Filipinos in Canada Weigh Less Despite Their Numbers

Volume 5, Issue No. 23

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Thursday, January 25, 2024 

~ Filipinos are said to be hospitable to a fault. Well it's second nature to them despite differences over their birth country's geographically-fragmented character. In the Greater Toronto Area, and perhaps in the entire Canada, the usual lament is that they are islands unto themselves, disunited and heterogeneous in many ways. This situation could be seen in how federal, provincial and local politics play out. Politicians court them for the very support they don't realize could empower their own community. 

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AN ISLAND UNTO HIMSELF?

Filipinos in Canada Have the Numbers But Weigh Less 

Visibility, Clout Don't Translate to Power

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them". - Aristophanes

TORONTO - Time and again the question crops up. And it all boils down to visibility, clout, and strength. Or a lack of everything.

Why is it that if Filipinos have the numbers, they do not have the weight to put in as many of their kind to elected public office? It is a question begging for an answer.

Statistics Canada says Filipinos comprise nearly 1 million (0.9 million as of 2021), the number 3 among ethnic groups after the Chinese (1.7 million) and Indian (from India, 1.3 million) in that order. By 2041, the Filipino population in Canada is projected to reach over 2 million.

The standard answer to the question heard over and over again is that Filipinos need to unite so they could harness their strength as a respected political and economic unit. 

But unity is a pipe dream, unattainable given that Filipinos are generally islanders. That's just their nature, conceivably a reflection of their birth origins in the 7,100 Philippine islands fragmented by language and tribal affiliations.

The reality in Canada is known to all. Politicians other than Filipinos court Filipinos for their support. They try to ingratiate themselves. They cultivate friendships.

They come to their functions, socialize, and make themselves feel at home. They try to speak the tongue like saying mabuhay, maraming salamat po, etc. They partake of pancit, lumpia, adobo, halo-halo, and more in their get-togethers.

For our part, we would just be content with being hospitable. We're thrilled whenever they say their usual greetings in Tagalog. We would be happy to play host so long as politicians, especially the big-time personages, grace our occasions.

For whatever reason, politicians take kindly to us, so it seems. But let us be realistic and practical. Let us put aside our naivete. I believe they would not be as kindly as it looks if we don't have the power to decide who sits and doesn't in the halls of power.

The truth is that it is not always that they like Filipino food. It is not entirely that they want our eat-all-you-can parties and adore our exploitative beauty pageants by the young and old. It is not that they are fond of our company.

Of course, it warms the heart to know that they enjoy the food (or pretend to like it) even if a touch of bagoong or patis offends their sense of smell. We are pleased to see them honestly frolic with us in dance-and-karaoke-singing gatherings.

More than we realize our true capability, the unexplored reality is that Filipinos are a potent force. And that is the very reason politicians would spend their time, effort and money in being seen and identified with us, especially during the election season.

I am reminded of this quote from Larken Rose, the "outspoken advocate of the principles of self-ownership, non-aggression and a stateless society" who defined politics as "the art of using euphemisms, lies, emotionalism and fear-mongering to dupe average people into accepting - or even demanding - their own enslavement".

Our community events such as those held in Little Manila are inexpensive platforms to maximize visibility. Politicians don't have to spend so much in advertising and PR work to reach their target voters; they're there waiting and lapping up their antics.

Their presence boosts the prestige of organizers in the eyes of sponsors and the public, which then could translate into big money. Relevant to this discussion is my own experience with the purported founder of an event. 

Once Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called him "Tito ____", he used that particular video - my copyrighted video coverage - to market himself as someone close to him and to attract corporate sponsors for his event. 

I've taken it down for many reasons, among them, one, it made him a swaggering swellhead; two, it conceals the fact he stole the idea of the festival from his former employer; and three, he is alleged to have pocketed thousands of dollars from revenues still unaccounted. I have no tolerance for his misconduct.

Why would members of federal and provincial parliaments and city officials readily accept invitations to cut inaugural ribbons, to be guest speaker, or to be honoured guests in events? Of course, it's the power of the vote that prods them.

Which means that politicians recognize our inherent strength. Given a purpose, we would use that strength to pick officials we like.

In the Greater Toronto Area, we have not used that strength to elect our very own aspirants for high office. In the past election, there's a slew of Filipino candidates who performed poorly in the polls.

And there lies the irony. While we would be easy with our non-Filipino friends, we would be hard and harsh to those of our kind. Maybe it's a lack of faith. Maybe we don't trust them. Maybe we've grown tired of promises that never get fulfilled. Maybe it's our refusal to recognize that Filipinos are also capable of high office.

Let us believe in ourselves before believing others. Let us acknowledge that many among us are as good if not better than those in elected offices now.

Let us not be shy in saying Filipinos could also lead their respective constituents to new heights of greatness. That may sound farfetched, but it is possible. (Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved).