The chance for a future together in Canada meant years of separation for the Lopez family

Dana Lopez and her father Dany Lopez were born in Philippines and now live in Toronto. Dana became a Canadian citizen on July 1, 2016 in North York, Ontario.

Dana: "I remember when my mom was going away to work in Canada. I was always crying. I cried for the whole day, because it felt like I was never going to see her again. That's what it feels like. It's like the saddest day of my life. I was six years old. They just told me that my mom is going away to work somewhere else in order for us to have a better life and a better education."

Dany: "In 2003, my wife decided to come here to Canada in December as a live-in caregiver. She had to stay for two years with a certain family to take care of their kids. We came here on November 20, 2008. Family, it's a part of the Filipino culture, that family binds. They want you to be together until the end of time. It's togetherness. It's something very important to Filipino people. My daughter is now a citizen, and me, maybe two, three months from now I will be."

This story is part of Becoming Canadian, a year-long project sharing stories of struggle and triumph from new Canadian citizens. ​To find more stories, follow Canada 2017 on Facebook and @BecomingCDN on Twitter.