Pinoy candidates bare their platforms, take a stand on key issues
Pinoy candidates bare their platforms, take a stand on key issues
Pinoy candidates in GTA (PHOTO: ARIEL RAMOS)
At PPCO Press Forum
By Veronica C. Silva
Some of the Filipino-Canadians running in the upcoming municipal and federal polls recently presented their platforms and positions on some key issues that affect or concern the Filipino community in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Willie Reodica, Candidate for Mayor, Whitchurch/Stouffville
Twelve candidates spoke at the Sept. 19 Press Forum organized by the Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO), where they also urged kababayans to exercise their right to vote so that the Pinoy voice can be heard at City Hall and beyond. Some of the candidates in the forum are running for the Oct. 27 municipal elections in the Greater Toronto Area; others are running for nomination for their political parties for a chance to be installed in Ottawa next year as Members of Parliament.
Randy Bucao, Candidate for Councillor, City of Toronto
These candidates include:
Randy Bucao, for Councillor, Ward 10;
Ace Alvarez, for Trustee, Toronto Catholic District School (TCDSB), Ward 12;
Michelle Serrano, Nominee for Liberal MP (Scarborough)
Manny Yanga, for Trustee, TCDSB, Ward 7;
Manuel Ching, for Trustee, TCDSB, Ward 9;
Joey Abrenilla, for Trustee, TCDSB, Ward 5;
Paulina Corpuz, for Trustee, TCDSB, Ward 12;
Gary Tanauan, re-electionist for Trustee, TCDSB, Ward 8;
Louroz Mercader, Candidate for Councillor, Mississauga
Lauroz Mercader, for Councillor, Ward 7, Mississauga;
Linda Insigne, for Trustee, TCDSB, Ward 4 & 5, Vaughan;
Willie Reodica, for Mayor, Whitchurch-Stouffville;
Julius Tiangson, Nominee for Conservative MP (Mississauga)
Julius Tiangson, nominee for MP, Conservative Party, Mississauga Centre; and
Michelle Serrano, nominee for MP, Scarborough, Liberal Party
Other non-Filipino political hopefuls were present, including Michael Levitt, Liberal party candidate, York Centre; Marco Mendicino, nominee for Liberal Party, Eglinton-Lawrence; Thomas David, for Councillor, Ward 38 and Raffy Fabregas, former nominee, Liberal Party, Scarborough Centre.
Many of the issues raised by the audience — composed of media representatives, supporters and friends – focused on some core Filipino values, including religion, particularly Catholicism as some of the candidates are running for the TCDSB. Some issues discussed include same-sex marriage, HPV vaccination, and enrolling non-Catholics in Catholic schools.
Joey Abrenilla, Candidate for Trustee, TCDSB Ward 5
But before the night ended, focus was given on how to encourage kababayans to let the voices of the Filipinos in the GTA heard by participating in elections. The crowd at the forum noted the Filipinos’ penchant for not participating in the electoral process as evidenced by data on voter turnout.
Ace Alvarez, Candidate for Trustee, TCDSB Ward 12
The Philippines’s Overseas absentee voting (OAV) — as provided in the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, which was later amended to the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 — reached only 16 per cent in the 2013 mid-term elections. In the 2010 presidential elections, OAV turnout was 26 per cent.
In contrast, voter turnout in Toronto was at 50.55 per cent in the last 2010 municipal elections. This was up from only 39.3 per cent in the 2006 municipal elections and 38.33 per cent in the 2003 elections.
Paulina Corpuz, Candidate for Trustee, TCDSB Ward 12
Corpuz, Trustee candidate, and Mercarder, Councillor candidate, said the Filipino community in the GTA need role models in the political front to encourage the next generation of Filipinos to participate in the politics.
Tiangson, nominee for MP, Conservative Party, Mississauga Centre, said it’s about time that the Filipino community in the GTA “create a political culture.” He noted that the Filipino community has not “franchised (itself) with one political brand” despite that fact that the community is growing to an estimated 800,000.
Gary Tanauan, Candidate for Trustee for re-election, Ward 8
“It is about time that we rise up and develop our own political brand,” said Tiangson.
Re-electionist Tanauan said it’s about time that the number of Filipino representatives in the Catholic School Board increased as the number of Filipinos and other ethnic groups is also rising in Catholic schools.
Manny Ching, Candidate for Trustee, TCDSB Ward 9
Bucao, candidate for Councillor, also urged qualified Filipino voters to vote for him so that he can bring their concerns to the Toronto City Council.
“If you don’t vote, whether you like it or not, you have to pay taxes, TTC (rates) will go up,” said Bucao, which drew “ayes” from the audience. “If you will go out and vote and you think I’m your Councillor, I will bring your voice in the Council.”
Linda Insigne, Candidate for Trustee, Ward 4 & 5, Vaughan
Candidates urged non-voting Filipinos to encourage qualified voters to go out and vote. Toronto residents who are Canadian citizens and 18 years and above are qualified to vote on Oct. 27 and advanced polls from October 14 to Oct. 19.
For details, please visit Elections Toronto website: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=d712c36902f5d310VgnVCM1000006cd60f89RCRD
Manny Yanga, Candidate for Trustee, TCDSB Ward 7
PHOTOS: HG
PPCO President Rose Tijam
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