TORONTO, CANADA – Filipinos are today considered the fourth largest minority group in Canada, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area. The need to maintain community communication increases as their number expands numerically, economically, socially, and politically.
The rapid growth of the community in the early 1970s brought a need to bring the Filipinos together and strengthen their connectedness through the Filipino community newspapers.
Thanks to early Filipino journalist immigrants who dedicated themselves to keeping people abreast of numerous topics in the Philippines and Canada, from labor issues to daily gossip to politics to international issues of concern to the local Filipino population.
The central figure in Filipino-Canadian community journalism is 68 year-old Ruben Cusipag, a veteran journalist who was detained as a political prisoner during in the early days of Martial Law in the Philippines in 1972. Unable to bear the repressive atmosphere, Cusipag immigrated to Canada by late 1974.
In 1976, he was a co-founder of Atin Ito, one of the first Filipino-Canadian newspapers where he wrote political editorials condemning the situation in the Philippines.
He put up his own publication, Balita, in 1978. Cusipag’s views evolved over time, from assertive politics to a milder apolitical tone, and Balita lived up to its promise to provide “frank, sincere, and honest-to-goodness discussion of the Philippine problem.”
He made a distinct effort for an equitable and balanced perspective on the issues. Balita played a key role in exposing abuses of the Marcos regime back home. Then it concentrated on reporting local news, focusing on issues that concerned Filipino-Canadians.
Among Ruben Cusipag’s countless awards for exemplary work as a journalist is “Most Outstanding Filipino-Canadian.”
By then Balita had become the vehicle of transplanted journalists and writers from the home country, as well as training ground and start for most younger journalists, editors and others in the now numerous Filipino community publications in Toronto, Canada.
Meanwhile, Cusipag has also written articles for the Canadian mainstream media. He is often sought out by Canadian dailies, radio and television when there’s a major newsbreak in the Filipino Canadian Community or in the Philippines.
In 1993, he wrote the book “Portrait of Filipino Canadians in Ontario (1960-1990)”. It was his homage to the hardworking compatriots he dealt with during his early years as an immigrant in Canada.
Unfortunately, Cusipag had a car accident in 1996, and had to stay in the hospital for therapy while his wife Tess took over supervision of the newspaper.
“Through these community newspapers, Filipino-Canadians strengthened their community, explored identity, and organized to overcome obstacles,” says Tess Cusipag. A teacher by profession, she had no choice but to continue her husband’s mission, even resigning as executive assistant for a Canadian firm.
“I love my husband and I love serving to the Filipino community that is why I am struggling to continue what has been started,” she said. Spreading the news, fulfillment.
As the Filipino community grows, so are Filipino newspapers multiplying. Success stories of Filipino-Canadians are now a staple, be they businessmen, entertainers, executives, entrepreneurs, or leaders of the Church, youth, sports or academe.
Antero Soriano, President of the Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO), says there are at least 13 Filipino community newspapers in Ontario alone. Most of them are concentrated in the Greater Toronto area. (There’s only one radio station in Pilipino, run by the Anglican Church.)
“These community newspapers are more about bringing people together,” Soriano says, explaining they don’t run the paper to make a profit but to “help bridge a gap.”
All Filipino newspapers in Ontario are free pick up copies. They are placed in Filipino establishments, groceries, offices, restaurants, and even dropped by doorsteps.
“We realized the need for free press information that will not inform only but will give pleasure and amusement while reading articles here and back home,” he said.
Majority of the Filipino newspapers are about 30 to 45 pages, some even 70 pages, published monthly or biweekly.
“We don’t compete each other. The existence of these newspapers is helping keep us all informed of what is happening in our homeland as well as what is happening in the Filipino community here in Canada,” Soriano stressed.
Aside from news articles, expose, columns and special reports, community newspapers in Canada publicize events like parties, inductions balls or ceremonies, birthdays, and even heavy load of advertisements.
Among these newspapers is “The Philippine Reporter,” whose publisher and editor Hermie Garcia is very proud that its 17 years of publication has been awarded Best Editorial and Design by the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada in 2003.
His efforts paved way in promoting Philippine traditions and the interests of Filipino community, multiculturalism, human rights, and respect for human values, integrity and equality among all Canadians.
“We have a strong impact on the Filipino community. We always aim for that,” Garcia said. He added that his paper’s perspective takes strong stances on labor disputes, political issues and discrimination, confronting Filipino problems, not passively watching issues he feels strongly about.
“By publicizing and protesting the discrimination against Filipino workers, political and other issues, we are showing concern for the Filipino community and our desire to improve their condition,” Garcia said.
As for Tess Cusipag, she says community newspapers will always be a vehicle to bring Filipinos together: “We will always be here to influence change for the benefit of our community and for the generations to come.” (Inquirer News Service)
(Originally appeared on Thursday, April 05, 2007)