1998. He was appointed to cabinet on 2001, and served as Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) until January 15, 2002. His appointment to cabinet marked the first time in over 75 years that an M.P. from north Winnipeg became a member of the federal cabinet. As Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific), Pagtakhan took on a number of tasks including representing Canada as Head of its delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.
Conservative Jon Reyes was fist elected in 2016 as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for St.Norbert and re-elected in 2019 as MLA for Waverley. He is the second Filipino-Canadian currently sitting in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba with NDP Malaya Marcelino. The Canadian-born Reyes served in the Canadian Navy before going to politics. Reyes is currently Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration and was previously the Minister of Economic Development and Jobs. From 2016 to 2021, Reyes was appointed Special Envoy for Military Affairs for the Province of Manitoba.
Rechie Valdez is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party for Mississauga-Streetsville in Ontario. Valdez made a historic win in the 2021 Federal election as the second Filipino-Canadian and the first woman to be elected after Dr. Rey Pagtakhan.
The Zambian-born Valdez is an entrepreneur and worked in the financial sector before being joining politics.
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Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, the first Filipino elected Member of Parliament, was honoured with a park officially renamed after him on June 23, 2022. The St. Vital park, now known as Dr. Rey Pagtakhan Park is located in the St. Vital neighbourhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Dr. Pagtakhan served as MP from 1988 until 2004 and was a Liberal cabinet minister in the administrations of Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Paul Martin. Born on January 7, 1935 in Manila, Reynaldo Daluz Pagtakhan is one of 11 children of Victor N. Pagtakhan and Fabiana Daluz. He grew up in the town of Bacoor, Cavite province. His education includes studying at the University of Perpetual Help – D.Sc, University of Manitoba – M.Sc., University of the Philippines – B.Sc., M.D., LL.D