Flor Marcelino
31 May 2007
MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO FLOR MARCELINO, FIRST FILIPINO WOMAN MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IN MANITOBA
As overseas Filipino workers, women and youth in Canada we send our warmest greetings of congratulations to Flor Marcelino, who last week became the first woman of Filipino heritage elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), in Wellington, Manitoba.
We know MLA Marcelino to be a progressive human rights advocate and a supporter of positive social change. She has continued in the tradition of Canadians who have readily provided support for genuine human rights and democracy in the Philippines when she returned to the Philippines on an International Solidarity Mission (ISM) in July 2002 organized by BAYAN MUNA (People First) political partylist.
MLA Marcelino also has a long-standing history of progressive work for the Filipino community both in Winnipeg and beyond.
In 2000, she played a role in organizing the first-ever national conference of Filipino-Canadians held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Under the theme, “Unity In Our History, Struggle And Resistance Towards The Genuine Freedom Of All Filipinos”, Filipinos came from across the country to examine the struggles Filipinos are experiencing in attaining their genuine development, equality and full participation in a multicultural Canada.
MLA Marcelino’s electoral victory comes at a critical moment in the Filipino community’s history in Canada.
Filipinos are currently the fourth largest visible minority community in Canada. The majority of whom are recently-arrived Filipino women who make up over 90% of those entering Canada as live-in caregivers under Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).
Chronic and emerging issues of poverty, economic segregation, racism, violence, lack of access to education and other social services hamper the Filipino community’s genuine equality and full participation in Canadian society.
Therefore, as one of the fastest growing immigrant communities in Canada, we are excited to see the halls of a Legislative Assembly begin to open its doors to one of our community members.
We also look forward to working with MLA Marcelino as she continues to serve the interests of the community and the cause of human rights and social change as a policy-maker and elected official.
Message of:
*National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada
Philippine Women Centre of B.C., Philippine Women Centre of Manitoba, Philippine Women Centre of Quebec, PINAY-Montreal, Philippine Women Centre of Ontario, Filipino Nurses Support Group-Vancouver
*SIKLAB-Canada
SIKLAB-Vancouver, SIKLAB-Montreal, SIKLAB-Toronto
*Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance - National
Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance-Vancouver, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance-Toronto, Kabataang Montreal (Montreal Youth)
MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO FLOR MARCELINO, FIRST FILIPINO WOMAN MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IN MANITOBA
As overseas Filipino workers, women and youth in Canada we send our warmest greetings of congratulations to Flor Marcelino, who last week became the first woman of Filipino heritage elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), in Wellington, Manitoba.
We know MLA Marcelino to be a progressive human rights advocate and a supporter of positive social change. She has continued in the tradition of Canadians who have readily provided support for genuine human rights and democracy in the Philippines when she returned to the Philippines on an International Solidarity Mission (ISM) in July 2002 organized by BAYAN MUNA (People First) political partylist.
MLA Marcelino also has a long-standing history of progressive work for the Filipino community both in Winnipeg and beyond.
In 2000, she played a role in organizing the first-ever national conference of Filipino-Canadians held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Under the theme, “Unity In Our History, Struggle And Resistance Towards The Genuine Freedom Of All Filipinos”, Filipinos came from across the country to examine the struggles Filipinos are experiencing in attaining their genuine development, equality and full participation in a multicultural Canada.
MLA Marcelino’s electoral victory comes at a critical moment in the Filipino community’s history in Canada.
Filipinos are currently the fourth largest visible minority community in Canada. The majority of whom are recently-arrived Filipino women who make up over 90% of those entering Canada as live-in caregivers under Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).
Chronic and emerging issues of poverty, economic segregation, racism, violence, lack of access to education and other social services hamper the Filipino community’s genuine equality and full participation in Canadian society.
Therefore, as one of the fastest growing immigrant communities in Canada, we are excited to see the halls of a Legislative Assembly begin to open its doors to one of our community members.
We also look forward to working with MLA Marcelino as she continues to serve the interests of the community and the cause of human rights and social change as a policy-maker and elected official.
Message of:
*National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada
Philippine Women Centre of B.C., Philippine Women Centre of Manitoba, Philippine Women Centre of Quebec, PINAY-Montreal, Philippine Women Centre of Ontario, Filipino Nurses Support Group-Vancouver
*SIKLAB-Canada
SIKLAB-Vancouver, SIKLAB-Montreal, SIKLAB-Toronto
*Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance - National
Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance-Vancouver, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance-Toronto, Kabataang Montreal (Montreal Youth)