Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance
Press Release

Filipino Youth Shed Light on their Rights Through A Cultural Evening

May 1 , 2008

Vancouver, BC – As workers in Canada and around the world mark International Workers’ Day today, Filipino youth in BC are preparing the 11th annual cultural event Roots, Rhymes and Resistance (RRR) themed “Balik sa Komunidad, Balik sa Ugat (Back to the Community, Reclaiming our Roots)” to address the rising incidences of social injustices and inequality Filipino youth and their families face.

“We are troubled by the growing numbers of our youth dropping out of high school and ending up working in the low-paid labour force like construction, janitorial, factory, or food service,” states Carlie David, member of Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance.  “Filipino youth must not settle on this reality of marginalization and arrested development.  We must continue to educate ourselves about the root causes of our marginalization, rise up, and demand for genuine change,” exclaims David.

The group asserts that existing Canadian policies and programs, such as the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), create long-term impacts for Filipino youth and their families. FCYA members, such as Albert Lopez, share the impacts of the LCP.  Lopez, one of four children whose mother came to Canada under the LCP, shares the trauma of being separated from their mother for seven years.  The Lopez family continues to struggle with issues around family reunification.

“Systemic racism within the government and its institutions is largely responsible for the social alienation of our youth,” says Lopez. 

In 1999, he and his brothers were three of the 25 Filipino students of Vancouver Technical Secondary School who were harassed by other students in racial attacks.  Instead of addressing the systemic racism in the education system, the Vancouver School Board transferred Lopez and the other victims to Westside schools without sufficient explanation or support.  Lopez states that the social alienation and the lack of understanding the context of newly-arrived Filipino youth led many youth to drop out of high school, and, as consequence, work in the under-paid labour force. Nationally, Filipino youth have high rates of high school drop outs and often resort to working low wage jobs to help the family.

“Canada uses the LCP to segregate our mothers as domestic workers, now Canada has our youth as janitors, fast-food workers, construction workers,” states David. “Filipino youth is the next generation of Canada’s source of cheap labour.  We will not stand for this!” exclaims David.

RRR will showcase local Filipino youth talent to bring forward the issues affecting Filipino community in Canada and the Philippines.  Artists include hip hop acts Toxic Slime and Taong Gago, poet Sol Diana, local dance crews, and an art auction. The show will also feature multi-media presentations and speakers from progressive organizations.

Roots, Rhymes and Resistance 2008: Balik sa Komunidad, Balik sa Ugat
Friday May 23th, 2008
Doors and art auction open at 6:30pm
Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School,  419 East 24th Ave., Vancouver, BC
$10 entry; $5 for students and low income youth.
For more info please contact UKPC/FCYA at 602-215-1103 or ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net

Photos from 2007 Roots, Rhymes and Resistance X: http://kalayaancentre.net/assets/images/photos/2007/ukpcrrr_may27.htm

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