Sunday, November 09, 2008 Canada, the Philippines and GK By Former President Fidel V. Ramos (Last of 2 parts)
THIS episode concludes our Gawad Kalinga-Canada series which draws inspiration from the admirable qualities of caring, sharing and daring of Filipino-Canadian communities, and their generous support for GK programs. The enthusiastic response mobilized among our "kababayans" in Canada should be credited not just to GK alone, but equally to others: International partner ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor); the Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver organizers; and our Ambassador in Canada, "Chito" Brillantes and his career Consuls-General Alex Mosquera in Toronto, and Ruth Prado in Vancouver. Edda Pangilinan, retired nurse, serves as Honorary Consul in Winnipeg.
In the mindset of many Filipinos – and wrongly so – Canada is seen as mere appendix of its great US neighbor not realizing that Canada, which occupies 41 percent of North America, is the world’s second largest country next to Russia. Canada is slightly smaller than all of Europe, 1.3 times bigger than Australia, and 1.1 times bigger than the US. Canada is also rich and productive enough to merit membership in the G-8 group of highly industrialized countries, owing to its vast natural resources (hitherto mostly untapped) and energetic/innovative multi-cultural people who number only 33,000,000 – or a little more than 1/3 the population of the Philippines. Talk about potential, competitiveness and space for future generations of high quality people – Canada has all that, and much more!
RP-Canada relations
Numbering about 440,000 – with an average influx of 20,000 immigrants from the Philippines annually, the Filipino community in Canada is the third largest among the ethno-linguistic groups, after the Indians and Chinese. The Canadian federal government, together with its provincial components, is remarkably supportive of Filipinos. Prime Minister Stephen Harper – who was reelected last October 14 – praised Filipinos for "their values of hard work, cooperative support, and great united efforts... that make Canada even stronger," during the 10th anniversary of the Multi-Cultural Helping House Society (a Filipino initiative) in Richmond, British Columbia in May, 2006.
Canada is one of our top trading partners, ranking 22nd overall in 2007, counting bilateral trade at 522 million USD, with the balance slightly in Canada’s favor. Our major imports from Canada consist mostly of non-coniferous wood products, copper concentrates, wheat and chemicals, while Philippine exports are mainly electronic components, fresh and processed foods, design-driven products (giftware, decor, furnishings, furniture, garments), and IT and health services. Consistently ranking within the top ten in foreign arrivals in the Philippines, Canada is also a priority market for tourism.
In official development assistance, Canada has been a generous donor through its Canada International Development Agency (CIDA). Its current ODA focus is in good governance through institution-building at the LGU level, particularly in Mindanao, and in strengthening the private sector by promoting entrepreneurship. At end-2006, CIDA’s portfolio involved 10 grant-assisted projects, totaling 71.1 million CAD or US million.
GK in Canada
Gawad Kalinga is well on its way to reaching its medium-term goal dubbed "GK777:" 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years. With the help of various civic, business, government and individual partners, Canadian presence in the Philippines continues to improve the lives of the poor with 47 Canadian GK villages (more than 2,000 homes) and 850 sponsored children.
At the GK Heroes’ Night in Winnipeg last October 26 during which awards were given to deserving organizations and citizens, Tony Meloto summed it all fittingly: "Finally, a higher cause called GK has inspired Filipino organizations to rise above conflict and division, and unite to help our Motherland. The combined efforts of all to forge cooperation and partnership by joining our Canadian roadshow manifest our faith in the Filipino, wherever he/she is in the world."
On the same occasion, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer expressed similar sentiments and – on a higher plane – also Canada’s official view of the Pinoy’s performance: "We are a stronger society because we so often unite as a community to help others in times of need. Manitoba’s Filipino community can take great pride in the many contributions they have made to the excellent quality of life we enjoy, as well as their continued support to families and communities in the Philippines and throughout the world."
GK builds homes for the poor and equips them with education and livelihood as well as spiritual support for a better future. It develops four key components:
(a) Shelter – providing a modest dwelling of 20 to 25 square meters which "equals the size of a typical Canadian garage;"
(b) Education – giving street children a chance to attend school;
(c) Health – accessing medical assistance and health education to poor families; and,
(d) Livelihood – setting people up to become productive members of society.
Each GK village is composed of 50 to 100 houses, with access to clean water, electricity, and a healthy environment. Above all, it is the Pinoy spirit of community and patriotism – manifested by caring, sharing and daring for each other and for our beloved Philippines – that constitutes the most critical factor, and drives kababayans (compatriots) to give of themselves for others in need until it hurts.
Pinoy success stories
GK-ANCOP is surely the biggest Filipino success story in Canada, as measured by its organizational reach, pro-poor advocacies, and positive effects on our hometowns. In Canada, there is evident GO-NGO partnership and strong bonding among Philippine officials and Filipino-Canadian communities• Such cooperative relationships are effectively at work in promoting the caring and sharing reputation of Pinoys wherever they are.
Some outstanding examples of daring Filipino-Canadians merit special mention. Winnipeg’s Dr. Rey Pagtakhan is the most eminent Filipino-Canadian. A specialist in children’s lung diseases, Rey and his bride Gloria Visarra, a nutritionist he met while both were working in St. Louis, Missouri, moved to Manitoba in 1968 where he sought to develop his pediatric health skills. In 20 years of serving in various community roles, Pagtakhan had become the acknowledged leader of the Winnipeg Pinoys and was deemed ripe for political office. As candidate of the then ruling Liberal Party in 1988, Rey was elected to the federal parliament – the first-ever for a Filipino-Canadian. (Fil-Americans who number six times more than Pinoy-Canadians have not won a place in the US Congress, although Fil-Am Ben Cayetano was elected Governor of Hawaii in the 1990s).
Former longtime Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, whom Rey served as Parliamentary Secretary (1996) and Minister of Veterans Affairs (2002), paid the supreme accolade to the poor boy who was educated through the generosity of his community in Cavite and who never forgot his roots, thus: "Rey represents what Canada is all about."
Familiar to boxing aficionados is Rey Fortaleza, Olympic boxer and Asian Games and SEA Games champion who continues to be active as coach to Filipino ring hopefuls and occasional adviser to Manny Pacquiao. From his Vancouver base, Rey’s new forte is in publishing and entertainment as President of Philippine Asian News Today and Philippine Showbiz Today.
Risk-taker Arnold Milan, who sponsors and underwrites the Annual GK-Golf Tournament in Toronto – while not yet a "Tiger" on the fairways – is a proven "Tiger" in business as the majority owner of 20 companies that operate gaming, financial consultancy, and property development enterprises in Canada, the US, China, and Panama.
Beauteous Denise Koh is a physician specializing in Family and Community Medicine. Although raised in Saskatchewan by Pinoy immigrant parents, Dr. Denise practises at several Winnipeg clinics and in hospital-based psychiatry services and personal care homes.
Toronto marketing-man Alfredo Pacis is known as the "Grandmaster Dealer" of "Saladmaster," a Texas-based brand of kitchen appliances popular in Canada, the US, and East Asia because of its "healthy and energy-efficient qualities."
In Canada’s officialdom are also two successful Pinays. Doubling up as tour guide and car driver for our delegation was Justice of the Peace Milagros Eustaquio-Syme of the Central West Region of Ontario. As part of the Ontario Court of Justice, Mila’s official title is "Her Worship." In Manitoba, Flor Marcelino was recently elected – against the boys – to represent the Wellington constituency in the provincial Legislative Assembly.
All of the above – and many, many more – are GK-ANCOP donors, sponsors, and volunteer-workers.
A good model for today’s leaders
In the midst of today’s raging issues involving the economy, impeachment, Joc-joc, budget insertions, divided CBCP... ad nauseum, Filipino-Canadian Rey Pagtakhan emerges as a good model for today’s leaders.
Of Dr. Pagtakhan’s public record, the Toronto Star in 1994 reported: "In six years in Parliament, he has accomplished more than most backbenchers do in an entire career. And he’s done that without making deals, trading favours, or indulging in political theatrics."
Kaya ba ‘nyo ito?
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