“It is unacceptable”: BC’s Filipino community feels ignored by Premier Horgan in their calls for representation

FILE: Premier John Horgan provides an update to the media on 10 June 2020 (Photo: Province of British Columbia/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

VANCOUVER — Last week, when Premier John Horgan announced his Cabinet, he appointed Mable Elmore, the first and only MLA of Filipino heritage in BC’s history, as the Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care—leaving Elmore out of his Executive Council.

In a Zoom call this past weekend, leaders of the Filipino community gathered virtually to share in their frustration of not being heard by the BC Government.

“It is unacceptable for the Premier to claim diversity in his Cabinet when he ignores the calls of the Filipino community for representation,” said RJ Aquino, founding member of Tulayan, an organization that connects Filipino-Canadians to their culture.

He continued, saying, “Our community is done with being ignored and taken for granted. We will not stop speaking up until we get the recognition Filipinos deserve and we won’t accept empty gestures. Our community understands what meaningful action looks like and that’s what we’re asking for.”

Aquino along with Rudy Antonio, a Filipino community advocate, organized an online petition, which saw over two thousand people call for Elmore to be included in Horgan’s Cabinet. The petition also stresses the need for provincial support in the creation of a Filipino Community Centre and asks for the recognition of the Filipino language in BC’s public schools.

“For too long Filipinos have gone overlooked, we don’t feel appreciated or respected by those in leadership, and that needs to change,” said Antonio.

Although disappointed with last week’s Cabinet announcement, leaders in the Filipino community remain determined to see their calls to action recognized.

“When we have diversity in leadership we are all better for it, Filipino-Canadians feel under valued and it is time for us to be heard, let’s continue to organize and make sure we are counted,” said Rachel Abonita, a signatory to the online petition.