A New Beginning: Filipino Heritage in Toronto

The Philippines is a nation of islands in Southeast Asia that is home to a diverse range of cultures and dialects. The country has a long colonial history. It was part of the Spanish empire for 300 years and later a United States territory from 1898 to 1946, when it became an independent republic.

The political and economic instability that followed the decade after they gained independence forced many Filipinos to leave the country, creating large expatriate communities in the United States and Canada.

English, an official language of the Philippines, was taught in schools and became widely used in state affairs and business, making Filipinos well equipped to work in North America. American-Philippine exchange programs gave many women with specialized training in healthcare the ability to get US work visas.

Some came with family and others alone, St. James Town, an affordable high-rise community at Bloor and Parliament Streets, was a popular destination for Filipino newcomers. Many of the Filipinos who arrived in Toronto were practicing Catholics. The Our Lady of Lourdes church on Parliament Street in St. James Town became an important part of the budding community.

The church was home to the Filipino Christian Workers group, which helped newcomers transition to life in Toronto. In 1971, the group became the Silayan Community Centre, an apolitical, not-for-profit organization separate from the church.

Listen to hear more about the Silaylan Community Centres impact on the Filipino population in Toronto from their president, Leonora Taculad:

Silayan is a word in the Filipino language Tagalog that means “new dawn” or “new day.” The community centre needed to become religiously and politically neutral because of the volatile political climate in the Philippines. As well as helping newcomers transition, the organization connected newcomers to social networks and helped them file taxes, understand legal issues, and navigate government and social services.

In addition to regular community services, the community centre helped issue and renew Filipino passports before a local embassy was established. It also offered crisis services and had a social worker for parents and children.

In the 1990s, the centre built three co-operative housing developments in the Greater Toronto Area that provided vital accommodation for those struggling financially. The Silayan Centre also played a key role in organizing cultural events and festivities, giving the Filipino community an opportunity to celebrate their heritage.

Becoming a caregiver provides a path to Canadian citizenship and an opportunity to bring family later. Caregivers play an important role in Canadian families. Those who care for kids can become a major influence on the child’s development and socialization.

Filipino workers have been pioneers of social pluralism, bringing different perspectives to culturally-isolated homes.

Listen to Carl Francis discuss his experiences as a live-in caregiver:

Many lived with their employers and in the event of a conflict found their contracts could be suddenly terminated, affecting their ability to apply for permanent residency. In the 1980s, the Coalition of Visible Minority Women advocated for the right of caregivers to stay in Canada after their contracts ended.

Maintaining close ties with distant family is important to Filipinos living in Canada and they often ship home large cardboard boxes stuffed with gifts and sundries, known as Balikbayans. Often the boxes contain canned food, clothes, toys, and other surprises.

The Filipinos who chose to become caregivers in this country displayed courage on their journey and they have contributed to the health, stability, and development of many Toronto families.

Listen to Carl Francis discuss how his work affects him:

Prior to the 1960s, Toronto’s population was mostly of British and Irish descent and discrimination against non-white people was common. When Canada’s immigration policies changed, Toronto transformed, becoming a city world famous for its cultural and ethnic diversity. Since launching in 2012, this youth-led project has collected and told the stories of nine Toronto’s immigrant communities.The above story of the Filipino community was written by Tyson Brown and Ysabel Espina and edited for length by Heritage Toronto staff.

Read the unabridged story in Tagalog here.