Canada NGO urged step up help for Filipino newcomers

Fil-Canadian groups urge a once-leading multicultural organization to return to the forefront of immigration issues in B.C. to help Filipino newcomers in the province.

Rowena Papasin

TFC News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hw7v2wej3Nk?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>The gleaming building of the Multicultural Helping House Society once held the promise of being a haven for many Filipino caregivers and temporary foreign workers when it opened in 2011.But it somehow lost its shine after allegations of conflict of interest, mismanagement, financial irregularities, and the exploitation of caregivers were made against its founder, Tomas &quot;Tatay Tom” Avendano in 2019.Not much has been heard of from the MHHS since then.But recently, Migrante B.C.’s Erie Maestro saw that the MHHS continues to help Filipino newcomers through forums that address their concerns.&quot;They were able to gather the experts and the community resources and the community came,&quot; he said. &quot;The community of caregivers, temporary foreign workers, and international students came because they had questions and they needed help.&quot;Maestro urged the MHHS to make itself more visible again to Filipino migrant workers who comprise a large majority of Filipinos in British Columbia.&quot;I think they need to be more out there,&quot; Maestro added. &quot;It has an important role. You&#x27;re a publicly funded institution, you have a service and a mandate and you&#x27;re helping out and that&#x27;s great.&quot;After its past controversies, the MHHS now has a new board led by Filipino-Canadian Janet Teves.Three of its current members also represent different cultural backgrounds. MHSS executive director Ann Nienaber said many Filipino newcomers still come to their doors but they have also been helping those from other cultures.&quot;We&#x27;ve taken that Filipino philosophy and ideology of &#x27;Bayanihan&#x27; and have expanded that to something bigger,&quot; she said, &quot;where we&#x27;re collaborating with not just the Filipino community, but also with the multicultural community in Canada.&quot;Teves said the facility still offers respite to caregivers with no place to stay. It also has a space where seniors can gather for their activities.With most of its funds coming from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, Nienaber gave the assurance that taxpayers’ money is used properly by the MHHS.Migrant workers advocate Darla Tomeldan urged Filipino-Canadians to rally behind groups like the MHHS.She said this will help ensure that organizations helping migrant workers won’t face funding cuts.The Filipino-Canadian Construction Society, which played a major role in the design and building of the MHHS has also offered to help in maintaining its structure.

Fil-Canadian groups urge a once-leading multicultural organization to return to the forefront of immigration issues in B.C. to help Filipino newcomers in the province.

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Canada NGO urged to be more visible to help Filipino newcomers

Canada NGO urged to be more visible to help Filipino newcomers

Rowena Papasin,

TFC News

Published Apr 04, 2024 07:20 PM PHT

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