The Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC) epitomizes the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos overseas. Established in 10 April 1989, its founding members initially planned activities to bring together the increasing number of Filipinos residing in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It was the start of MFFC’s commitment to serve the Filipinos and contribute to the vitality of the town of Markham.
Recognizing the need for a center that will serve as home for family and group events however, MFFC started acquisition of a building in 1995, which was fully paid by 2003. Ethnocultural groups use the facility for their activities, and government agencies use it to hold functions when they reach out to Filipino communities. As a tribute to Dr. Jose Rizal, one of the function rooms was named Rizal Hall which regularly hosts a celebration with activities such as cultural presentations, symposia, arts, and literary contests to commemorate the birth and death of the national hero.
Fulfilling every Filipinos’ dream of making a symbolic mark in its host country, MFFC succeeded in its lobby efforts in June 2004 when the Markham Town Council named a street Rizal Avenue in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal, known to be the only public recognition for a Filipino in Canada. It again worked successfully when the Markham Town Council proclaimed Philippine Week to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day in Markham. Every year, since 1989, MFFC has led the Filipino community in this celebration in the Greater Toronto Area ushering it with a flag raising ceremony at the town hall, and a cultural program showcasing Filipino arts, music and dance.
MFFC offers services to Filipino-Canadians from all walks of life – adults, children, youth, seniors, and newcomers. Among their significant activities are the Youth Mentorship Project, workshop on Cross-Cultural Understanding, lecture on Legal Rights for Seniors and the Newcomers Orientation Program for Filipino immigrants, workers and their families. It also helped in raising funds for Markhaven Home for Seniors, educational assistance for Filipino students in Canada, purchase of land for San Lorenzo Ruiz Filipino Community Centre and construction of a new building of YMCA in Markham. From 1995 to 1996, MFFC became a partner of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the immigration office of the Canadian government, in establishing an experimental “one-step processing and integrated sponsorship” project to shorten processing of pending application for family sponsorship. With this, MFFC assisted around 110 applicants in completing their application and several more continue to benefit from the project.
MFFC has led in advocating for the protection and welfare of the Filipino victims of crimes in Canada. It became the prime mover in the fight to address racism and harassment of Filipino youth at the Scarborough Town Center Mall in 1993. It was also at the forefront in seeking justice for the murder of some Filipinos in Canada, and raised funds for the scholarship of the surviving children of one of the victims. When a Markham politician made racist remarks against the Chinese, MFFC was the first to take up the cause and led the fight until it became an international issue.
Aside from its contribution to Filipinos in Canada, MFFC has organized several fund-raising activities that helped countrymen in the Philippines. Most notable was the Love in Action, Fund-Raising Dinner for Philippine Disaster Relief, a dinner event organized by MFFC in partnership with the Federation of Chinese Canadians and the York Regional Police in March 2006. The event which was attended by more than 450 dignitaries raised the amount of $125,000.00 for the victims of mudslides in Guinsaugon, Leyte.
In conferring the Banaag Award to Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians, the President recognizes its outstanding contribution to preserving Filipino identity and values, and Filipino solidarity in Markham, Ontario, and its contribution and service to countrymen in the Philippines.
