While bigger Canadian cities still attract and retain most immigrants from the Philippines, there are growing Filipino communities in smaller municipalities and remote areas in all Provinces and Territories primarily because of employment opportunities in health care, retail, service, education, agriculture and food production.
In personal travels within Canada, not only do we meet Filipinos serving in restaurants and rest stops, but also found Filipinos owning and running their own establishments.
Filipinos in Manitoba
In Manitoba, there are concrete examples of growth away from big urban areas. The biggest Filipino communities outside Winnipeg are in Steinbach and nearby municipalities south/southeast of Winnipeg (i.e. Winkler, Morden, Morris, Altona), and in Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Neepawa and their surrounding areas that are westward from Winnipeg.
Growth in the said areas is strong, and pockets of communities are starting to establish in farther towns to the north such as Dauphin and The Pas.
In Pursuit of a Better Life
Having known and experience the strong desire of Filipinos for a better life, I am not surprised to find out that some will accept opportunities in remote areas many hours away by car or plane from the nearest urban center.
It is both admirable and sad that some would go to extreme situations to pursue their dreams.
This is true not only in North America but also in many places around the world whose climate or condition is not as comfortable as that of the Philippines…and yet you find our people there.
This is why conversations about improving the lot in life for those who toil and not afraid to go after their goals must be started.
Because Filipinos came to Canada not to be slaves, but to create a better life for themselves and their families in their new home.
“Filipinos came to Canada not to be slaves, but to create a better life for themselves and their families in their new home. “
We came here to become free from poverty or strife or turmoil, and to happily contribute to the betterment of our new home who gave us another chance.
A new level of thinking and doing must be recognized. Because those willing to work hard at improving their lot in life merit some boost from benevolent forces in the universe.
Payag ka bang mag-level up, kabayan?
