Manitoba Filipinos look for candidates to offer hope in Philippines presidential race

Even though the Philippines is over 12,000 kilometres away, many members of Manitoba's Filipino community arestill very much engagedin the upcomingPhilippines presidential election.

Among the candidates in the May 9 election areFerdinand Marcos Jr.,the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, current vice-presidentLeni Robredo and retired boxing legendManny Pacquiao, who is now a senator.

At rallies held in Winnipeg over the last two weeks, hundreds of people came out to show support for their preferred candidate.

More rallies are planned for other presidential candidates, including one for Marcosthis comingweekend.

Dante Aviso organized a rally insupport of Robredoheldin Winnipeg lastweekend.

Aviso,a dual citizen of Canada and the Philippines, says being able to vote in the election is important. He saysrelatives and friendsin the Philippines are suffering because of terrible economic conditions.

"The Philippines has been beset by all these calamitiesthe pandemic, the high unemployment rate, the level of lawlessness and the criminality," he said.

He isn't happy with the current state of political affairs under President Rodrigo Duterte, and says the Philippines can't afford any more corruption.

Robredo,he says, is the "only hope and the only true leader who can help and uplift as the Filipino people."

Duterte, known for his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, brash rhetoric and unorthodox political style,can't run for another term under the country'sconstitution.

Looking forconcrete plans

According to thePhilippine consulate general of Toronto, there are just over 39,000 people in Manitoba, western Ontario and Toronto who areregistered to vote in theelection.

Mail-in ballots for the May 9 presidential and vice-presidential elections were sent out to Philippines citizens living abroad during the second week of April, according to the embassy of the Philippines in Ottawa. They need to be received by the consulate general in Toronto by May 9in order to be considered an eligible vote.

Orlando Marcelino, the former Philippine consulate general of Winnipeg,isn't eligible to vote in the election. Hecame to Winnipeg in 1982 and is now a Canadian citizen.

But he knows first-hand how conditions back in the Philippines affectimmigrants and overseas Filipinoworkers here in Manitoba.

Family members in Canada often send money to their relatives in the Philippines. Marcelino said because much of the population of the Philippines is living in squalor, they need the help.

But it comes at a cost families have less income to support themselves in Canada.

"What happens to you now? You don't have any savings for your retirement. That's the connection," said Marcelino.

Marcelinosaidelections bring hope to the Filipino community. Even though people have differences in who they're supporting, it seems the community wantsthe same thing an honest leader who will work to improve the country's conditions for its impoverished population, he says.

His wife, Flor who was an NDP member of the Manitoba legislative assemblyfrom 2007 to 2019 says this particular election is different. The country has gone through several natural calamities on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it needs more from its leadership to bring the country to better times, she says.

"People are really hoping that there's someone who could provide hope, assurance, as well as concrete plans to alleviate the situation of the people."

'People are now awake,' says international student

International student LeoniloSantiago III says hehopes the new president will fixcorruptionin Filpino politics.

"The common denominator that I feel like [we're]looking for [in a new leader] is the strength. Because we are in hard times,"said Santiago, who is studying at Red River College in Winnipeg.

Hehoped to vote but didn't register in time, since his plans to study in Winnipeg hadn't been finalized by the time registration for overseas votingended in September.

Even though he can'tvote, he's following the election closely and speakingto his friends and family back in the Philippines about it.

"I think it's great that Filipinos [living in Canada] still exercise their right to vote. It is our civic duty," he said.

Santiago has seen a change in the attitudes of Filipinos toward politics. This election feels different more people are paying attention, he says.

"I feel like in this case, people are talking about the election not just because they have friends and family there, but also because they care for Filipinos in general."

Santiago believesthe struggles everyonefaced during the pandemic made people more empathetic and aware of the well-being of others.

"We hear [about people suffering] all the time. People are now awake."

WATCH |Manitobans rally forcandidates in Philippines presidential election:

Manitoba's Filipino community rallies to support candidates in upcoming election

2 years ago

Duration 2:04

Even though the Philippines is over 12,000 kilometres away, many members of Manitoba's Filipino community are still very much involved in the upcoming Philippines presidential election.