Cleto Buduhan PAM and servant leadership

by Levy Abad

Researching and writing about the early years of the Filipino community would lead one to encounter the name of the late Cleto Buduhan many times online, in libraries, or the Manitoba archive files. Cleto was part of the first set of executives of the Philippine Association of Manitoba as its editor-in-chief (1970 PAM souvenir program; Levy Abad, “PAM in Retrospect,” Pilipino Express, August 1-15, 2025, vol. 21, no. 15).

Migration and scholarship

Cleto arrived in Winnipeg in 1968 from Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines, “where he left the seminary on his last priestly vow.” While a few of his seminary contemporaries became Indigenous resistance martyrs, he continued serving in the diaspora. Ifugao is a province situated in the Cordillera Mountain range, known for Indigenous resistance and empowerment. Cleto authored a pioneering research piece titled, An Urban Village: The Effect of Migration on the Filipino Garment Workers in a Canadian City. He finished his master’s degree in anthropology through scholarship at the University of Manitoba. He pursued his doctorate at the University of British Columbia (Filipino Journal, May 1-15, 1997).

In the same article published in 1997, it mentioned that Cleto “worked at the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature as a research director.” Eventually, he would join the Winnipeg School Division No. 1 as a teaching assistant and later as a liaison officer when the position was created in the 80s to address issues and concerns of parents and students.” Furthermore, an article online described Buduhan as a “race relations official with the WSD” (United Press International Archives, January 26, 1982).

Influence and citations

In her 1997 article titled Remembering Cleto, Gemma Dalayoan expressed her admiration for Cleto’s commitment to youth education in the Manitoba diaspora and added that it was Cleto who influenced her to research and write about the Filipino community. The result was the publication of the book, The First Filipino Immigrants of Manitoba, which Gemma co-authored with Leah Enverga-Magsino and Leonie Bailon.

Dr. Jon Malek, in some of his research and thesis Pearl of the Prairies: The History of the Winnipeg Filipino Community (2019), cited Cleto. In the book of Allison Marshall, Bayanihan and Belonging, Cleto was also quoted.

Community activism

Cleto was mentioned in my book, Rhythms and Resistance: Narrative of Filipino Musicians and Activists of Winnipeg, 1972-1994, as a founding member of the Philippine Solidary Group (a broad anti-dictatorship formation), together with Dante Buenaventura, founder of Magdaragat, Conrado Gomez of BIBAK, Felino de Jesus, Danny Gomez, Beth de Jesus, Joy Santos, Manny Reyes, Elisa Buenaventura, Raffy Salcon and Neri Dimacali (p. 119, “Giving Back Paying Forward: Filipino Labour Leaders of Winnipeg 1968-1998,” p. 45).

In the first major project of the Philippine Solidarity Group (PSG), Philippine Connections, A Conference on the Philippines: “Seeking Justice for the Philippines and Filipinos in Canada” held on November 9-10, 1984, Cleto Buduhan was one of the speakers together with Heherson Alvarez, Ruben Cusipag, Cecilia Kosol (L. Abad, Rhythms and Resistance, p. 120). His involvements in various organizations proved the depth of Cleto Buduhan’s community activism. While researching the problems of the community, he also organized for empowerment.

Mission of Compassion

Cleto left the seminary as part of his vocational discernment. It was during this time that his brother-in-law, John Gano, suggested that he emigrate to Canada, where, as fate would have it, he met his wife, Marcela “Celing” (nee Raymundo) in Winnipeg. They have four children, and Cleto continued his mission in serving the community.

I have heard attestations about Cleto Buduhan from a lot of community pioneers expressing their admiration for his compassion for people. As a community and cultural activist, I regret not meeting him for an interview. This article is my way of giving tribute to a fellow activist who served our community wholeheartedly. According to Cleto’s older sister, Gliceria “Gliz” Gano, Cleto was the fourth of the nine children. Cleto passed away in 1997 at the age of 55. It might have been a short life, but a life well lived. His legacy of mission and research will live on.