CBC Asks: How is the Filipino experience in Manitoba changing?

How the Filipino experience in Manitoba has changed over time is a question CBC News will pose to a panel of community leaders Thursday.

Live from the Garden City Mall,CBC Manitoba's MarjorieDowhoshosted a discussionfeaturing a range of panellists, among other members of the ever-growing localFilipino community, who will consider the question:What has been the Filipino experience in Manitoba and how is it changing?

The panel will include theatre artist, producer and director Hazel Venzon, community organizer andKultivation Festival's education committee chairJohsa Manzanilla and Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba president Perla Javate.

WATCH | Full panel discussion:

CBC Asks: What has been the Filipino experience in Manitoba and how is it changing?

5 years ago

Duration 41:12

CBC Manitobas Marjorie Dowhos hosted a live discussion looking at the Filipino experience in the province and how it's morphed over time.

"Winnipeg was not the Winnipeg we have now," said Javate, who came here in 1976.

"It wasn't as multicultural a city as now. And when you're new, you pretty much look for people from the same community you come from."

Outside of a community centre, a centre for newcomersand a cultural group, the Filipino community had to navigate their new country and culture on their own, Javate said, adding that now there are a lot of helpful resources available.

Javateoriginally planned to be in Winnipeg for just a few years before moving to Toronto. But in 1984, after resigning from a job so she could move away, the Winnipeg School Division was looking for a community liaison serving the Filipino community.

Javate wouldfill that role for 35 years, helping students and families adjust, while informing the school division of the community.

She says children are doing better now than they were, because at the time, there were no role models in Winnipeg's Filipino community.They were adjusting to a new place and, in many cases, a larger, urbanplace.

Although things have improved, Javate says newcomersstill struggle tofindemployment in Canada, despite having the necessary education and training from their home countries.

"It doesn't matter how good you are, or where you come from you start from zero here," she said.

To hear more about the Filipino experience, tune into the live stream at 11:30 a.m. ontheCBC Manitoba website, Facebook, Twitter and CBC Gem.