Jerome Brillantes does not know what to make of Philippines president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

The overseas foreign worker in Vancouver likes most what he hears from Duterte.

“But there are things Duterte says that frightens me and many Filipinos,” he said.

Like him the millions of Filipinos and overseas foreign workers (OFWs) from the Southeast Asian nation see Duterte as both a unifying force and divisive leader as they celebrate the Philippines 118th Independence Day this week.

“Most OFWs dream change and many want to return to Philippines to be with their families…and believe Duterte can help them,” Brillantes.

“But many also do not like the idea of him encouraging people to criminals and take matters in their own hands.”

Duterte effectively said he supports vigilantism in a nationally-televised speech last week as the nation prepared for the exit of his predecessor Beningno Aquino.

Faced with criminals who resist arrest or threaten citizens, the controversial politician suggested that it was fine for citizens to take the law into their own hands.

"If he fights, and he fights to the death, you can kill him," said the former mayor of Davao City, who was elected to the presidency in a decisive victory last month.

Ed Alcantara, head of the tourism promotions committee of the 118th Philippine Independence Day Celebration, hopes that Duterte has real plans for the Philippines.

However, he said the new president does not have concrete programmes although he did well in Davao City. “If he gets good advisers then that will be good.”

He also hopes Duterte will continue the good programmes of the Aquino administration and fix the areas which are failing.

Jeph Sedano, also a Filipino expatriate, believes that the main reason for Duterte’s overwhelming win was because Filipinos and OFWs want to have a peaceful country.

Here in British Columbia, migrant worker groups are hoping Duterte will exert some influence in their fight for permanent resident permits on arrival in Canada and open work permits

Foreign workers who say they’ve experienced abuse at the hands of employers are demanding a voice in the on-going federal government’s review of the controversial temporary foreign worker program.

Among those pushing for this is Otilio Hernández-Morales, a worker who alleges he was punched by a supervisor on a south Surrey farm. He was among those at a press conference in Vancouver last week asking federal lawmakers to impose changes that would make them feel safer.

Among the issues they want addressed is a need for permanent residency, open work permits and the abolition of a Harper policy that includes the deportation of TFWs after four years in Canada.

The promises and threats by Duterte however will not dampen celebrations planned in Vancouver and around the world, some of which began last month.

The celebrations commenced with an opening reception of the art exhibit, “Harana – An Art Exhibition Serenading the Culture and Heritage of the Philippines,” on 26 May 2016 at the Cityscape Community Art Space in North Vancouver.

The exhibit, featuring the artworks of Mr. Manuel Baldemor and several Vancouver-based Filipino artists, will run from 27 May to 2 July 2016. On June 3, the Philippine Opera Company held a concert entitled “Harana” at Vancouver Tech Auditorium. This was followed by two events on 4 June: the Pista ng Bayan Community Picnic at Memorial South Park, and the Masskara Festival Society’s Independence Day Celebrations at the Polish Community Centre.

The Independence Day parade and celebrations in Surrey was held on June 5 with the theme, “Kundiman at Indakan sa Surrey.”

A flag-raising ceremony will be held on 10 June 2016 at the Vancouver City Hall to be led by Consul General Neil Ferrer and Acting Vancouver City Mayor Raymond Louie.

A number of Philippine Independence-related events will be held on the busiest weekend of 11-12 June 2016: flag-raising ceremonies will be conducted in the cities of Richmond, North Vancouver, New Westminster; two dinner-gala celebrations will be hosted by the FABC and UFCABC respectively; various day activities will be hosted by MVPACES in North Vancouver, VFCA/VFCSA/VFCCA in Victoria, FCAEK/East Kootenay in Cranbrook, and CONFICA in Vancouver.

Consul General Ferrer said the Consulate is honored to be part of the festivities, which are organized by various Filipino-Canadian community organizations in Metro Vancouver and other cities in British Columbia.

Ferrer also noted that this year marks an important milestone—the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, the very first Philippine foreign service establishment in the whole of Canada

“The annual Independence Day celebrations provide the perfect opportunity for the Filipino-Canadian community to meet, get together and celebrate the Filipino way. These festivities are wonderful venues to foster camaraderie and strengthen the bonds of friendship between the Philippines and Canada. We are grateful to the various community organizations for their abiding trust and continuing cooperation,” Ferrer said.

“I invite everyone—Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike—to join us in celebrating this June the 118th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and the friendship between the Philippines and Canada.