Politics: Part 2
The hotly contested nomination election mentioned in previous chapter was
indeed significant to the politics of immigrants in the city. It was not
because of being the biggest in the country, nor issues aired by candidates.
These were not important anymore. Candidates took lesser roles. They were
basically used as means to stage a contest to determine leadership control in
respective communities. The rivalry was no longer on candidates. It was a power
struggle between political brokers who cared less about anything else.
The process was so uncharacteristic to Canadians that it was bitterly condemned
by the general public. News media was critical towards the political behavior
of the ethnic peoples. There was little that can be done for it was within the
concept of the citizen.s democratic rights. Therefore, from harsh and
overriding people with experience in devious political conduct of their
homeland, the electoral system of northeast and part of southeast Calgary
succumbed under a different style of choosing leaders.
Filipinos were not completely innocent bystanders to this madness. Being a
major visible community, we too had our share. It was however more subtle
compared with others. But it was enough to ruin relationship amongst families
and friends. It also added to irritate the calmness of the customary decent and
quiet election.
Immigrant leaders believed that this particular nomination election was a
turning point. It could be the campaign that could unify their internal
politics. It was more of a challenge to determine who would control the
politics of the community. This repositioning of forces was intended to support
their own candidates in future elections. There was an apparent switch to field
their people rather than just supporting Canadian politicians. We had series of
meetings on this before but could not agree on a number of issues. The biggest
barrier was about prospected candidates of different communities. There was no
room for compromise.
Hindsight proved that the realignment of power as recognized from that
nomination election was indeed prevailing. Elections after did successfully
send ethnics to elective positions in government. East Calgary alone was able
to elect four visible immigrants to the Provincial Legislative Assembly and a
member of parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. They still maintained to
hold their seats as effective representatives of their constituencies today.
Meanwhile, the Filipinos after that historic event did crumble apart. Rather
than solidify our strength as others did, the twenty four political leaders
comprising the Filipino Political Action Group collectively decided to dissolve
the alliance. It could be the disappointing defeat and the vulgarity in some
ethnic campaigns that discouraged them to go on.
I was the last person in the group to leave from that final meeting. It was
indeed a setback. Aside from losing the campaign, I also lost the alliance. I
worked painstakingly on this before the provincial premier campaign. It was
difficult, but I managed to share my thoughts with them. I surely made an error
to prematurely engage the new-formed alliance. I should have allowed it with
more time to mature. It was not yet ready to stand against the pressure of an
intense and convoluted long election campaign.
It took a slow crawl to re-connect the concept of unified strength amongst
Filipino political leaders. We still were creatures with addiction to politics
that we agreed to register an association that would hopefully manage properly
the political content of our community. The Filipino Political Association came
into existence. It was a legal entity where decisions were mandated through
democratic process. I was elected president.
Support within was still split into two groups. More weight was on the side of
a long time political king-pin. He was a medical doctor with tremendous
influence amongst Filipinos. He started losing his luster when newspapers
published his alleged medical improprieties with the natives. He suddenly died
without gaining back his reputation.
His passing did create a leadership vacuum. The political association absorbed
the vacated leadership unchallenged and henceforth was recognized as the
political arm of the community. We conducted series of forums and participated
in election campaigns. Association.s candidates had not been opposed by any
group in the community. We finally found a solution to nagging dilemma of
Filipinos every election.
It was in this environment that the political association decided to field
simultaneously three Filipino candidates. I was one of them. The campaign
started well, but halfway through became nasty. The two candidates had problem
in organization and lost. I too was facing a very vicious issue of reversed
racism. The news media both in print and electronic were playing bold and wide
about my alleged prejudices against non ethnic Canadians.
My campaign believed that the racial question labeled against me was unfairly
the reason of my defeat. It was an accusation that would not go away. The press
wanted me to apologies. I refused by saying that I would not apologies on
something I am not.
I surmised that there was more to it than what was on the surface. Three of the
four provincial constituencies in the northeast were already represented by
visible immigrants. I was running in a riding against a Canadian incumbent. My
victory would have meant a clean ethnic sweep. This was not however by
designed. There was no conspiracy behind it. But rumors flew otherwise.
I did some soul searching after. Was my quest for community unity racism by
itself? I had been involved in building a strong and united community since I
first stepped on Canadian soil that Victoria Day in 1969. I passionately
supported the adoption of multiculturalism. I preached cohesiveness as
deterrent to intolerances. I believed that Canadians should accept immigrants
as they are and not on what they want them to be.
I despised the policy of mainstreamism. It was not only hypocritical but also
divisive. I chastised with ferocity the concept of assimilating immigrant.s
culture rather than integrating it into society.s mosaic. I advocated the
rights of multicultural Canadians as equal and distinct like the French,
English and the Aboriginal. My desire was for immigrants to belong in the
country they also called home. Was this to be construed as racial? Well, if it
was, then so be it. But I think that it was not.
I am not a racist.
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