It is not enough    Towards a permanent Philippine Studies program in Winnipeg

From August 3 to 13, ANAK hosted its second Philippine Studies Summer Institute at the University of Winnipeg. With esteemed guest lecturer, Antonio Tujan Jr. of the IBON Research Foundation in Manila, Philippines, the course offered 35 registered students a glimpse into the realities of Philippine economic development. For many, it was an eye-opener to learn that Philippine labour migration is hailed internationally as a model of economic development. It was also particularly revealing to learn that the realities of developing such a Diaspora can dismiss the notion of progress altogether for the Philippines.

It took several years to coordinate and organize this summer institute. Like the first summer institute we held in 2007, we believed strongly in our mandate to offer and diversify education that is representative of Filipino-Canadians in mainstream academia. How can our voice be heard if our own culture and heritage is not even accepted as something worthy of learning in our schools? Moreover, how are we to move forward as a new generation if we honestly don’t know where we have been? As a non-profit group with limited resources and funds, we were adamant not to let any of these challenges stand in the way of bringing forward a second opportunity to students and the public to enter the discussion on this topic. Now that it is over, the question lies as to where do we go from here?

I personally do not want another Summer Institute. One or two weeks of study every few years is not enough. I do not want this course to be offered as something “experimental” as it has been lauded again and again. I do not want this course to be a ploy to gain more Filipino students for a University.

No, I want – as we have proved in two successful internationally organized courses – a permanent Philippine Studies course to be offered throughout the regular school year. I want the knowledge of our culture, heritage, history, and contemporary studies to be recognized as something worth learning, like it already is throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. So, after all our aksyon,we need follow-through from our institutions – not rhetoric. We are Filipino and Canadian – when will this be truly accepted and recognized?

Darlyne is a founding member of Aksyon Ng Ating Kabataan. Contact the author at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact the author at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit ANAK online at www. anak.ca.

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