The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Monday, September 16, 2013
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TOBIAS ENVERGA JR.
The Filipino Spectacle in Canada's Senate
By CARLOS PADILLA
Guest Writer
“Filipino Canadians are
known for their hard work, dedication, warm hearts and, most of all, for being
the best at karaoke". - Excerpt from Tobias Enverga Jr.'s speech to the Senate of Canada.
T ORONTO - Deleting the part “and, most of all, for being the best at karaoke", the remaining phrases are commonly used by politicians to their
Filipino audience. Either these politicians have the same speech writer or they
have no interest knowing their Filipino constituents. They have no time for us.
They have no interest in knowing us. The question is why?
Is it because we are
contented being known as hard workers and hospitable? Are we trying to
ingratiate ourselves to them by giving long
and deafening applause whenever they heap on us this mundane and repetitive accolade?
Reading the first
speech our Senator Tobias (Jun) Enverga gave to the Senate, the curling of my
blood was interrupted by a wishful thought - I hope Romy Marquez shared his
Breaking News with the Prime Minister’s Office. (Full text at:
The article he wrote on
Senator Tobias Enverga’s speech should be a hint to the Prime
Minister that this appointee to the Senate will not deliver the Filipino votes.
Unless, unless the Liberal or NDP put up an Enverga clone for a candidate.
After reading Romy
Marquez’s commentary and I having calmed down already, my thoughts drifted to
Senator Enverga’s supporters. How would they take this speech introducing our
community to Canada as the best in karaoke? Is that all we’ve got? (Full story:
We were once referred
to as nation of caregivers, exporter of nannies and domestic workers; and now
from the mouth of our own beloved (to some) senator, came out this karaoke
gem. How would the elitist, the intellectuals and the sincere supporters of the
senator react? Would they trivialize the speech? Or will they cower and curse?
Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre, the
intended beneficiary of that fund raising, never saw the trace of that money. Established in 1983, KCC is the umbrella organization of Filipino associations in Mississauga.
When
I finished my reporting, a subdued voice muttered “I did not know that". Encouraged, I pressed
on to be invited. “Will you invite me now to your group?”
After
a pause, the
reply was “we do not want to be identified as supporters of the
Envergas”. “Our petition is for civility in reporting”. I tried to be
persistent and be invited
to meet with the petitioners. “There will be a time for that”, was the
quick
reply.
The reporting style of
Mr. Marquez on Envergate, as the Inquisitors call it, did not change at all. It
is still succinct and on target. His choice of vocabulary remains the same. (Related story at: http://www.balita.ca/2012/09/quo-vadis-senator/).
I
agree with civility
in reporting. However, what about civility in addressing the august
Senate chamber? What about an uplifting speech for the downhearted
Filipinos, downhearted for having Mr. Enverga for their representative,
or a speech
appeasing to non-Enverga worshippers.
I
am sure the
Filipino community deserves recognition more than “hard work, dedication
and warm hearts” as described by the senator. I am sure the senator is
capable of
composing a speech that would uplift his community; a speech that befits
his
office and will enhance the image of the Filipinos in Canada.
Points to amuse: When
the senators in the audience clap and say Hear! Hear! are they cheering their
own kind? Are they welcoming their brother to the flock - for having the same
feather? Can they see or judge the feather of their new member within a year?
Or Hear! Hear! means yes! yes! we heard about you from Balita? Also, why
do we address the appointed senators Honorable?
Filipinos have a strong
sense of pride. A few years ago, the Philippines was crowned "Most Corrupt Government
or Country in the World". Despite this, I did not notice any significant waning
of our pride. However, I do not remember any of the Filipino newspaper in the
GTA lifting a pen to put up a defense of our pride.
If indeed not one of the
Filipino publishers disputed that insult to our nation, the crown awarded to us
was probably deserved and there is no defence against truth.
Yes we are a proud
people! We pride ourselves coming from a country in Asia with the highest
literacy in the region. To some, the degree of pride is commensurate to the
level of education acquired. A few college dropouts in the Philippines
proclaim themselves to be degree holders without schooling here. They go to
that extent of lying as if a college degree is the center of their life. You
can call that any name but never "pride".
Others, believing they are
elite, belittle their compatriots with improper grammar. I was one of those
vilified by a Filipino newspaper for my wrong grammar. I would have sulked and
hid had that publisher also criticized the French-Canadian politicians whose accent
and grammar were worst than most Filipinos. I consider that failure to
criticize a silent admission of inferiority.
Talking about Filipino
pride, my thoughts flirted back to the incidents in the past wherein Filipinos
manifested their pride.
In the early 80’s, Filipinos
were front and centre in the pages of Toronto Sun. The headline screamed
“Filipinos Eat Dogs”. Some Filipinos got into a fight because of that.
My
own son, barely thirteen that time, on his way home one afternoon was
confronted by another teenager on a bike. This teenager blocked my son’s path
and asked, “Are you Filipino?” Upon my son’s “yes” answer, the teenager jeered
at him by “you Flips eat dog”. My son returned the favor with non-stop
punches fearing he could be pummeled himself.
When he got home
and I confirmed some Filipinos do eat dog, he was sorry for punching the guy
“for nothing” he mused.
When my son punched the boy that insulted him, it was my son’s Filipino Pride punching.
A few years ago, the
Toronto Police Department made the mistake in announcing the suspected rapist
at the park was a Filipino. The Filipino community did not take that plea of
the police for leads. FCT came to the rescue and defended the Filipino pride against
a racist statement. If my memory serves me right, the police eventually
apologized.
When Linda Javier
“scolded” the police officer, it was her Filipino Pride yelling.
What surprises me was only two souls asked me about the accuracy of my exposé. One was Jun
Enverga’s cousin, the other sounded like a lawyer based on her line of
questioning.
When the lawyer-like
questions were asked of me, it was a Filipino heart asking for clarity on
my exposé. Her letter was amicable and full of compassion for the senator.
When the cousin asked
the questions, it was the blood talking.
Friends, as a result of
Senator Enverga’s speech, more Filipinos need uplifting. I need more of
Filipino-Pride-Punching, Yelling, and Compassionate emails. Lift me up for
there is worst to come now that this scandal could be elevated to the
national level. Our pride might be in question again.
Why are politicians not interested to know us? The answer to the question is simple: we are not respected!
(This Currents & Breaking News
may be posted online, broadcast or reprinted upon request by interested
parties. Permission by the author or the editor must be obtained before
any re-posting online or re-publication in print or re-broadcast.
Copyright by Carlos Padilla, Guest Writer, and Romeo P. Marquez, Editor,
Philippine Village Voice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Volume 7, Issue no.
64, September 16, 2013. Email at: TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com, PhilVoiceNews@aol.com or CurrentsBreakingNews@gmail.com).
PHILIPPINE VILLAGE VOICE/The Filipino Web Channel - Redefining Community News
Currents & Breaking News
Volume 7, Issue No. 64
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