Filipino Youth of Montreal to Share their Stories, Return to their Roots in 2.5-day Conference

Kapit Bisig Centre
press release

for immediate release: March 10, 2009

Montreal - Côte-des-Neiges is abuzz with excitement over the latest endeavour of the Kapit Bisig Centre. “Ugat : Sharing our Pinoyville Stories, Understanding Our Roots (A Filipino Youth Intercollegiate and Community Conference)”, is a 2.5-day conference organized by Kapit Bisig Centre member organization "Kabataang Montreal," to bring together Filipino Youth around Montreal and - as the title of the conference states - share their stories and understand their “Ugat”, the Tagalog word meaning “roots”.

The conference aims to gather Filipino Youth of Montreal to share their stories and understand one another in their context of migration and settlement in Canada. Participants are being invited from all backgrounds and experiences.

“No matter where you were born, or how much schooling you completed; no matter what language you speak, who you choose to worship, or who you choose to love, at the root of it is our common ancestry, our common history, our common colonization and our common migration,” says Julie Nieto, member of Kabataang Montreal and one of the key conference organizers. “That’s what makes us Filipino. And now we’re in Canada, and Quebec specifically. We are here in Montreal. ‘How is that going for us?’ is the next question we need to address.”

From the understanding of our roots of migration and the history of the Philippines, conference participants will then explore and discuss the settlement and integration of Filipinos in Canada, and specifically in Montreal. Panel and workshop topics will include racism, identity, gender, language and education. Another goal of the conference is to train youth to engage in discussion on policies affecting the Filipino community in Montreal.

“I’m so proud to see our young people taking a more active role in Canadian society,” says Cecilia Diocson, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada, and one of the keynote speakers for the conference. “So many of our youth are suffering, but so many more are starting to stand up and demand recognition.”

So far, many Filipino youth are eager to participate and the Filipino students of McGill University are no exception. Frances Bruno, co-president of the McGill University Filipino and Asian Students Association (MUFASA) says, “The members of MUFASA are eager to meet and learn alongside the Filipino students of Concordia, as well as with all other Filipinos around Montreal.”

As a daughter of OFWs, and a so-called “first generation” Filipino youth, Frances’ experiences are not uncommon: “Having to learn a completely novel language and adapting to a different culture was initially a challenge for me in terms of finding and embracing my identity at the age of 9, but ultimately helped me to realize that acknowledging your roots is all you need no matter where you are in the world.”

The conference will take a unique dynamic approach, bringing in speakers from community organizations as well as academic researchers. It will also feature an encore presentation of “Pinoyville: CDN”, a play first presented by the Kapit Bisig Centre in November 2008, as well as a photo exhibit by high school-aged Filipino youth, reflecting their experiences in Montreal.

“This conference is a continued assertion that the Filipino community in Montreal is growing stronger and more united,” says Joanne Vasquez, chair of the Philippine Women Centre of Quebec. “With over 60% of all Filipinos living in Cote-des-Neiges, this is our ‘Pinoyville’. Even if you didn’t grow up in this neighbourhood, all Filipinos have meaningful experiences here, even if it is simply about being among people who look like you.”

Ugat : Sharing our Pinoyville Stories, Understanding Our Roots (A Filipino Youth Intercollegiate and Community Conference) is set to take place May 22-24, 2009, at the Ampitheatre of the Jewish General Hospital Institute for Community and Family Psychiatry (ICFP), 4333 Cote-Ste-Catherine. For more information, or to volunteer, email Julie Nieto or Josie Caro at kabataangmontreal@gmail.com.


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---Philippine Women Centre of Quebec---
Under the supervision of the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC), we are an institution of research, education, advocacy, and capacity building by Filipino women for the Filipino community.
Tel: (514) 678-3901

Jeunes philippins de Montréal partageront leurs histoires, retourneront à leurs souches durant une conférence de 2.5 jours

Relevé de presse – Centre Kapit Bisig

Jeunes philippins de Montréal partageront leurs histoires, retourneront à leurs souches durant une conférence de 2.5 jours

Pour distribution immédiate - 10 mars 2009

Montréal – Côte-des-Neiges vibre d’anticipation à l’annonce de la plus récente entreprise du centre Kapit Bisig. «Ugat : Partager nos histoires, Comprendre nos souches » (une Conférence Communautaire et Intercollégiale de la Jeunesse Philippine), est une conférence de 2 jours et demi organisée par Kabataang Montréal, membre de l’organisation du Centre Kapit Bisig, et ayant pour but de réunir la jeunesse philippine du grand Montréal afin que nous partagions nos histoires et comprenions nos « ugat », le mot tagalog signifiant « racines ».

La conférence vise à réunir les jeunes philippins/es de Montréal afin qu'ils partagnet leurs histoires dans un contexte de migration et d’installation au Canada et se comprennent l’un l’autre . Tous sont invités, peu importe leur expériences, leur histoire ou leur identité.

« Peu importe où vous êtes né, ou combien d’années de scolarité vous avez complétées, peu importe votre langue, qui vous choisissez de vénérer, ou qui vous choisissez d’aimer, à la base de tout se trouve notre ascendance commune, notre histoire commune, notre colonisation et notre migration commune. » dit Julie Nieto, membre de Kabataang Montréal et une des organisatrices principales de la conférence. « C’est cela qui fait de nous de philippins. Et maintenant nous sommes au Canada, au Québec spécifiquement. Nous sommes ici à Montréal. ‘Comment cela va-t-il pour nous?’ est la prochaine question que nous devons aborder. »

Utilisant comme point de départ un entendement de notre récit de migration et l’histoire des Philippines, les participants exploreront et discuteront à propos de l'établissement et l'intégration des philippins au Canada, plus spécifiquement à Montréal. Les sujets des panels et ateliers incluront le racisme, l'identité, le genre, la langue, et l'éducation. Un autre but de la conférence est de former les jeunes à engager la conversation sur les politiques affectant la communauté philippine de Montréal.

"Je suis si fière de voir nos jeunes gens prendre un rôle plus actif dans la société canadienne" dit Cecilia Diocson, Directrice Exécutive de l'Alliance Nationale des Femmes Philippines du Canada, et une des oratrices principales de la conférence. "Tant de nos jeunes souffrent, mais bien plus se lèvent et exigent d'être reconnus."

À date, plusieurs jeunes philippins sont désireux de participer et les étudiants philippins de l'université McGill ne font pas exception. Frances Bruno, co-présidente de l'Association des étudiants philippins de l'université McGill (MUFASA) dit: "Les membres de MUFASA ont hâte de rencontrer et d'apprendre aux côtés des étudiants philippins de Concordia, ainsi qu'avec tous les autres philippins de la région de Montréal."

En tant que fille de travailleurs d'outre-mer et sois-disant philippine de "première génération", l'expérience de Frances est commune: "Devoir apprendre une langue complètement nouvelle et s'adapter à une nouvelle culture était initialement un défi pour moi, en ce qui concerne la découverte et l'acceptation de mon identité à l'âge de 9 ans. Mais au bout du compte ça m'a aidé à réaliser que reconnaître sos souches est tout ce dont un individu a besoin peu importe où il est dans ce monde."

La conférence aura une approche unique et dynamique, amenant des présentateurs d'organismes communautaires ainsi que des chercheurs académiques. Elle inclura aussi une seconde présentation de "Pinoyville CDN", une pièce présentée par le Centre Kapit Bisig en novembre 2008, ainsi qu'une exposition de photos par des jeunes étudiants du secondaire, démontrant leur expérience à Montréal.

"Cette conférence est une affirmation continue que la communauté philippine à Montréal grandit, se renforcit et s'unit" dit Joanne Vasquez, qui siège sur le comité du Centre des femmes philippines du Québec. "Avec plus de 60% de la population philippine vivant à Côte-des-Neiges, ceci est notre "Pinoyville." Même si vous n'avez pas grandi dans ce quartier, tout philippin a eu des expériences significatives ici, que ce ne soit qu'être auprès de gens qui lui ressemble."

"Ugat: Partager nos histoires, Comprendre nos souches " (une Conférence Communautaire et Intercollégiale de la Jeunesse Philippine) se déroulera du 22 au 24 mai 2009 à l'Amphithéâtre de l'Institut pour la Psychiatrie Communautaire et Familiale (IPCF) de l'Hopital Général Juif . 4333 Côte-Ste-Catherine. Pour de plus amples informations, ou pour s'engager comme bénévole, contactez Julie Nieto ou Josie Caro à kabataangmontreal@gmail.com

Filipino Youth Demand Social Justice, Unite and Advance the Struggle Against Systemic Racism!

Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/ Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance National Statement

Filipino Youth Demand Social Justice, Unite and Advance the Struggle Against Systemic Racism!

For Immediate Release - February 27, 2009

On February 28, 2009 – On this day, we gather together on our 2nd Annual National Day of Action calling for Social Justice for Filipino Youth. Ugnayan ng Kabataan Pilipino sa Canada/ Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance extends our sympathies and condolences to the Filipino families across Canada who have lost loved ones to violence. In particular, we commemorate the lives of Mao Jomar Lanot, Jeffrey Reodica, Deeward Ponte and Charle Dalde.

In Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal concerned Filipino-Canadians, organizations and community supporters are holding vigils, masses, marches, film showings, and discussions to address the issue of systemic racism faced by Filipino youth and the community.

January 2009 marked the one year death anniversary of Deeward Ponte who was stabbed in Vancouver’s Grays Park, and later died in the hospital. Only a few months after the death of Ponte, the community felt the loss of yet another young Filiipno, Charle Dalde, fatally stabbed outside of his Richmond home as a result of an untargeted killing.

Following his death was the traumatic and irreversible actions of the Richmond RCMP, who falsely assumed Dalde’s killing was gang related (a claim later proven false) and handcuffed Dalde’s parents and brother at gunpoint, searched their apartment and later denied the family access to Charle when he tragically passed away in the Richmond Hospital.

We see the actions of the Richmond RCMP as another case of racial profiling towards a family of color. Though the family has already filed complaints against the RCMP for the mishandling of their case and the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has confirmed it will be conducting an independent review of the RCMP’s treatment towards the family. There has yet to be a public apology.

The losses of two Filipino youth only reminds us of 17 year old newly arrived Filipino youth, Jomar Lanot, who was beaten at the basketball courts of Sir Charles Tupper Secondary and later died in the hospital in 2003. We remember in 2004 the death of Jeffery Reodica, who was shot 3 times in the back by plain clothes police officers in Toronto. New experiences of racial profiling of communities of colour are emerging, and we only see this increasing as security and law enforcement expands to deal with the increase of alleged gang activity. While we recognize the need to address the violence in our streets, we anticipate that the tactics of the RCMP, if not corrected, will have a negative effect on a community composed of new immigrants and temporary workers. This will serve only to further criminalize members of the Filipino community, instead of recognizing the positive contributions the Filipino community has made culturally,
socially and economically.

Throughout Canada’s history, people of colour and immigrant communities have shaped Canada into the multicultural and diverse country we know it today. But it has not been without struggle and resistance. Indigenous people in Canada have struggled for their right to land, and against the oppression of residential schools, the Chinese community demanded redress for the head tax placed on their families, and an apology has been given to the Japanese community for their unjust displacement and internment. The struggle of the Filipino community is a part of this history of social justice.

Filipinos have also become Canada’s top source for migrant and immigrant labour. Currently, 95% of workers coming under Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) are Filipino women, who cannot bring their families when they enter Canada to work. Filipino youth are the most affected as they are the ones left behind while their parents are working abroad.

It is not only in the justice system that Filipino youth face barriers to genuine development. We remember ten years ago in 1999, when 25 Filipino youth were harassed and threatened in Vancouver Technical Secondary School by other students. They were kicked out and transferred into schools across the city, while the caucasian youth that harassed them continued their education uninterrupted. Lack of support from the educational system caused the majority of the Filipino youth to drop out of school. 10 years later many still have not obtained their high school diploma.

Racism and discrimination reaches to even some of the youngest in our community. In Montreal 2006, we remember the story of Luc Cagadoc, the 7 year old child reprimanded by one of his school’s Faculty for eating with a spoon and fork. This caused international uproar and actions by the Filipino community across Canada, and was another case of the education system not understanding its changing student population of new immigrants.

We see these cases as evidence of the marginalization of our community. Filipino students–particularly those newly arrived—hold some of the highest high school drop out rates across Canada. We are currently the third largest visible minority immigrant group in Canada, and yet we remain among the most underpaid and under-represented. As marginalized newly-arrived youth in Canada, many Filipino youth are vulnerable to racism, discrimination and violence and become involved in anti-social activities.

We demand social justice for our Filipino youth, their families and our community. We have to remain vigilant and strong, and committed to the empowerment of our youth and our community, so that the circumstances that lead to the death of Deeward Ponte, and Mao Jomar Lanot before him do not happen to future generations. This is the best way for us to honor their lives.

Despite the tragedies faced by our community, Filipino youth across Canada will not be deterred, and as members of UKPC, we will continue to serve the needs and interests of our community, empower our young people, understand our history and struggle for genuine change, equality and social justice.

Honor the memory of Jomar, Jeffrey, Deeward and Charle!

Scrap the Live-in Caregiver Program! End family separation!
Heighten our Unity and Advance the Struggle Against Systemic Racism!

End Systemic Racism Now!


British Columbia
c/o The Kalayaan Centre
451 Powell St. Vancouver, 604-215-1103
ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net

Ontario
c/o Magkaisa Centre
1093 Davenport Road
Toronto, 416-519-2553
ukpc-on@magkaisacentre.org



Quebec
Kabataang Montreal
kabataangmontreal@gmail.com