Four Filipino-Canadians have made history by being part of the 2010 Olympic Torch relay for the Winter Games. They are Lani Mino, Richer Guinto, Ferdinand “Macoy” Lagadi and Noel Oco.

Lani Mino and Richer Guinto were part of the team from the Vancouver Aquarium, whose representatives were chosen among its most outstanding workers. Both are selected in the early part of the torch run in October when it passed Duncan, British Columbia.

Richer Guinto is a night custodian at the Vancouver Aquarium, while Lani Mino is payroll administrator.

“When you see people lining up on the street, waiting for all the runners to pass you by, everybody’s cheering you, giving you high fives. I (felt like) an instant celebrity, like a Hollywood star, wow,” said Mino.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand “Macoy” Lagadi was also chosen to represent the Royal Bank of Canada, after being a top performer in the bank’s Customer Service Department for the past 9 years.

Lagadi said the instant fame is something he had never imagined even in his wildest dreams. ‚ÄúI never thought this would ever happen but it did! Filipinos all over the world, we can always do something to make our country proud,” he said.
Another Filipino, Noel Oco is set to run in the last leg of the relay in North Vancouver.

The Olympic flame left Canada — just briefly — Tuesday as it crossed into the United States at the Peace Arch border crossing south of Vancouver for a special ceremony.

The Olympic flame is set to make 490 stops and pass 12,000 torchbearers before the opening on Friday.

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