Battlefords celebrates Filipino Heritage Month

“We get used to the snow, because in the Philippines it’s plus 40 [Celsius] and here it’s -40,” Mariano said with a laugh.

Ong works as a continuing care aide at the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford, while his wife is employed at Battlefords Union Hospital in admitting.

Volunteering in the community is important to Ong. At one time he was an on-call part-time firefighter here for a year or two when he was able. He is currently a member the Ionic Lodge #31 in North Battleford.

This year Ong received the Royal Canadian Humane Association Silver Medal Award for Bravery for his humanitarian efforts.

Ong said assisting others is an important value in the Filipino culture. He added his culture’s values are founded on hospitality and showing respect for one another, so it’s important for him to do his part.

“We like to help people in our community,” Ong said.

Erwina Restrivera, also from Manila, came to the Battlefords in 2008. She works as a continuing care aide at Saskatchewan Hospital, and also is involved in running the Kalye food truck in North Battleford, serving traditional Filipino cuisine.

“The response from the community and all the travellers is really good,” she said.

Restrivera and her husband have three children, so they are kept busy with their life here.

She invites people to visit their food truck near Splish Splash on June 12 and try a traditional Filipino dish.

Restrivera mentioned she is glad to see more grocery stores in the Battlefords starting to sell more varieties of Filipino food products so she can shop close to home.

Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre president Ben Feist thanks the Filipino community for all their contributions to making the Battlefords “a better place to live.”

He said many Filipino-Canadians and newcomers have been working in essential services such as healthcare and the service industry in the Battlefords during the pandemic.

“They are working in different places in our community, and contributing during what has been a very difficult time in many ways for people,” he said.

The Filipino population is the third largest community in the Battlefords, and the second largest visible minority group.

“They make up a large group in our community, and are an important part of our community here in the Battlefords,” Feist said.

He noted some new businesses were started during the pandemic from people of Filipino heritage as well, so he appreciates their support to the community.

The federal government has proclaimed June as Filipino-Canadian Month. The City of Saskatoon also declared the month as well, with the flag of the Philippines flying at Civic Square in Saskatoon this week to honour the Filipino community in Saskatchewan.

Rosalee Apostol is co-president of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Saskatchewan (FILCAS) based in Saskatoon.

Apostol said the Battlefords is a popular place for newcomers from the Philippines as it offers plenty of opportunities for employment.

“I have clients from my work who are from the Battlefords, and they like it there,” she said. “They like the community.”

Apostol invites people to visit the FILCAS (Filipino-Canadian Association of Saskatchewan) Facebook Page June 19 for a virtual live music festival featuring Filipino talent. She said on June 26, there will be a special TV show on Shaw TV highlighting the activities during the month.

“We really just appreciate that [people] are giving importance to our Filipino heritage,” Apostol said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Battlefords celebrates Filipino Heritage Month

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