Four Fantastic FilCans are Member of Parliament Candidates in Canada's Political Derby

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT
Ontario-Canada
August 22, 2015



"Pinoy kami...... I am a Filipino !". With this proud mantra, for the first time in Canada's political history , 4 Filipino Canadians from Canada's East and West coasts are currently running for elected positions in Canada's Parliament this coming October 2015 Federal election.

Engagingly hoping to follow the "footsteps" of Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, the first Filipino Canadian elected Liberal MP for Winnipeg, Manitoba from 1989-2001, the 4 fellow kababayans who  are official candidates for Member of Parliament : Julius Tiangson of  Mississauga Centre, Ontario, Francisco "Jojo" Quimpo of Vancouver-Kingsway, British Columbia, Mario Jacinto Rimbao of Mount Royal, Montreal, Quebec, and Levy Abad , Jr. of Winnipeg North, Manitoba . The first two are running under the Progressive Conservative (PC) while the other 2 are candidates of  the New Democratic Party ( NDP). "At para sa kaalaman ng lahat",  it's paramount to know well this "fantastic four"  and here's a profile of each of the courageous political candidates:

A graduate of the Ateneo de Davao University with a degree in Commerce-Accounting, Tiangson is still completing his Master's program in Intercultural Studies through Ambrose University-Alberta. As a Philippine Certified Public Accountant, he is a FSCO-Canada licenced financial advisor.
Thrilled to have a cross section of multicultural supporters and volunteers especially his kababayang mga Filipino, Julius is "looking forward to serve you and be your voice in Ottawa".

·        Affectionately called "Jojo", he is "the Filipino-Canadian immigrant feel-good story – where hard work, determination, living within one’s means, and dedication to community results in resolve and leadership." From factory worker to a para-legal career, Jojo never lost sight of his vision to do more and  along the way, he inspired and continues to organize Canada’s largest Filipino-Canadian street parade and festival.
·        Quimpo got noticed, receiving federal and community recognition, and joining Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Canada’s Trade mission to Asia in 2012. He also uses his talent as a singer and performer, to help raise money for worthy causes and for calamity relief. With a genuine understanding of the Canadian immigrant, and a strong commitment to community and family, Jojo is ready to be Vancouverites' representative in Parliament.
o  
o   A longtime and committed social democrat, Rimbao says " he decided to run because, following the birth of his first child, he realized how hard it is to find subsidized daycare even in Quebec, which uniquely in Canada has a limited number of spaces at $7.30 a day. (Under a new sliding scale, families earning more than $55,000 will pay more, up to $20 a day".). He is supportive of the NDP idea to abolish the Senate and to oppose the government's anti-terrorism legislation.
o   “One thing I’m good at throughout my life is dealing with people, touching their emotions, their passions, issues and problems. “I understand people, I grew up around different nationalities and backgrounds, and I know how to deal with all of them. I don’t have the celebrity status or the experience politically, but I know how people feel and think.” His mantra : " I am the underdog,without a doubt, but I always like a challenge".
o  
A singer-songwriter-guitarist, Abad is a member of  Musikang Bayan. He considers himself as an alternative musician "playing musical pieces with nationalist themes" and included two tunes on his 2014 album "Rhythms of Compassion" that deal with Aboriginal issues. He  wrote the song "Daughter She Can’t Find" about the disappearance of an aboriginal girl ". "I also wrote a song called "Souls Taken Away" which is about the residential school issue.
"When I first arrived here the only thing I could do was sing, because I was struggling financially. Right away you can’t participate in the political process, so the only thing I could do is write socially relevant songs that were reflective of the issues of Winnipeg North." 
§  Abad wants to better serve Canada’s indigenous population, promising that as a human rights advocate, he "would address this issue , a cause that is close to his heart and bring their concerns to Ottawa".

o   Vote and be counted ! "Gising na, Panahon na", one noted community leader always reminded Filipinos in Canada.  This could lead to our political capacity for the re-engagement  and re-building of a long- held aspiration of our community to have a unified voice and be heard , that is " fully respected and recognized" in Canada..... our adopted homeland.( T. San Juan)