Filipino Canadians

Canadians of Filipino descent

Regions with significant populations
Southern Ontario, Vancouver, Alberta, Winnipeg
Languages
Canadian English, Tagalog, other Philippine languages
Religion
Predominantly Catholic, Other Christian Denominations
Related ethnic groups
Filipino people, Overseas Filipinos, Asian Canadian

Canadians of Filipino descent are typically of South-East Asian Malay descent, with various admixtures of Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Arab, Negrito bloodlines. Filipino-Canadians are also a subgroup of the Overseas Filipinos.

Canada only had a small population of Filipinos until the late 20th century. To date, there are currently around 350,000 Filipino Canadians in Canada, most of them living in urbanized areas. This number is growing yearly due to Canada's more liberal immigration laws to compensate for their low population growth. Filipino-Canadians are the third largest Asian-Canadian group in the nation after the Chinese and Indian communities.

Neighboring country, the United States, has a Filipino American community that is fifteen times larger even with its more rigid and strict immigration policies. Canada receives an average of 10,000 Filipino nationals annually, making them the third-largest immigrant group in the second largest landmassed nation of the world.They are also the third largest Asian Canadian subgroup. Assuming this annual growth, the population is expected to hit 500,000 by 2010.

Filipino Canadian Communities

Toronto

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is home to the largest Filipino community in Canada. Filipinos living in the GTA is around 150,000. 90,000 of them live in the City of Toronto (Scarborough 35,000, North York 25,000, Downtown Toronto 20,000) and close to 30,000 live in Mississauga. Making them the fourth largest visible minority behind the Chinese, Indian and Black communities. Tagalog is the 7th most spoken language in the city. Although there is no permanent "Filipino neighbourhood" there are large population of Filipinos in the Bathurst/Wilson area and Malvern. There are smaller Filipino populations in the neighbourhoods of Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park and various neighbourhoods in Scarborough. There is also some significant Filipino populations along Steeles Avenue East.

There are many religious, town and sport associations in Toronto as well as numerous community newspapers. The Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) organizes various events for the Filipino community including the Mabuhay Philippines! Toronto Summer Festival, the largest celebration of Philippine heritage and culture in Canada, annually held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Winnipeg

The Filipino Community in Winnipeg is the largest visible minority group ahead of the Chinese-canadians and Indo-Canadians.

Calgary

Filipinos started coming in droves in Calgary in the early 80's and 90's. They mostly came as professionals and employees of the service industry. Many of them have also established their own family businesses and are contributing greatly to the city's vibrant economy.

Vancouver

Filipinos in Vancouver make up the third largest Asian American group behind the Chinese and South Asians. Most of British Columbia's 65,000 Filipinos reside in Vancouver, where the jobs are concentrated. They contribute to the city's economy greatly like many of the Asian-canadians.

Notable Filipino Canadians

Politicians

• Cris Aglugub - Manitoba former NDP MLA, the Maples 1999
• Rey Pagtakhan - First Filipino-Canadian Member of Parliament (1988-2004), First Filipino-Canadian Cabinet Minister (2001-2004)
• Conrad Santos - First Filipino Canadian elected in Canada in 1981 (to the Manitoba Legislature), and First Filipino Canadian to run for the leadership of A political party (Manitoba NDP, 1989)
• Mike Pagtakhan - Winnipeg City Councillor, Point-Douglas Ward (2002-present
• Flor Marcelino, first Filipino woman elected MLA in Manitoba

Community Leaders

• Estrellita Aguinaldo - co-founder and current President of the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe and Board of Director for the Philippine Independence Day Council
• Luz Del Rosario - member of the Halton-Peel Grant Review Committee, Past President of Culture Philippines of Ontario, the 2006 Mississauga Citizen of the Year and current Mississauga Public Trustee
• Resty Del Rosario - chairperson of "Spirit of Kalayaan", President of Culture Philippines of Ontario
• Tobias Enverga Jr. - Founder and President of the Lucena City Association of Ontario, Native of Toronto, Canada. His organization has donated over US$500,000.00 worth of Medical Equipment, supplies and medicines to Hospitals in Lucena City and other towns in Quezon province (www.geocities.com\lucenacitycanada). He is currently the president of the biggest association in Canada, the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), an umbrella organization for over 300 associations in Canada (www.pidctoronto.com)
• Dr Roland Guzman, former Honorary Philippine Consul General in Manitoba
• Edda Pangilinan, current Honorary Philippine Consul of Manitoba
• Alicia Natividad - first Filipino woman admitted to the Ontario Bar and founder of Canada Philippines Business Council
• Rafael Nebres - President, Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (www.pcct.ca) President of Asian-Canadian Entrepreneurs and Professionals, President of PhilCan Athletic Club, Executive Vice President of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Director Bicol Canada Inc. and Vice President of Canada-Philippines Business Council.
• Ching Quejas - President, Kalayaan Community Centre, Mississauga, Ontario.
• Jose Saavedra Jr. - former president of the Association of Filipino-Canadian Accountants (www.afcatoronto.org), former president of the Philippine Independence Day Council(www.pidctoronto.com), former president of the Canadian Multicultural Council of Asians in Ontario (www.cmcasians.com), President of the Leyteno Association of Ontario, current member of the Advisory Council to the Toronto City Police Chief William Blair, Council Member (Board of Director) of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (appointed by the Lt. Governor of Ontario), Chair of the Legal and Legislation Committee and Member of the Discipline Committee.
• Lito Taruc, President, Philippine Association of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Victor Nombrado - Current Artistic Director of the Kayumanggi Philippine Performing Arts - the oldest dance group in Winnipeg since 1970, First Philippine dance group in Manitoba to participate in an International Festival in South of France

Entertainers

• Joey Albert - singer
• Ina Raymundo - actress
• Mikey Bustos - Canadian Idol finalist, singer
• Cola Guevara - Filipino rapper, male fashion model
• Eleanor Calbes - world renowned opera singer, founding artistic director of Mississauga City Centre Opera and recipient of Mississauga's musician of the year in 1986
• Lilac Cana - classical singer, writer and producer who performed for Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day celebrations in Toronto www.lilacsounds.com
• Romeo Candido - independent film producer, musician and director.
• Nancy Castiglione - Spokesmodel for Bobson clothing line, TV personality, actress.
• Ma-Anne Dionisio - Theatre actress, best known for her role as Kim in the Canadian Premiere production of Miss Saigon and as Eponine in the US National Tour of Les Miserables
• Lexa Doig - Actress on Stargate SG-1 and Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda
• Philip Guerrero - Known as "PJ Phil" on YTV's The Zone as a host in the mid-1990s
• Emm Gryner - Singer-songwriter of mixed Filipino ancestry
• Rannie Ilag, songwriter
• Ron Josol - Comedian (www.ronjosol.com)
• Elena Juatco - Canadian Idol Finalist, wild card
• Hazel Lorraine - Actress and model who appeared in several movies and Canadian TV shows
• Jane McLean - actress
• Casey and Jennifer Mecija, musicians (Ohbijou)
• Cassie Steele - Actress on Degrassi: The Next Generation
• Edward Timbol - Actor
• Earl Pereira - Wide Mouth Mason bassist
• Leilene Ondrade - Actress/Model
• Alex Steele - Actress
• Joy Olimpo - Television personality/Model/Columnist, best known as co-host of YTV show Girlz TV
• Magdaragat Philippines Incorporated - Filipino dance troupe that performs during Folklorama in Winnipeg
• Nina Lee Aquino - Director/Dramaturge/Playwright/Artistic Director (fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company), www.fu-gen.org

Journalists/Broadcasters

• Zuraidah Alman - Co-Anchor, Morning News. Global TV Ontario
• Ace Alvarez and Gie Alvarez - Producer and Host of "Front Page Philippines" on OMNI TV. Also the Managing Editor and Associate Editor, respectively, of "Manila Media Monitor" www.manilamediamonitor.com
• Pauline Chan - Anchor CFTO Toronto news
• Ruben Cusipag - publisher of "Balita", the largest Filipino-Canadian community paper in the Greater Toronto Area (www.balita.ca) and recipient of "Most Outstanding Filipino-Canadian" award
• Marianne Dimain, news reporter, Anchor for CP24 News, Toronto
• Jennifer Ellson - journalist for the Montreal Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), Forbes Asia (Singapore); host and writer for "Mabuhay Pilipinas" on CHTV Montreal; "Most Outstanding Young Filipino-Canadian" awardee in 1998
• Zenaida Ferry-Kharoubi - publisher and editor of "Filipino Star" and owner of Gilmore College (Montreal, Quebec)
• Hermie Garcia - publisher and editor of The Philippine Reporter (www.philreporter.com)
• Melissa Grelo - news reporter, Anchor for CP 24 News, Toronto
• Emmie Joaquin,Publisher and Editor of Pilipino Express (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Eddie Lee - publisher and editor of "Atin Ito" (Toronto, Ontario)
• Bin Kon Loo - publisher and editor of Filipiniana News (Toronto, Ontario)
• Richard Madan - Business/Money Specialist CityNews and CP24, Toronto
• Hazel Mae - former Rogers Sportsnet anchor
• Fred Magallanes - publisher and editor of "Filipino Forum" (Montreal, Quebec)
• Flor Marcelino, Publisher and Editor of Philippine Times (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Rosalinda Natividad-Cantiveros - Long time resident of Winnipeg and Editor-in-Chief of the Filipino Journal - Winnipeg's longest running Filipino-ethnic newspaper.
• Sharon Navarro - Anchor
• Matet Nebres - reporter for CFTO Toronto
• Kris Reyes - news reporter, Anchor for CP24 News, Toronto
• Michael Serapio - associate producer for CTV programs including Canada AM, Sunday Edition, The Giller Awards and many others.
• Marivel Taruc - Anchor CBC News Morning
• Joe Sulit, Lito Taruc, Chester Pangan, Lucille Nolasco, Sheryll Dandan-Zamora, Jun Rivera and Donna Natividad-Arenas, program producers/hosts for Filipino programs aired over CKJS 810 AM, a multilingual radio station in Winnipeg, Manitoba that caters to diversed cultural origins and ethnic groups
• Kim Villafuerte, Jason Bagni and Jazzmine Buslon - hosts of TRIP [1], the first Filipino youth-oriented radio talk show in Torono heard live every Wednesdays 10-11pm over CHHA 1610 AM, Rogers Cable TV Ch. 951 and mabuhayradio.net [2][3]

Writers

• C. E. Gatchalian - playwright, poet, fictionist
• Primrose Madayag Knazan - playwright, published author, native of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Sports

• Alex Pagulayan - 2004 World Pool Champion
• Edwin Montal - Pool Player
• Jonathan de Guzmán - midfielder for Feyenoord Rotterdam
• Julian de Guzmán - professional soccer player

Artists

• Rod Dioso - Professional Artist: Digital Media (http://www.pageshome.com)
• Nestor Gutierrez - Professional Artist(painter)(http://artsbygutz.spaces.live.com) [4]
• Romi C. Mananquil - Professional Artist and founder of the Philippine Artists Group [http.//www.philippineartist.com]. His art work was used in the 1 and 2 peso coin in the Philippines and his 5 peso vignette called "Declaration of Philippine Independence" was also used in the 100,000 peso centennial note, a Guiness Book of Record holder. www.mananquil.com

Others

• Dr. Romulo Magsino - Former Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba. Now a Dean Emeritus.
• Dr. Roberto S. Clemente - Prominent researcher in the field of Agricultural Engineering.
• Virginia Guiang - Long-time community volunteer, inducted to the Order of Manitoba in 2004, current Executive Director - Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba.
• Nelia Laroza - First Canadian nurse to die from SARS on June 29, 2003 - North York General Hospital
• Melanio Catre Sr. - founder and former President of National Congress of Filipino Canadian Associations, former Board of Directors Ontario Place, Former Board of Directors Canadian National Exhibition, Former Member Toronto Police Commission - Race Relations

External links

• History of Filipino Canadians
• Oyaye.com Filipino Social Networking Community Abroad
• Filipino Canadian Newspaper in Manitoba
• Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba
• Philippine Independence Day Council Toronto
• Filipino Canadian Newspaper in Toronto
• Filipino Canadian Newspaper in Metro Toronto
• Filipino Star Magazine in Montreal
• Helping the Poor in the Philippines