24
MetroVanIndependent.com
July 2015
celebration
Photo by Diones Lago
Canada Day Fireworks at Coal Harbour.
Canada, Oh Canada! Our Home!
A message from MetroVan Independent News Co-Publisher Luisa Marshall
Canada, Oh Canada! 26 beautiful but
challenging years, and I still feel blessed
to be living in this democratic country. I'm
grateful for all the opportunities and I'm
very proud to be Canadian.
I first came to Canada in 1989 as
a Temporary Foreign Worker, painfully
leaving behind my whole family and one
year old daughter. I cried nightly being
away from those I loved most but knew I
had to stay strong so that I could support
my family back home and give my baby
daughter a better future.
I brought 8 members of my band from
the Philippines to Canada and struggled
with finding fair contracts as we travelled all
over BC and Alberta. We were an all Filipino
band that had to work extra hard to gain
the respect of our Canadian audiences. But
through years of hard work we were luckily
accepted as one of the most sought after
bands.
Travelling on the road for roughly 3
years, it was a challenge to live normally
as we moved weekly from one town to
the next playing music. At times when we
couldn't find work, we had no place to stay
and not much food to eat because we were
sending money back to our loved ones in
the Philippines.
Lucky for us, we were blessed to have
some fellow Canadian kababayans come
to our rescue. In times of struggles, these
fellow kababayans welcomed us into their
homes and went out of their way to put a
roof over our heads and food to eat.
After 4 years of uncertainty, and
support from our Canadian friends, I,
together with my two siblings, were
able to secure our permanent residency
status. Within years after that, I was able
to sponsor my daughter, my mother and
youngest brother to come to Canada. It
was a dream come true.
Not one day goes by where I don't think
about the genuine kindness and hospitality
that was given to me as I struggled to fight
and make Canada my home. My Canadian
kababayans gave me hope and gave me
the life I have today. I am everyday grateful.
Today, I'm proud and blessed to say
that I have a comfortable life and successful
career surrounded by my wonderful family
and friends here in Canada. Although I'm
very much a Filipino at heart and spirit, I'm
happy and honoured to also be Canadian.
To me, being Canadian means being
a fighter for freedom, equality and peace.
Being Canadian means standing up
for what you believe in with dignity and
integrity. Being Canadian means embracing
diversity and being compassionate - giving
hope to those who are in need.
To all the supporters of MetroVan
Independent News and Simply The Best
- The Luisa Marshall Show, you guys are
awesome! To all my Luisa Marshall Band
supporters and Tina Turner Tribute fans,
you guys rock! Thank you all for being a
part of my dream. I couldn’t have done it
without your love and support.
As a proud Filipino-Canadian, I look
forward in continuing to serve and give
back to my community for many years to
come. Mwah!