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Canadians of Filipino descent
Alex Pagulayan · Lexa Doig · Conrad Santos
Total population
400,000 1.6% of the Canadian population
Regions with significant populations
Southern Ontario, Vancouver, Alberta, Winnipeg
Language(s)
Canadian English, Tagalog, other Philippine languages
Religion(s)
Predominantly Catholic, Other Christian Denominations
Related ethnic groups
Filipino people, Overseas Filipinos, Asian Canadian

Canadians of Filipino descent are typically of South-East Asian Malay descent, with various admixtures of Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Arab, Negrito bloodlines. Filipino-Canadians are also a subgroup of the Overseas Filipinos.

Canada only had a small population of Filipinos until the late 20th century. To date, there are currently around 400,000 Filipino Canadians in Canada, most of them living in urbanized areas. This number is growing yearly due to Canada's more liberal immigration laws to compensate for their low population growth. Filipino-Canadians are the third largest Asian-Canadian group in the nation after the Chinese and Indian communities.

Neighboring country, the United States, has a Filipino American community that is fifteen times larger even with its more rigid and strict immigration policies. Canada receives an average of 10,000 Filipino nationals annually, making them the third-largest immigrant group in the second largest landmassed nation of the world. They are also the third largest Asian Canadian subgroup. Assuming this annual growth, the population is expected to hit 500,000 by 2010.

Contents 1 Filipino Canadian Communities 1.1 Greater Toronto Area 1.2 Vancouver 1.3 Winnipeg 1.4 Calgary 2 Population Distribution 2.1 As of the 2001 Canadian Census 3 Notable Filipino Canadians 3.1 Politicians 3.2 Community Leaders 3.3 Entertainers 3.4 Journalists/Broadcasters 3.5 Writers 3.6 Sports 3.7 Artists 3.8 Others 4 External links

The Greater Toronto Area ("GTA") is home to the largest Filipino community in Canada. Filipinos living in the GTA number around 350,000 making them the fourth largest visible minority behind the Chinese, Indian and Black communities. Tagalog is the 7th most spoken language in the city. Although there is no permanent "Filipino neighbourhood" there is a large population of Filipinos in the Bathurst/Wilson and Jamestown area. There are smaller Filipino populations in the other neighbourhoods such as Mississauga, Scarborough, Markham, Newmarket, and Vaughan. There is also some significant Filipino populations along Steeles Avenue East.

There are many religious, town and sport associations in the Greater Toronto Area. The Greater Toronto Area is home to about 10 Filipino publications, 7 radio shows and 2 television programs. The Filipino Centre Toronto ("FCT") provides health, educational, social and commercial services to the community. It also assists newcomers to the City of Toronto by providing immigration and settlement services. Another organization established for the community is the Philippine Independence Day Council ("PIDC") whose members represent various other associations in Ontario. PIDC organizes numerous events for the Filipino community including the annual Mabuhay Philippines! Toronto Summer Festival.

Filipinos in Vancouver make up the third largest Asian Canadian group behind the Chinese and East Indians. Most of British Columbia's 65,000 Filipinos reside in the Greater Vancouver Area where the jobs are concentrated. They contribute to the city's economy greatly like many of the Asian-Canadians.

The Filipino Community in Winnipeg is the largest visible minority group ahead of the Chinese-Canadians and Indo-Canadians.

Filipinos started coming in droves in Calgary in the early 80's and 90's. They mostly came as professionals and employees of the service industry. Many of them have also established their own family businesses and are contributing greatly to the city's vibrant economy.

Most Filipinos who immigrate to Canada settle in the large urban areas where there are more jobs and a more vibrant community life. These ares include, Greater Vancouver, Calgary/Edmonton Corridor, Winnipeg, Greater Toronto/Southern Ontario and Greater Montreal.

• Toronto - 170,000
• Vancouver - 69,000
• Winnipeg - 31,210
• Montreal - 18,985
• Calgary - 17,455
• Edmonton - 15,035

• Cris Aglugub - Manitoba former NDP MLA, the Maples 1999
• Rey Pagtakhan - First Filipino-Canadian Member of Parliament (1988-2004), First Filipino-Canadian Cabinet Minister (2001-2004)
• Conrad Santos - First Filipino Canadian elected in Canada in 1981 (to the Manitoba Legislature), and First Filipino Canadian to run for the leadership of A political party (Manitoba NDP, 1989)
• Mike Pagtakhan - Winnipeg City Councillor, Point-Douglas Ward (2002-present
• Flor Marcelino - first Filipino woman elected MLA in Manitoba

• Estrellita Aguinaldo - co-founder and current President of the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe and Board of Director for the Philippine Independence Day Council
• Luz Del Rosario - member of the Halton-Peel Grant Review Committee, Past President of Culture Philippines of Ontario, the 2006 Mississauga Citizen of the Year and current Mississauga Public Trustee
• Resty Del Rosario - chairperson of "Spirit of Kalayaan", President of Culture Philippines of Ontario
• Tobias Enverga Jr. - Founder and President of the Lucena City Association of Ontario. (www.geocities.com\lucenacitycanada). Current President of the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), an umbrella organization for over 300 associations in Canada (www.pidctoronto.com)
• Dr Roland Guzman, former Honorary Philippine Consul General in Manitoba
• Edda Pangilinan, current Honorary Philippine Consul of Manitoba
• Alicia Natividad - first Filipino woman admitted to the Ontario Bar and founder of Canada Philippines Business Council
• Rafael Nebres - President, Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (www.pcct.ca) President of Asian-Canadian Entrepreneurs and Professionals, President of PhilCan Athletic Club, Executive Vice President of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Director Bicol Canada Inc. and Vice President of Canada-Philippines Business Council.
• Ching Quejas - President, Kalayaan Community Centre, Mississauga, Ontario.
• Jose Saavedra Jr. - former president of the Association of Filipino-Canadian Accountants (www.afcatoronto.org), former president of the Philippine Independence Day Council(www.pidctoronto.com), former president of the Canadian Multicultural Council of Asians in Ontario (www.cmcasians.com), President of the Leyteno Association of Ontario, current member of the Advisory Council to the Toronto City Police Chief William Blair, Council Member (Board of Director) of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (appointed by the Lt. Governor of Ontario), Chair of the Legal and Legislation Committee and Member of the Discipline Committee.
• Lito Taruc, President, Philippine Association of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Victor Nombrado - Current Artistic Director of the Kayumanggi Philippine Performing Arts - the oldest dance group in Winnipeg since 1970, First Philippine dance group in Manitoba to participate in an International Festival in South of France

• Ramon Torralba - musician (HOTDOG - Philippines' 70's band)
• Joey Albert - singer
• Rey Ann Fuentes - singer/dancer
• Ina Raymundo - actress
• Mikey Bustos - Canadian Idol finalist, singer
• Martha Joy Lim - Canadian Idol finalist, singer of mixed Filipino ancestry
• Cola Guevara - Filipino rapper, male fashion model
• Joseph Acol [Si JP] - First minor (13 yearold) Filipino-Canadian rapper | Si JP's official website
• Eleanor Calbes - world renowned opera singer, founding artistic director of Mississauga City Centre Opera and recipient of Mississauga's musician of the year in 1986
• Lilac Cana - classical singer, writer and producer who performed for Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day celebrations in Toronto www.lilacsounds.com
• Romeo Candido - independent film producer, musician and director.
• Nancy Castiglione - Spokesmodel for Bobson clothing line, TV personality, actress.
• Ma-Anne Dionisio - Theatre actress, best known for her role as Kim in the Canadian Premiere production of Miss Saigon and as Eponine in the US National Tour of Les Miserables
• Lexa Doig - Actress on Stargate SG-1 and Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda
• Philip Guerrero - Known as "PJ Phil" on YTV's The Zone as a host in the mid-1990s
• Emm Gryner - Singer-songwriter of mixed Filipino ancestry
• Rannie Ilag, songwriter from Winnipeg; wrote songs for "Koreantelenovelas" in the Phils including "Ikaw", "Walang ibang Mamahalin and "Handog" among others but the most popular was "Di ko na Kaya" which was the Filipino theme song for Endless Love 2: Winter Sonata)
• D-Skat - Singer, Rapper and Producer. Also Known as Ivy S.
• Ron Josol - Comedian (www.ronjosol.com)
• Elena Juatco - Canadian Idol Finalist, wild card
• Hazel Lorraine - Actress and model who appeared in several movies and Canadian TV shows
• Josie De Leon - Toronto-based singer/songstress. www.JosieDeLeon.com
• Jane McLean - actress
• Chyrell Samson - Toronto-based Singer-Songwriter www.chyrell.com
• Rodney Ronquillo - Toronto-based Singer-Songwriter/Composer/Arranger/Record Producer. www.rodron.com
• Casey and Jennifer Mecija, musicians (Ohbijou)
• Cassie Steele - Actress on Degrassi: The Next Generation
• Edward Timbol - Actor
• Earl Pereira - Wide Mouth Mason bassist
• Leilene Ondrade - Actress/Model
• Alex Steele - Actress
• Joy Olimpo - Television personality/Model/Columnist, best known as co-host of YTV show Girlz TV
• Magdaragat Philippines Incorporated - Filipino dance troupe that performs during Folklorama in Winnipeg
• Nina Lee Aquino - Director/Dramaturge/Playwright/Artistic Director (fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company), www.fu-gen.org)
• Kristoff Abrenica, scholar for ABS-CBN's first season of Pinoy Dream Academy
• BigDeal Productions - First biggest Filipino Rap group in Winnipeg. www.bigdeal-productions.com www.soundclick.com/bigdeal

• Zuraidah Alman - Co-Anchor, Morning News. Global TV Ontario
• Ace Alvarez and Gie Alvarez - Producer and Host of "Front Page Philippines" on OMNI TV. Also the Managing Editor and Associate Editor, respectively, of "Manila Media Monitor" www.manilamediamonitor.com
• Pauline Chan - Anchor CFTO Toronto news
• Ruben Cusipag - publisher of "Balita", the largest Filipino-Canadian community paper in the Greater Toronto Area (www.balita.ca) and recipient of "Most Outstanding Filipino-Canadian" award
• Marianne Dimain, news reporter, Anchor for CP24 News, Toronto
• Jennifer Ellson - host and writer for "Mabuhay Pilipinas" on CHTV Montreal; journalist for The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), Forbes Asia (Singapore); Russian Newsweek (Moscow); The Sun (Toronto, Ontario); Philippine Daily Inquirer (Manila); "Most Outstanding Young Filipino-Canadian" awardee in 1998
• Zenaida Ferry-Kharoubi - publisher and editor of "Filipino Star" and owner of Gilmore College (Montreal, Quebec)
• Hermie Garcia - publisher and editor of The Philippine Reporter (www.philreporter.com)
• Melissa Grelo - news reporter, Anchor for CP 24 News, Toronto
• Emmie Joaquin,Publisher and Editor of Pilipino Express (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Eddie Lee - publisher and editor of "Atin Ito" (Toronto, Ontario)
• Bin Kon Loo - publisher and editor of Filipiniana News (Toronto, Ontario)
• Richard Madan - Business/Money Specialist CityNews and CP24, Toronto
• Hazel Mae - former Rogers Sportsnet anchor
• Fred Magallanes - publisher and editor of "Filipino Forum" (Montreal, Quebec)
• Flor Marcelino, Publisher and Editor of Philippine Times (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Rosalinda Natividad-Cantiveros - Long time resident of Winnipeg and Editor-in-Chief of the Filipino Journal - Winnipeg's longest running Filipino-ethnic newspaper.
• Sharon Navarro - Anchor
• Matet Nebres - reporter for CFTO Toronto
• Kris Reyes - news reporter, Anchor for CP24 News, Toronto
• Michael Serapio - associate producer for CTV programs including Canada AM, Sunday Edition, The Giller Awards and many others.
• Marivel Taruc - Anchor CBC News Morning
• Joe Sulit, Lito Taruc, Chester Pangan, Lucille Nolasco, Sheryll Dandan-Zamora, Jun Rivera and Donna Natividad-Arenas, program producers/hosts for Filipino programs aired over CKJS 810 AM, a multilingual radio station in Winnipeg, Manitoba that caters to diversed cultural origins and ethnic groups
• Nicole Reyes - Co Host for NBA XL on Rogers Sportsnet
• Rob Dela Cruz- Co-Anchor, Philippine Sundae (1997-1999)

• C. E. Gatchalian - playwright, poet, fictionist
• Primrose Madayag Knazan - playwright, published author, native of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

• Alex Pagulayan - 2004 World Pool Champion
• Edwin Montal - Pool Player
• Jonathan de Guzmán - midfielder for Feyenoord Rotterdam
• Julian de Guzmán - professional soccer player

• Josephine Liwanag Geronimo - portraitist [1]
• Rod Dioso - professional digital artist [2]
• Nestor Gutierrez - painter [3]
• Romi C. Mananquil - professional artist and founder of the Philippine Artists Group [4]. His art work was used in the 1 and 2 peso coin in the Philippines and his 5 peso vignette called "Declaration of Philippine Independence" was also used in the 100,000 peso centennial note, a Guinness Book of Record holder [5]
• Francis Manapul - comic book artist for Top Cow

• Dr. Romulo Magsino - Former Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba. Now a Dean Emeritus.
• Dr. Roberto S. Clemente - Prominent researcher in the field of Agricultural Engineering.
• Virginia Guiang - Long-time community volunteer, inducted to the Order of Manitoba in 2004, current Executive Director - Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba.
• Nelia Laroza - First Canadian nurse to die from SARS on June 29, 2003 - North York General Hospital
• Melanio Catre Sr. - founder and former President of National Congress of Filipino Canadian Associations, former Board of Directors Ontario Place, Former Board of Directors Canadian National Exhibition, Former Member Toronto Police Commission - Race Relations

• Filipino Canadian Online Community
• History of Filipino Canadians
• Oyaye.com Filipino Social Networking Community Abroad
• Filipino Canadian Newspaper in Manitoba
• Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba
• Philippine Independence Day Council Toronto
• Filipino Centre Toronto
• Atin Ito Newspaper in Toronto
• Manila Media Monitor Newspaper in Toronto
• Filipino Star Magazine in Montreal
• Lucena City Association of Canada

v • d • e Overseas Filipinos
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South Asian origin	Canadians of Indian descent · Canadians of Pakistani origin · Canadians of Sri Lankan origin · Canadians of Tamil ethnicity
Southeast Asian origin	Canadians of Filipino descent · Canadians of Laotian descent · Canadians of Vietnamese descent