It’s a win for Winnipeg Jets — 5-1 victory over Dallas – in the first Filipino Heritage Night held at Canada Life Centre Tuesday.
It’s a big win also to the large Filipino community in Manitoba as 13,847 flocked to the game that gave tribute to the Filipino culture.
Retired hockey player, Tim Stapleton whose mother is Filipino, was special guest at the event. Stapleton played parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) including the Winnipeg Jets’ first season in 2011-2012.
Dallas Stars forward 23-year old Jason Robertson took part in the ceremonial puck drop with key Filipino community leaders Aida Champagne, Ron Cailo, Manny Aranez and Rod Cantiveros. Robertson’s mother is Filipino.
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There is a few Filipino blood in hockey and seeing players of Filipino descents during night’s event is inspiring to Winnipeg Jets fans like Maggie Urbano.
Maggie, who was one of those early to arrive (with husband Frankie), was ecstatic for her first Jets experience.
“I had goosebumps seeing fellow Filipinos came together for an event like this that was hosted by Winnipeg Jets –with hockey being a popular sports in North America! “, she exclaimed.
Maggie, who came in her full Jets gear, said that she is proud being a Filipino and was happy to be there when the first Filipno Heritage night happened. “I felt the unity and sense of community”, she added.
Good Morning Philippines’ co-host Chester Pangan’s random appearances on the Jumbotron being one of the in-game hosts added so much excitement to the game and made the Pinoy audience felt at-home with his mix-in Filipino words.
Filipino Choir Musica of the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba performed the United States and Canada National Anthems and did a few Filipino songs during the intermission. Fil-Can artist Beverly Wynne also entertained the crowd. Filipino DJs brought the party atmosphere spinning familiar songs like APL de Ap’s “Bebot”.
The Winnipeg Jets teamed up with Sisler High School Create Program for the graphics, animation and visual effects of the game.
“It was a community effort”, said Filipino Journal’s Ron Cantiveros who was lead conduit of the event said. Ron spent countless hours of overseeing and coordinating job for the historic event to be realized. He made it sure that every aspect of the Filipino night was taken cared of.
There were also extra concessions that included Pinoy favorites grilled chicken adobo bowl, pork lumpia and chicken adobo skewer.
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For those who like to keep a souvenir of the event, offiical T-shirts and hoodies with the Filipino Jets logo are available at Jets Gear and TrueNorthShop.com.
The Winnipeg Jet team’s warmup jerseys that the players wore before the game with the Filipino Jets logo will be auctioned off in support of Filipino youth initiatives in the community, including the CREATE program at Sisler High School.
The auction opens on November 17 and runs until November 27 at auctions.nhl.com/WinnipegJets.
(Photo credit: Maggie Urbano)
Chester, who acted as one of the in-game hosts with Drew and Fiilipino Journal’s Ron Cantiveros ((Photo by Ron Cantiveros)
(Photo by Ron Cantiveros)
Member of Musica of Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba (Photo provided for by Dante Aviso)
Aida Champagne, Manny Aranez, Rod Cantiveros and Ron Cailo (Photo provided for by Tita Aida)
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