Editorial

Pasasalamat is never lost on the Filipino, no matter which corner of the world you may find him. It can’t be helped – the spirit of thankfulness is hammered into the Filipino child’s head way before his first birthday, what with “salamat po” being one’s rightful response to a parent’s “Now what do you say?” How many goats have been slaughtered and pigs turned to lechon in thanksgiving for graduating from college or for passing the nursing licensure exam?

Filipinos come to Canada for various reasons. Whatever those motivations are, Filipinos mostly share a common goal. They want a new beginning, a fresh start.

Bayanihan is a valued tradition among Filipinos. In Philippine villages, its spirit draws farmers to join hands and help each other plow the fields, plant and harvest the rice, maintain irrigation canals, or move a house.

Every year, Canadian Filipinos celebrate two national commemorations.

One is Philippine Independence Day on June 12. The second is Canada Day on July 1, marking the birth of the country that many Filipinos call their new home.

Much has been said about the low level of Filipino representation in Canadian politics.

It’s only right to keep up the public discourse about this condition.

Filipinos are found in the seven continents of the world. And everywhere they go, Filipinos are proud to say that they can compete with the best.

Here in Canada, Filipinos are found in various fields, from the professions to the arts and trades. Many of them are successful in their own right, proving that Filipinos can indeed shine among the finest.

Traditional home-cooked Filipino food is tasty and delectable. Even non-Filipinos have been captivated by it.

As Canadians gear up to celebrate their nation’s 150th anniversary, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlines a new governing principle for Canada: the principle of post-nationalism.

According to estimates from the Commission on Overseas Filipinos, in 2013, out of a total Philippine population of about 97 million, there were about 10.2 million Filipinos living outside the country.They were found in 288 countries all over the world. In 2016, the country’s total population rose to almost 103 million, and it is safe to conclude that more Filipinos have also left the Philippines to live and work abroad.

The population of Canada is graying.

In fact, the country is undergoing a significant demographic shift.

For the first time, there are now more Canadians age 65 and over compared to people who are under the age of 15, according to Statistics Canada.