National Council of Canadian-Filipino Associations

The National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations (NCCFA) (French: Conseil national des associations canadiennes des Philippines, lit. 'Pambansang Sanggunian ng mga Samahang Kanadiano Pilipino') was an umbrella organization[1] and advocacy group for the Filipino Canadian organizations in Canada. It was officially established in 1983 and registered as a Canadian non-profit organization with headquarters in Ottawa in 1990. It was dissolved in 2015.[2]

History

The immediate predecessor to the NCCFA was the United Council of Filipino Associations in Canada (UCFAC) founded in 1963[1] by community leaders in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. According to the organization's 'historique', "the establishment of a national body for Filipino Canadians was first envisioned by Azucena Dulay, President of the Filipino Association in Canada, of Toronto. She brought together Filipino community leaders from Vancouver, Montreal, and Winnipeg for the purpose of forming a national organization." Membership to UCFAC comprised representation from Filipino associations across Canada.[3]

The UCFAC held conferences since it was founded. In 1965, discussions focused on how to improve links in the communities across Canada. In 1971, the conference announced that "unity and cooperation among Filipino associations and communities can best be achieved through a cohesive and vigorous national association." The 1973 conference took the theme "The Filipino Identity in our Evolving Multicultural Society."[4]

In the early 1980s a distinctively different organization developed in the place of the original one.[1] In 1983, Dr. Rey Pagtakhan called community leaders from around Canada to his home in Winnipeg where they discussed the possibility of a new formation.[5] As former UCFAC National President and Chair of the Canadian Ethno-cultural Council (CEC), Pagtakhan proposed major changes in the organizational structure that followed other CEC groups had and the federal government's Multiculturalism program guide. It also ceased relations with the Philippine Consul General as their official adviser. The new organization also included in its mission 'national unity'.[1] Thus, the UCFAC was revived as the National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations (NCCFA). The NCCFA followed its precursor with similar activities. In 1989, it organized a national dialogue on Filipino domestic workers during the International Women's Day celebrations in Toronto.[6]

Along with 37 national ethnic organizations across Canada, NCCFA was a member organization of the Canadian Ethnocultural Council.[7]

Position Name Term
National President Salvador Cabugao1990-1994
Regional Vice Presidents
Region I-Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI Leticia La Rosa1990-
Region II-Quebec Ma. Aurora R. Osdon1990-1994
Region III-Ontario (other than Greater Toronto) Jose A. Sotto
Region IV-Greater Toronto Carmencita Hernandez
Region V-Manitoba Lou Fernandez
Region VI-Saskatchewan & Northwest Territories Gerry Gilongos
Region VII-Alberta Rhoda S.J. Abada
Linda Cantiveros
Eric Lazo
Region VIII-British Columbia & Yukon Territory Alan T. Decolongon
National Secretary Marilen de la Cruz
Rhoda S.J. Abada
National Treasurer Victor L. Nombrado
Youth Director Elizabeth Casuga
Coordinator Linda S. Baltazar
Legal Counsel Emilio S. Binavince

See also

References
  1. Blanshay, Linda Sema (2001). The nationalisation of ethnicity: a study of the proliferation of national mono-ethnocultural umbrella organisations in Canada (PDF) (PhD). University of Glasgow.
  2. "National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations". opengovca.com.
  3. Oliva, Tessie (May–June 2016). "Celebration of the founding: Congress of Philippine Associations of Alberta & 118th Anniversary Philippine Independence". Alberta Filipino Journal.
  4. Community Historique, National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations, n.d.
  5. "Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan – First Fil-Canadian Member of Parliament, A multi-faceted leader". 20 June 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  6. Pierson, Ruth; Cohen, Marjorie; Bourne, Paula; Masters, Philinda (January 1, 1993). Canadian Women's Issues: Volume I: Strong Voices. Lorimer. p. 69.
  7. Carmencita Hernandez, Regional vice-president of the National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations (August 20, 1991). "Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Ontario.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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