Filipino Participation in Canadian Politics - A Clarion Call

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Ontario-Canada
September 6, 2015



In a matter of few weeks, Canadians including Filipino Canadians of legal age will express partisan support and intelligently select their favourite political candidates who are running for elective positions in their respective electoral ridings. Filipinos, to be responding to a civic duty, are expected and encouraged to exercise their constitutional right of suffrage.

Generally, Filipinos are described arguably as casual "political watchers and perennial political debaters", oftentimes seriously and comically delving on topics and habitually referencing to our Philippine homeland's political climate. And, most frequently these exercises are somehow characterized  by heated discussions sa mga maraming  "ma-boteng" harapan. 

Hereabout, as election result matters big, it is fitting and proper that a bit of history and perspective be shared with the community and the general electorate in terms of how far we have gone as electors and to a point , as candidates in our adopted country's parliamentary democracy. It is also good to know the various issues impacting us, our families and our community  vis a vis, the campaign platforms of the candidates and their political parties.

Equally important also is to learn the past and the present particularly of those of our kababayan leaders who dared to enter politics and tried to represent us in governing this country. As a quick review and refresher, here is what available research shows.

First off, it is reasonable to welcome at this point in time a group of Filipino community leaders and professionals who recently convened and organized  the Filipino Canadian Political Action Council (FCPAC). The Council organizationally aims at mobilizing and galvanizing fellow Filipinos build and transform necessary political capacity for our community to achieve political maturity and influence in the Canadian political process. In essence, FCPAC hopes to advance a platform to have the collective voice to make change and awareness to issues impacting Filipinos here in Canada.

Starting up with 32 known- and- credible leaders in the community, FCPAC and its partners are fully committed to lead and encourage fellow Filipinos to understand and address their aspiration through the ballot box. Our Council in the coming election, is currently undertaking a project known as "FilCan Vote", a Get -Out -To-Vote campaign via : www. facebook.com / filcanvote, with the purpose of bringing awareness to our community members, especially our youths and young adults of their right and duty to choose and elect the candidates that best meet their concerns affecting and have affected them in their lives.

Historically, Filipinos are not too political and are not fully involved or engaged in Canadian politics since the immigration diaspora in the 1970s. Why? Relatively, as new immigrants , making a life is a big challenge.There is that long period of settlement and adjustment : getting and holding a job, career accreditation & licensing, building a family, buying a home & a car, extending family support and a myriad of other life- and- family requisites . By the time, one is ready to do other things, like entering politics, one is almost in his late 50s and already thinking about retirement. But a few other Filipinos have nurtured some political ambitions, determinedly have persevered, and bravely joined Canada's "political world".

Research shows that except for some successful Filipino Canadian candidates , many have tried and failed. One will perhaps recall some 11 "trailblazers", such as :
1) Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, a Liberal from Winnipeg, Manitoba , is the first Filipino elected M P from 1989- 2001.
2) Engineer Alex Chiu, is still Markham City Councillor since 1985 and now in his 10th consecutive term.
3) Art Viola,elected twice as Councillor in 1994 & 2003 and was Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the Lake in 1999-2000.
4) Canada-born Mable Elmore, NDP, is the first Filipino Member of BC Legislative Assembly in 2009 ..
5) Publisher Flor Marcelino, NDP, is the "first woman of colour" to be elected MLA in Manitoba in 2007 & 2011.
6) U.P.law graduate Ted Marcelino, NDP( Flor Marcelino's brother-in-law), was elected Manitoba MLA ,also in 2011.
7) Accountant Rick Falco, in 1997 became the first Separate School Board Trustee, in Mississauga schools.
8) Social rights advocate Marlene Mogado, was elected YCDSB Trustee in 2006 and re-elected in 2010 and 2014.
9) Quezonian Tobias Enverga, Jr. was chosen TCDSB Trustee in 2010 and appointed to the Senate in 2012.
10) HR executive Luz Del Rosario, was elected in 2006 as DPCDSB Trustee and again in 2014.
11) Catholic advocate Garry Tanuan, in a 2012 by-election became a TCDSB Trustee and was reelected in 2014.

Filipino performance and participation in Canadian politics reveals that since Liberal MP Dr. R. Pagtakhan's history-making election in 1989, there is a total of 45 known candidates of Filipino heritage who entered  political races and only 11 or 24.5 % became successful. Since 1997, twenty-eight Filipinos ran unsuccessfully for various elected positions in Ontario and somewhere in Canada. Among them are : one MP : Ralph Bunag (Ind.- 2008); 3 MPP : Rowena Santos( NDP-2006), Nerissa Carino( NDP-2011), and Cheryll San Juan( Green-2011); two Mayors : Ramon Datol ( Richmond Hill-2006) and Willie Reodica ( Stouffville-2014); 6 City Councillors: Willie Reodica ( Toronto-2003), Luz Del Rosario and Danny Galang( Mississauga-2010), Louroz Mercader ( Mississauga - 2010 & 2014), Barbara Hazel Tabuno( Mississauga-2014), and Randy Bucao( Toronto-2014); ten School Trustees : Rosalinda Javier ( DPCDSB-1997), Ken Viloria ( DPCDSB-2010), Monica Batac ( TDSB-2012), Erlinda Insigne ( YCDSB-2014), Joey Abrenilla, Ace Alvarez, Paulina Corpuz, Manuel Ching, Cely Silo & Emmanuel Yanga ( TCDSB -2014).

Three popular Filipinos ran unsuccessfully for Liberal MP Nominations in Toronto such as : Mel Catre in Don Valley East-1988,  lawyer Rafael Fabregas in Scarborough Centre in June, 2014 and corporate executive Michele Serrano also tried for the Scarborough Southwest  nomination but withdrew her candidacy to instead support Bill Blair. Similarly, 3 other from the West Coast tried to become MP Candidates for their parties, namely: Mike Calingo ( PC- Burnaby South, BC), Mable Elmore ( NDP- Vancouver East, BC.) and Flor Marcelino( NDP- Logan, Manitoba).

Currently, only one from Ontario, Julius Tiangson ( PC-Mississauga Cente, Ontario) is now running for Member of Parliament. Also, 3 other Filipinos are Official MP Candidates in the October, 2015 election, namely: Francisco "Jojo" Quimpo( PC -Vancouver-Kingston, BC), Levy Abad, Jr.( NDP- Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Mario Jacinto Rimbao ( NDP-Mount Royal, Quebec). 

Before, we were not concerned about real politics. Our 2nd and next generation of leaders are now becoming socially and politically engaged somehow. But as we continue to live and work here, we have other issues to focus on, day -to-day and long-term needs that have to be met. Before, no matter what we do as immigrants....our vote does not matter, but not this time....it will count. The long list of issues facing Filipinos include programs and strategies related to : family reunification, caregiver and temporary workers, professional accreditation & licensing, affordable housing, poverty-reduction, enhanced pension, universal drug program, seniors & child care and stable,and quality jobs with living wages. 

As you meet a candidate, tell or ask  that you would like him/her to promise, if not to champion issues and concerns impacting and improving  our lives. Whether, the economy is in a recession or one party leader is a "safe economic manager", or another P.M. candidate is a "reckless spender" or one , is a "callow novice or not-ready yet"....it is still : we expect him to deliver and honour his words. To vote for and be counted, political candidates need to be reminded that "we will make sure that we will remember them and their promises" come October 19, 2015.

Given these bits of history and background, one would conclude that the Filipino communities in Canada are slowly- but -steadily becoming politicized within the Canadian political landscape. Mainstream political candidates,one way or the other,is believed  to have a Filipino campaign leader or two working out in their respective campaign strategies. Ergo, it is safe to state that with almost 700,000 Filipinos in Canada, notice is being given that the "sleeping tamaraw" is now fully awake and ready "to roar" , that is to assume and assert for fair and reasonable political decisions. As one FilCan old timer said : as we already "sowed the seed for a brighter future" , now and hereinafter "is our time to shine and be proud of our Philippine heritage".  ( T. San Juan).