On Christmas Day, I received an invitation from a friend to join a group of Filipino friends on a trip to Niagara in the last Friday of 2023, December 29. It was a 90-minute road trip just to experience a gathering, Filipino-style.
Dubbed as the "Filipino Night at the Niagara Falls," organizer Eventbrite has for its selling punchline: "Tara, magkita-kita tayo sa Filipino Newcomers Meet and Greet sa Niagara Falls para makilala ang mga bagong dating. Siguradong masaya 'to."
Evenbrite is a very high-tech US-based international event organizer for businesses and organizations that takes care of managing, promoting and selling. Its events handled, among many, are conventions, pop-up dinners, festivals, and even training in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US.
Warm Sense of Community
The night event that started at 5:30 pm at Dorchester Road was a celebration of the vibrant Filipino culture, sharing experiences, meeting new friends, and to warmly welcome new immigrants — even tourists like me. Others came to expand their network, feel the fiesta ambiance and for the fun of it.
Eventbrite co-organizers had in the program: Tagalog for kids; Filipino movies; talks on basic knowledge in handling finances and what to expect, and also board and table games for all ages. Not to miss are a variation of delectable Filipino snacks.
Entrance is free and snacks reasonably priced.
Actually, Niagara is a small community (p. 95,700 in 2023 data) but many came to join in. Although not as many as expected attended, the event was worth it. We truly felt the warm sense of community in that very chilly night.
ooOoo
Canada continues to accommodate immigrants. Influx of Filipino migration, particularly in Toronto, was most significant in the 1960s that persists to this day.
The latest official record of Filipino population in Canada is close to a million, mostly situated in the cities of Winnipeg (Manitoba), Calgary and Edmonton (Alberta), Vancouver (British Columbia), and Toronto (Ontario). Of this, approximately 365,000 live in Ontario.
In July 2022, there was a claim that more than 60 percent of Filipinos in Canada are in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), making them the third largest immigrant group in the country, next only to East Indians and Chinese.
Filipino Township
Filipinos are very visible in the expanse of the commercial district on Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue. Hence, it was named Little Manila where the Filipino Cultural Community Center is found.
Here, Filipinos would not miss local dishes, goodies and services. They have almost everything, including pre-ordered lechon (roast pig), a common fare in kababayan gatherings. Located around here are reliable remittance centers and for sending packages and balikbayan boxes to relatives back home.
Being mostly Catholic, the Archdiocesan Filipino Catholic Mission, headed by Archbishop Francis Leo at home at the St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica at the center of Toronto's Garden District. There are a number of Catholic Churches and Shrines in GTA.
Up to St. James Town is also known as an ethnic hub. Jewish residents and synagogues and First Nation community centers industries are also within the vicinity. "First Nation" refers to Canada's original settlers. These areas have a cultural heritage of great value to the city of Toronto.
Filipino Workers
Filipinos here are mostly in the healthcare industry as doctors, nurses, therapists, hospital workers, and in caregiving facilities. Jewish and Canadian families prefer Filipino caregivers.
Filipinos are well liked for their dedication and diligence, including a sizeable number employed in tourism and manufacturing industries.
Majority of kababayans who settle in Canada work hard for family security to own at least one family vehicle and a house within their first five years.
Our Embassy and Consulates
For Filipinos in Canada, the Philippine Foreign offices are accessible and supportive. They have various service desks for kababayans and render special assistance to Pinoy students.
The Ambassador to Canada in Ottawa is Maria Andrelita Austria while the Consul General based in Toronto is Angelica Escalona. They encourage Pinoys to visit their offices at least once in the duration of their stay in the country.
Our foreign offices in Canada can be contacted via email embassyofphilippines@rogers or telephone +1 613-2331121; consularmatters@philcongen-toronto.com or +1 416-9227181, and vancouverpcg@telus.net or +1 604-6851619.
(email opinyon.luchie@gmail.com.)
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