Category Archives: Views From The Fence

Hepatitis C Awareness Among Filipinos

       Two weeks ago, a presentation on Hepatitis C awareness was held at the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians Center in Markham. 14 women and three men, all Filipinos, attended it. The information-giving session was made possible by the Canadian Ethnocultural Council in collaboration with the Canadian Liver Foundation, with the cooperation of the Markham Federation of Filipino… Read More »

Do not forget the vulture!

I was deeply touched by the message in the homily given by the assistant pastor in my church last week that I feel I should share it with my readers. He told a story of two fierce animals in the jungle – a tiger and a lion – which got engaged in a fight. Both were strong, powerful… Read More »

Persistence in Filipino Youth

I came across a newsletter issued by one of the Filipino organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, with colourful pictures of gatherings at Torres High School, my secondary school alma mater. The pictures featured many alumni from Canada and from the United States attending the graduation exercise this year. I know that several groups from Canada and the… Read More »

Michael Jackson’s search for his childhood

“I want people to think of me as a person, not a personality” Michael Jackson Organizers of the Michael Jackson Memorial held July 7, 2009, were nervous. Would it be mourning or a celebration? Would the crowd be uncontrollable? One and a half million applied for a ticket to attend; the venue could only accommodate twenty thousand. There… Read More »

Symbols in our Lives

I was passing by a small flower shop inside the Finch Subway when my attention was caught by a row of sampagita plants in pots. The label was jasmine, but I know it was the Philippine sampagita with its small white sweet-scented blossoms. I know many of us grow them indoors during the cold weather and put them… Read More »

Filipino oppression through the centuries

“Your heart will tell you that you can’t let it go and that you have to challenge the oppressor.” Pura Velasco, Toronto Star, April 3, 2009 Her face dominated the front page of the Toronto Star on April 3, 2009 as she expressed her jubilation over the announcement that the Ontario Government is going to introduce legislation to… Read More »