July 16, 2024 - Anyone who has witnessed or taken part in Victoria’s Filipino community’s myriad events in late May and June will be correct to conclude that the Filipino Canadians in Victoria are confident, unified, creative, generous, and welcoming. Activity after activity, Filipinos in Victoria came out proud and strong, showing no signs of slowing down.
Parade of Canadian Filipino People, Regions and Cultures
A confident and unified group of Filipinos joined the Victoria Day Parade on May 20, earning the distinction of being the largest participating group. Over 200 Filipinos of all ages and backgrounds - service worker, caregiver, student, business owner, professional - came together to march from Mayfair Mall to Courtney Street showing off the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage, symbols and traditions. The Filipino presence was bolstered by the participation of members of the University of Victoria Philippine Community, the Victoria Filipino Canadian Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Coastline Church, the Vancouver Island Cordillera Association and Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society’s (BCHS) own Sampaguita Dancers.
Officers of the Victoria Filipino Canadian Association (VFCA), and Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors Association, Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers Association, under the aegis of the BCHS led the group, followed by young people carrying a mock-up of the Philippine jeepney, a nipa hut, and pictures of Philippine scenes. Costumed participants followed, divided into three groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Ara Devantes led the Luzon group as its muse. Shirley Ronco Wilson was Ms. Visayas, and Shanley Reyes was Ms. Mindanao. Victoria streets resounded with the beat of the gangsa as Cordillerans danced the dances of Northern Philippines. Not to be outdone, Mindanaoans swayed to a different beat as they danced the Binanog in their red, white and black Higaonon costumes. Another group bloomed with sunflowers; a fourth reenacted the Panagbengga festival of flowers. Individuals and families, including children, proudly wore the barong, saya, and other Philippine fabrics and costumes.
Showcase of Cultural Wealth and Community Achievements
But that was just the start. On June 1, the BCHS and its partner organizations welcomed officials at all levels - federal, provincial and municipal - to an Open House that was another opportunity to showcase the cultural wealth of the Philippines as well as the achievements of the Filipino community in Victoria. VFCA president Sid Emmanuel welcomed guests while MLA Mable Elmore presented the official declaration of Philippine Heritage Month in British Columbia. Housing Committee member Elaine Abanto Wong gave an update on the options available to the community as regards the Bayanihan Community Centre.
Rallying Call for a New or Enhanced Bayanihan Community Centre
With the recent purchase by the City of Victoria of the lots to the right and left of the Centre, the community must do some soul-searching about whether the Centre remains at the same location, with improvements, or whether to go for a new Centre in a new neighborhood. There is agreement that the community needs a bigger space to accommodate its many different activities. To highlight the point, BCHS’s Bayanihan Creative Collective, featuring Jean Penola, Ruby Tiburcio, Clarissa Mijares and Francis
Matheu, staged a number incorporating song, dance and spoken word to demonstrate the talent and creativity in the community, and the space limitations being faced.
The BCHS and its partner organizations hope their track record, achievements and plans cause the movers and shakers in the province and the city to rally behind a new and much-improved Centre.
All Sectors, All Ages, Common Filipino Heritage Pride
The Mabuhay celebration that followed on June 8 and 9 put to rest any doubts that the Filipino community in Victoria can come harmoniously together and produce well-organized, seamless, and impactful programs. Under the management of Cobb Carbonel, project manager, Mabuhay brought together dozens of Filipino vendors, businesses, and organizations to display goods and services which homesick Filipinos could not get enough of. Jinky Apayo, BCHS Board Member, coordinated an entertainment program that had something for people of all ages and of different cultures.
In the weekends that followed, BCHS and its partner organizations held cooking lessons, Filipino language lessons, dance lessons, a gangsa tutorial, and a culminating activity on June 30 of a food market, showcasing Filipino food vendors that now abound in Victoria and featuring live lechon roasting on BCHS premises. The Filipinos in Victoria have said their message loud and clear: we are strong, we are creative, we are unified and we are very proud to be Filipino!!!
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