Pinoys and the Provincial Elections in Alberta

MIGRANTS' VOICES

Marco Luciano

The Alberta elections, which take place every four years, are being held on May 29th. It gives Filipinos and other minority communities in Alberta a pivotal opportunity to engage with the democratic process and make their voices heard.

Filipinos in Alberta are a growing community, with a rich culture and a strong sense of community spirit. However, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges that arise from being part of a minority community in a foreign country.

One way to overcome these challenges is through civic engagement. Civic engagement includes actively participating in the democratic process, participating in community organizations, and advocating for issues affecting one's community. As Filipinos living in Alberta, getting involved in civic engagement is important. Research has shown that civic engagement can bring about numerous benefits for individuals, institutions, and communities. For individuals, civic engagement can lead to personal growth and development. It can also provide opportunities to build connections, strengthen networks, and develop leadership skills. Moreover, when parents are civically engaged, this can directly impact their families and their children's future civic activities.

Migrants and newly arrived Filipinos in Alberta are not often active in the civic engagement process, which can lead to their exclusion from community activities and lack of representation in decision-making processes. They are very much consumed by individual struggles like work, family, and settlement. It is understandable but it is crucial to realize that by not engaging in civic activities, the Filipino community could miss out on the benefits of their active participation and potential impact on policy decisions.

We must therefore engage in civic activities and become active participants in the democratic process. Involvement can take on many forms. One could start by attending city council meetings, volunteering for local organizations that enrich

Open Visa: Overview Will you...? (S2)

“So, what part of Mindanao are you going to, Nora?” Lily’s dad asked as all their eyes shifted to the other graduate. Lily was very much aware that this was just her Tatay’s way of changing the subject.

“Cagayan de Oro, po,” she replied.

The spaghetti was salty and not particularly good, but the thin-sliced sausages and clumsy red beans were delicious. The place was packed with hungry people of all sizes, shapes, and smells.

It was just about 2:30 in the afternoon when the tip was handed to the server and the group headed out to the graduates’ dormitory. A regular thirty-minute walk turned into a forty-minute ride on a tricycle, due to heavy traffic. Their bags were packed, their bills were paid, and the place was relatively clean for the next year’s students.

For years, through thick and thin, Lily and Nora had established a sense of unique identity in the building. At their age, it was uncommon to still be serious, courageous, and dedicated to something they were passionate about. Being away from home had molded and developed their characters. Now, they resolved to prove themselves in the real world.

Their focus to survive, strength to succeed, and hope to live at peace with the community was evident in the way they dealt with others. Their the community and advocating for issues important to Filipinos.

Another way to get involved is by joining established Filipino organizations that promote civic engagement, such as the FilipinoCanadian Association of Calgary or any Filipino cultural association. These organizations offer opportunities to engage in cultural events, volunteer work and community-building activities, which can create a strong sense of belonging for members and promote active participation in the civic affairs of Alberta. Civic engagement is not only essential for individuals but also critical for the well-being of communities and institutions.

It is important to note that political parties in Alberta and across Canada typically choose their candidates through an internal nomination process, and the selection of candidates varies by party and riding. Thus, there may be FilipinoCanadian candidates running in the next provincial election in Alberta, but this would depend on various factors such as the decisions of political parties and individual candidates. Engaging in civic activities is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity for Filipinos to have a say and make a difference in their community. Research shows that civic engagement promotes a sense of citizenship, awareness, and participation among individuals and communities. Moreover, by engaging in civic activities, Filipinos can help ensure that the voices and needs of their community are heard and represented in decision-making processes. Filipinos in Alberta must recognize their role and become active participants in the democratic process.

Filipinos generally are engaged in politics in their homeland and often bring their civic-mindedness and political acumen to the countries where they live. They continue to be engaged in politics in the Philippines. This was very evident during the last Philippine elections, where overseas Filipino voters played a significant role in electing national leaders. The two last elections in the Philippines polarized the Filipino diaspora. A large number of Filipinos abroad shows that our community can make a difference in the political arena both in the Philippines and in the country where they now reside. Therefore, it is time for Filipinos in Alberta to demonstrate their potential and become more involved in the civic affairs of their community. It is our responsibility as members of a democratic society to promote civic engagement and ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to participate in democratic processes. Lumabas tayo at bumoto, let's get out and vote. wishing to congratulate Lily.”

It was unusual for this kind of gathering to have anyone speak who was outside the family circle.

From behind the Acacia tree fifteen meters away, a man came out in a Ray Ban ball cap. He was heavily bearded and almost unrecognizable. It took about ten seconds before Lily’s heart pumped to its fullest throttle.

It was Mike!

Romeo Honorio romyhonorio@gmail.com

Romeo is the author of two books (Open Visa and Covid-19 Fundemic) His third book, Fundemic Moments, is due before the end of the year.

His is the Chair of Diaryo Alberta Society based in Calgary, AB, Canada

Many regarded him as Community Resource Person education had been just a tool to fully understand and appreciate life in its reality and entirety.

He is an avid gardener.

Now that they were on their own—both showing a degree of excitement, and sometimes anxiety—

Nora’s trip to Mindanao would be like an experiment in osmosis, a salt particle plunging into a tub of uncertainty. This was the vision Lily had of her friend’s upcoming trip to head south the following month.

Lily’s own planned trip to return home consisted of a threehour drive from Cabanatuan City to Cuyapo. Ford Fiera jeeps had been servicing the outlying towns of the province for more than ten years and there had been no sign of any improvement in the quality of the ride; the drivers were more concerned with squeezing in as many passengers as possible than making the ride a comfortable one.

They stepped off the jeep to the sight of a hundred pairs of eyes excitedly awaiting their arrival. They were treated like movie stars. It was a village-wide celebration.

The lechon (roasted pig) was crispy outside and tender inside. The day was set aside to celebrate Lily’s graduation with her relatives, friends, neighbours, and bystanders.

Puto (rice cakes) were really tasty both with sopas (congee) and dinuguan (chocolate pork stew).

People had to wait and stand behind the group feasting on the food at the table. It took almost three hours for every soul present to feel good, thankful, and expectant of the next celebration in the village.

As they settled in for a coffee, Ka Oscar, Lily’s dad, a well-known and respected elder, stood up before the crowd. Out of respect, and most likely due to the calming effect of the food consumed, all ears were tuned to him as he spoke.

“For your support and prayers for my family, and for my daughter in particular, I would like to thank you all. Also, thank you for coming and sharing with us this joyous day.” This was the only audible sentence to those listening.

Black coffee kept the people’s minds alert but unready to hear more. Nonetheless, he continued, “Now I would like to call on a friend

The blood rushed to her head and her heart thumped as if she was experiencing indigestion. “Siya ba and boyfriend ni Lily?” was the question floating through the crowd as Mike and Lily shared a kiss. People were astounded by the sweetness of their kiss and the joy in their teary eyes.

“You surprised me,” she whispered to Mike. “You didn’t mention you were coming home the last time we talked.”

“I just wanted to make sure you had the most unforgettable celebration of your life,” he said, his fingers combing the back of Lily’s hair.

Everybody stood still and waited for another scoop. The spark of their meeting was so intense that they forgot people were watching them. It took a while before Mike composed himself.

“There are three things I would like to say to Lily,” he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “First, congratulations. Second, I wish you the best tomorrow. Third, I love you. Will you marry me?”