Eugenia (Gene) Lacson Lara, Sept. 6, 1938 – April 1, 2013

Eugenia (Gene) Lacson Lara, Sept. 6, 1938 – April 1, 2013

EUGENIA (GENE) LARA, a well known Filipino community leader in Toronto, Ontario and other parts of Canada, passed away at the age of 75.

In January 1981, Gene Lara, her journalist husband Ben and their six children left the turmoil of the Philippines to seek a better life in Canada.

Husband: Ben T. Lara, (deceased) journalist who was connected with Manila Bulletin.

Survived by children Rita Lara McEachern, married to Fred McEachern; Ramon Lara, John Lara, children – Mateo Santo Lara, Ethan Lara & Tristan Lara; Genoveva Lara (deceased) survived by her daughter, Aria Lara, Chiara Lara, Paul Lara, married to Abbey Lara, children – Dominica Noel Lara & Katia Isabelle Lara

A Pioneer From The Beginning

In many ways, Gene was a pioneer. She was the first woman elected as national vice-president of a trade union organization in the Philippines. After earning a university business degree, she studied with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and then worked for the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women leading a program promoting self-help projects for women in the Philippine countryside and worked as a television host.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Gene was a delegate to key international gatherings, including the 2nd and 3rd World Women’s Conferences. She also received a prestigious scholarship from the International Labour Organization to study co-ops in Europe and the Middle East.

After stepping off a plane on a cold winter day in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1981, Gene’s life would change forever. Both she and her husband encountered numerous obstacles in their quest to forge a brighter future. At first, Gene endured backbreaking work as a hospital clerk while her husband tried to put his gifted writing skills to use.

Standing Up For The Disadvantaged

Gene’s fierce determination and community activism eventually led her to becoming executive director of the Immigrant Women of Saskatchewan, where she earned accolades for assisting immigrant and refugee women gain access to support services. Displaying her eclectic and diverse talents, Gene even hosted an international cooking show on Regina’s community cable channel.

After her husband’s death, Gene moved to Toronto to become executive coordinator of INTERCEDE, a social service agency fighting for the workplace rights of domestic caregivers.

In Our Community

Upon retiring from INTERCEDE, Gene revived the Silayan Community Centre, a local drop-in serving newcomers to St. James Town, Regent Park and Cabbagetown. Working with diverse volunteers, Gene initiated job placement, settlement, seniors and youth mentoring programs and was the Chairperson for the St. James Town Safety Community. As a result, the St. James Town is a thriving multi cultural community.

In addition, Gene has served our community in a number of volunteer capacities. As a founding board member of the St. James Town Tenants Network, she mobilized tenants and organized a campaign to bring back rent control. Gene also worked tirelessly as an outreach counsellor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to help some of our community’s neediest and most vulnerable residents and was the former President for the Parish Church’s Catholic Women’s League.

For A Better Future

“I have the experience of how it is to be an immigrant. I came to Canada with six children and my husband. I started from zero. When I arrived in Canada there was nobody to here to help me. Now I’m able to devote myself to do work for the well-being of immigrants. They need accreditation; some come here with degrees but can’t do the jobs that they are trained for, so they have to compromise themselves for survival. Immigrant women suffer from loneliness, isolation and a language barrier. I have to dedicate myself. That’s the only thing I can offer – to be able to make their lives a little bit better. I have faced all kinds of discrimination and humiliations, and this gave me the inspiration to make the world better for others.”  Gene Lara

(By Ramon L. Lara)