by Cress Vasquez
After Dr. Rey Pagtakhan left his seat in the House of Commons in 2004, no other Filipino-Canadian came after him. However, this is about to change.
Toronto lawyer Rafael Fabregas, or “Raffy” to his friends, is running for the Federal Liberal Party nomination in Scarborough Centre.
Although there are 500,000 Filipino-Canadians in Canada, they remain among the most under represented immigrant groups in local, provincial and Federal politics, not to mention also that they are among the most educated immigrants in Canada.
Fabregas is a lawyer at Egan LLP on Bay Street, Toronto, a BA graduate at the University of Toronto, LLB graduate at OsgoodHallLawSchool, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Ontario Bar Association.
Recent statistics show that 218,660 Filipino-Canadians live in Ontario, of which 185,085 of them reside in Toronto.
Fabregas might be young but he is a veteran in helping the sick and the less fortunate in the community. He demonstrated this not too long ago when he fought pro bono for a dying care-giver, Juana Tejada, who faced deportation because of her illness. The outcry that ensued from the Filipino community prompted the government to reverse itself allowing Tejada to stay until she died.
He is married to Monique and a father to daughter Talia, 11, and twin sons, Koen and Garon, 5.
Fabregas has also written authoritatively on Citizenship and Immigration issues. His work had received recognition from his peers and his community. He received awards on Immigration Law, as a Lawyer of Distinction, Top 25 Canadian Immigrants, and Outstanding Young Professional in the Filipino-Canadian Community.
He is also a product of UP-Los Baños, La Salle-Zobel, and Ateneo de Davao in the Philippines.
The riding Fabregas is representing covers the area West of Victoria Park until Bellamy Road to the East, South of the 401 until the area bounded by hydro transmission lines and South of Warden Road.
Filipinos wishing to help Fabregas may contact by email Monique (monique@rafaelfabregas.ca) with their day or evening contact information, or email Amy at amy@rafaelfabregas.ca or call her at 416.648.0554.
Donors may
write their cheques payable to Fred Gamboa / Financial Agent and note at the bottom left part of the cheque the text: For RFabregas/MP Nominee and mail it to:
Fred Gamboa/Financial Agent
c/o Alice B. Herrera
166 Bonspiel Dr.
Toronto, ON
M1E 5K4