Discover more great stories and videos about the Filipino community in Calgary and southern Alberta
CBC Calgary is celebrating the Filipino community with a new pop-up bureau dedicated to meeting our neighbours across the city and telling their stories.
CBC Calgary Pop-up Bureau series meets our Filipino neighbours to share their stories.
A collection of CBC Calgary stories from the Filipino community and celebrating our city's unique culture. (CBC)
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CBC Calgary is celebrating the Filipino community with a new Pop-up Bureau dedicated to meeting our neighbours across the city and telling their stories.
Over the next few months, CBC Calgary reporters will meet with members of the Filipino community and immerse themselves in the culture of one of the city's fastest growing ethno-cultural groups.
This is an opportunity to reflect stories within our community that represent our diverse city. The series will explore people, culture and perspectives within the Filipino community for an experience that can reflect the cultural mosaic that defines Calgary.
Have a story the Filipino Pop-up Bureau should focus on? Click here to pitch your story.
The artwork Crossing the Pacific was created by Harvey Nichol for CBC Calgary’s Filipino Heritage Month. The artwork will be used throughout the campaign to complement the photography and stories. (Harvey Nichol)
Calgary Rapper Twizzie Ramos is one of the nominees for Best Album of the Year at the inaugural FilCan Music Rap Awards on June 12. (Submitted by Twizzie Ramos)
A rendering of what the Jose Rizal statue planned for Prairie Winds Park might look like. It’s hoped the monument will become a meeting place for the community. (Submitted by Vangie Caoile)
From left: Ailynn Wong, Zac Ardena and Rupert Garcia are three Albertans working to increase the profile of Filipino food in the province. (Submitted by Ailynn Wong, Zac Ardena, CBC)
From left: Deanna Reyes-Kinzer, her husband Paul, Arnold and Darlene Casten smile for a group photo taken about 20 years ago. (Submitted by Darlene Casten)
Jesie Salcedo, a Calgary teacher, says Filipino food is a kind of love language in her family. 'The act of sharing food, or even just cooking for somebody is such a huge way to show somebody you care.' (Submitted by Jesie Salcedo)
Jet Catacutan, left, and Leah Anifowose are tattoo apprentices in Calgary who use their art to explore their own identities and help others express theirs. (Submitted by Jet Catacutan, Leah Anifowose)
John Salazar moved to Lac La Biche in 2019 after spending 18 years in Calgary and was surprised to find a deep-rooted and welcoming community of Filipinos in the tiny town. (Submitted by John Salazar)
Simon Bondoc, left, and Kathleen Bragas will co-facilitate a workshop Saturday to give Filipino youth an opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and find acceptance on all things that have to do with sex and sexuality. (Submitted by Kathleen Bragas)
Alphonse Uy, a 28-year-old Filipino-Chinese Calgarian, is sharing a recent racist encounter in the hopes that other people will speak up too. (Submitted by Alphonse Uy)
Gerd (left) and Elaine Schmidt (right) babysat Dominic Judilla when he was an infant so his mother, Dixie Marie, could go back to her temporary foreign worker job at the Dairy Queen in Claresholm, Alta. (Submitted by Dixe Marie Judilla)
Calgarian Aurora Dacanay moved to Alberta in 1965 to work as a teacher in Taber. (Submitted by Aurora Dacanay)
WATCH | Meet Maria Galura, a Filipina Balloon artist
Meet the balloon artist behind colourful installations popping up around Calgary
4 years ago
Duration 2:34
Maria Galura is bringing joy to our city while connecting with her roots. Her latest work can be seen at the Chinook Blast festival happening in downtown Calgary.
Roxanne Singlot, Heather Resendes and Angelica Torres represent a new generation of Filipino youth in Calgary with a new perspective on their community. (Submitted by Singlot/Resendes/Torres)
Malaya Marcelino, MLA for Winnipeg Notre Dame, Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington and Jocelyn Curteanu, City Councillor for Whitehorse represent the growing number of Filipino politicians across Canada. (gov.mb.ca, leg.bc.ca, whitehorse.ca)
Bea Gan, Giselle Dino and Julie Alati-it discuss the pressures of growing up in a Filipino family. (Submitted by Bea Gan, Giselle Dino and Alex Ramadan)
WATCH | How a nearly forgotten Filipino writing style was brought back from the brink
How a nearly forgotten Filipino writing style was brought back from the brink
4 years ago
Duration 4:02
Baybayin is making a comeback, becoming "cool" again with help from young Filipinos exploring their identity with tattoos and shirts.
Harlijk Mirasol, Riza Santos and Elisha Ventura discuss how the pageant scene is thriving in Calgary. (Submitted by Harlijk Mirasol, Riza Santos and Elisha Ventura)
The art form is familiar in many films and in Alberta there are Grandmasters who are keeping the national martial art of the Philippines alive. (Paul Karchut (CBC))
Joy Tajanlangit (left) owns a store in Calgary that helps the Filipino community send remittances back to the Philippines, a practice that hasn't dropped much in Canada since the pandemic hit. Plus we explain what's happening with GameStop and the stock market. And take a look at how Canada's job market isn't recovering equally for all. (Submitted by Joy Tajanlangit, The Associated Press)
Winston Gaqui, Rinna Lamano and Rosman Valencia were recognized as essential worker heroes by their local community. (Submitted by Winston Gaqui, Rinna Lamano, Rosman Valencia)
These are some of the Zodiac-inspired looks that Calgarian Bryan Francisco created using handmade plastic head pieces, clay, airbrushes and gold-flecked paint and posted on his Instagram feed bryan.mua. (Bryan Mua Instagram)
An expanding presence and the addition of new generations has led to some changes in the Simbang Gabi celebrations at St. Anthony's, Vargas says, with Christmas carols mixed in. (Mike Symington/CBC)
Mary Kate Aquino, a student at Mount Royal University, sings as a soloist during a Simbang Gambi service at St. Anthony's. (Mike Symington/CBC)
Video stories:
WATCH | Zodiak makeup series brings millions of views to Calgary artist trending on TikTok
Zodiac makeup series brings millions of views to Calgary artist trending on TikTok
4 years ago
Duration 3:35
CBC's Paul Karchut talks to Bryan Francisco about the overwhelming response to his series that brings Zodiac signs to life through makeup and a ton of creativity.
WATCH | Christmas hampers bring Filipino comforts of home to newcomers
Christmas hampers bring Filipino comforts of home to newcomers
4 years ago
Duration 2:11
This year, the cultural group called Fiesta Filipino decided to bring the comforts of home to some Filipino families who now call Calgary home.
WATCH | Celebrating 'Simbang Gabi' a bit differently this year
Celebrating 'Simbang Gabi' a bit differently this year
4 years ago
Duration 1:58
Take a listen to some of the sounds of an annual tradition that had to change with the pandemic.
WATCH | Behind the mic at Calgary's Filipino radio stations
Behind the mic at Calgary's Filipino radio stations
4 years ago
Duration 1:13
Meet some of the voices broadcasting over Calgary's radio waves with a focus on the city's large Filipino population, and why some hope to see changes to bring in a younger audience.
WATCH | How this Calgary basketball player helps others chase the dream he lived
How this Calgary basketball player helps others chase the dream he lived
4 years ago
Duration 4:02
Kelvin dela Peña left Calgary as a teen to become a professional basketball player in the Philippines. While his time in the big leagues was cut short when he suffered a catastrophic back injury, it inspired him to create a program for kids of all ages: Rise Up Basketball.
WATCH | How Nimbly market was inspired by home-based Filipino convenience stores
How Nimbly Market was inspired by home-based Filipino convenience stores
4 years ago
Duration 1:55
There's a new app in town, and it connects Calgarians with home-based grocery stores that have some special imports from the Philippines.
WATCH | Parols for the Philippines: These Calgarians hope the light of the lanterns will brighten the lives of families half a world away
Parols for the Philippines
4 years ago
Duration 2:54
Recovering Filipino
LISTEN |Recovering Filipino - Host Jim Agapito is a "bad Filipino." The Filipino-Canadian filmmaker can't speak Tagalog and is stumped by some of the things Filipinos do and believe. Join Jim on this enlightening, joyful, and surprising 10-episode mission to recover his culture.
Will Tigley is CBC Calgary's Manager of Communications and specializes in storytelling, community building and content development. He's led projects including the Filipino Bureau, launching the Lethbridge Bureau and Young Calgary. In his spare time, you can find him eating his way through Calgary’s food scene, exploring the city’s outdoor fitness activities, or discovering a new graphic novel.
