‘Spoon and fork’ controversy in Montreal: Marchers demand apology from school board

‘Spoon and fork’ controversy in Montreal: Marchers demand apology from school board

MONTREAL – Amidst the chilling weather and rain, more than 80 members of various organizations marched to the streets in Cote-des-Neiges recently demanding an apology from the Commission Scolaire Marguerite Bourgeoys (CSMB) or school board in Montreal in behalf of 7-year old Luc Cagadoc for they called racist remarks.

The Kabataang Montreal (KM) led the rally along with the Philippine Women Centre of Quebec, PINAY (Filipino Women’s Organization in Quebec), SIKLAB-Montreal (Overseas Filipino migrant workers) and Solidarity of Cross Borders.

Marchers as young as 7-year olds were highly visible throughout the rally chanting “Immigrants in, racists out!” and “C-S-M-B, we demand apology!”

One demonstrator, a teacher, was impressed with the youth’s passion in expressing their sentiments on the Cagadoc’s issue. The teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “we, as teachers are mandated to learn how to discipline a child. It is our duty to discipline our students but it has to be in the right way. I really admire these youngsters in protesting how the administrators of the school board handled Luc’s disciplinary issue.”

Theresa Gallardo Cagadoc, the mother of Luc, came to attend the event along with their whole family and friends form Mississauga, Ontario. Humbled by the community’s support, Theresa said, “I am pleased and very much honored to learn that various organizations believe in our cause. My family and I are really very grateful. This rally has made us more committed and adamant to obtain justice.”

The demonstrators were able to gather 100 signatures for their petition denouncing racial discrimination. In their petition, the KM demanded three things: First, that the CSMB apologize to the Filipino-Canadian community for their racist remarks. Second, that the school board review their policy on anti-racism and third, that they hold an open dialogue with the community.

In an interview by The Philippine Reporter, Joanne Vasquez of the Philippine Women Centre of Quebec, said, “it is high time for the Filipino community to take action because what happened to the Cagadoc family was a sign of disrespect for us. If our kababayans back home made considerable efforts in expressing their discontent on the issue, how much more for us who are really directly involved because we are living in Montreal?”

Emmanuelle Macarine, KM member, shared Vasquez’s sentiments and said that there are some kids who are experiencing harassment in school due to discrimination. They are marching because they want their voices to be heard.

The Filipino Canadian Federation of Quebec, meanwhile, did not participate in the rally. Marlene Birrao, the Federation’s president, does not agree on holding a rally and has called on the community to be patient and prudent. In a phone interview with The Philippine Reporter, Birrao said that “the Federation does not want to hamper any positive developments that may take place in their meeting with the school board”.

The Federation is still in dialogue with the board and hopes to meet a mutual settlement on the issue.
Both parties agreed to make a draft resolution about the issue and to make it publicly available especially to the press. However, during their first meeting, the Filipino leaders led by Birrao were very disappointed because in the draft, the school board only mentioned that the Cagadoc issue was a “complete misunderstanding by both parties (Cagadoc and the school board).” Birrao added, “there was no mention of apology from the board, which is the most essential part of the draft. When The Philippine Reporter requested Birrao to get a copy of the draft , Birrao said that it would only be made available to the press once everything has been settled and the final draft has been made.

Seven-year old Luc Cagadoc is a Canadian resident and has been the centre of controversy in Montreal because he used a fork and a spoon in eating in school. Luc’s mother, Maria Theresa Gallardo Cagadoc, alleged that she learned Luc had been punished up to 10 times by a lunchroom monitor and was made to eat alone at a separate table. She said the lunch room monitor told her Luc “ate like a pig.” When Theresa complained to the school principal of Ecole Lalande, the reply was “Luc should eat like the Canadian way.”

The school board in question countered that Luc was punished only for disruptive behavior. The issue dubbed as the “spoon and fork story” by most media outlets have sparked outrage from the Filipino communities in Canada and the United States and also in Manila and other countries.