~ Of the 60,000 commemorative medals awarded to the Queen’s subjects in Canada, about 44 went to Filipinos across the country. In Toronto, there were less than 20 recipients, mostly through the courtesy of their political backers. But what is outstanding is that very few hurdled the bar of making “a significant contribution” that brings credit to Canada. The truly deserving of the recognition must have been no more than five – the creme de la creme of the community. To me, the five individuals – a soprano, a painter, a priest, a dentist and a community leader – embody the true ideals of a world-class Filipino.
‘When it rains, it pours’
TORONTO – The idiom, says the dictionary, means that when things go wrong, a lot of things go wrong at the same time.
It rained, and it continues to pour, on the 60th anniversary of the ascension of Elizabeth II to the throne as Queen of the United Kingdom, of Canada and of the other 53 realms in the Commonwealth.
The rain isn’t water that falls from the clouds, however; it’s a rain of silver-coloured medals, all 60,000 of them, sprinkled far and wide from west to east across Canada.
The medals are part of the glorious commemoration of Her Majesty’s 60th year, from February 6, 1952, as monarch of a dominion so vast “the sun never sets”.
Recipients, either citizens or permanent residents, of the medals supposedly “made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community, or has made an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada”.
That requirement has suddenly become a contentious issue in the months following the award by David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, of the first 58 medals on Feb. 6, 2013 in Ottawa.
Some recipients failed to live up to the standard, according to published media reports. “They are a disgrace,” wrote Toronto Sun columnist Warren Kinsella.
A man facing criminal charges in Surrey was presented with a medal, thanks to his Conservative MP. A woman in jail and a local politician convicted of corruption also got theirs. All in all, there are less than 10 individuals who received their medals under questionable circumstances.
But while there are shady characters among the awardees, there are also those who returned or refused to receive their medals. At least three prominent Canadians gave them back, namely, author Naomi Klein, singer Sarah Slean and citizens’ group head Maude Barlow mainly to show support for the Idle No More protests.
The Filipino communities across Canada, from British Columbia to Manitoba to Ontario to Quebec, were also beneficiaries. As far as could be gathered now – before the Office of the Governor General officially tallies everything – forty-four (44) Filipinos were listed as having received the medals in various capacities.
Some names evoke wide acclaim for the recognition because they truly are worthy. Others understandably fuel doubt. Still other recipients spark derision.
The fingers of one hand are enough to point out the deserving from this group of 44, if I may say so, based on my perception.
In my list, I only have five out of 44, namely: Fr. Ben Ebcas, Pastor of Our Lady of Assumption Church (OLA) and Director of the Archdiocesan Filipino Catholic Mission; Eleanor Calbes, the internationally-celebrated soprano; Romy Mananquil, painter and visual artist; Linda Javier, a true community leader and president of Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT); and Victoria Santiago, a dentist who goes out of her profession to help the community.
Nobody comes close to what they’re doing and continue to do for the community. For example, Eleanor Calbes, who has raised the Filipino profile in the international scene through her singing voice heard in operas the world over. The same is true with Romy Mananquil, the soft-spoken painter whose brush strokes convey a brilliance of mind and an artistry that parallels the masters.
In these five we find the embodiment of a true Filipino. They uplift the community. They certainly can light a candle to anyone in the mainstream. If only because of them, the community should feel proud. Their prestige lends honor to the medal.
While we celebrate them, let’s not forget that there were those who were honored on the strength of their friendship and close proximity to people in the corridors of power. In that case, however, it’s the medal that adds value to their names and questionable community standing, if that could be said at all.
The indiscriminate grant by politicians and wannabe leaders to their friends and patrons has somewhat cheapened the medal. It’s embarrassing for Queen Elizabeth.
In the Filipino community, I can’t find something solid that can justify the phrase “significant contribution” as a ground to receive the medal. Except the five, of course.
A big number have built up their fame and name by having their pictures constantly splashed in the local papers. A few have notched up their stock by being photographed with high government officials. There are also those who are notorious for clinging to politicians of different hues.
Then there are officials of community associations who refused to share any knowledge of the bounty they reap from exploiting our womenfolk through promises of glory and fame.
I leave it to my readers to decide what to make of the people in the list. If you think the grant of a medal to some of them is offensive, please let me know and we will try to find out how they managed to do it.
But then, except for the five recipients who I honestly believe deserve it – Fr. Ben Ebcas, Eleanor Calbes, Romy Mananquil, Linda Javier and Dr. Victoria Santiago – I’d like to ask my readers to see the name in the list of the Philippine Consulate and those published in newspapers.
Not that I’d puke seeing people, particularly a couple, holding up the medals as a boast of their self-worth, it is just not right to dishonor the Queen.