Tribute to Filipino moms in Quebec

The Philippine Women Centre of Quebec (PWCQ) wants to honor Filipino mothers for International Women's Day (IWD). Under the theme of "Ina, abante! Kumilos, makibaka para sa hustisya, karapatan, at dignidad!" (Mothers, move forward to struggle for justice, our rights, and dignity), the Filipino community and their supporters to acknowledge their stories of hardship, poverty, exploitation, and oppression, while saluting their struggles and resistance. "Filipino mothers are the backbone of our community. The majority are domestic workers who entered Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP) and left behind their families in the Philippines for a better future. Yet, they encounter new trials and tribulations here even after reuniting with their families" says Joy Alarcon, Board Member of the Philippine Women Centre of Quebec. International Women's Day is very significant to the Filipino community. Nearly 100,000 Filipino women have come to Canada since the 1980's to work under Citizenship and Immigration Canada's LCP. Under this program, women work and live in their employers homes taking care of children, the disabled, or the elderly for minimum wage or less. The women face a lifetime of socio-economic violence, de-skilling and all forms of physical, sexual and verbal abuse including rape. Many women endure years of violence in order to qualify for the chance at permanent residency, reunification with their families and eventual citizenship. PWCQ will commence their IWD festivities with their opening celebration on March 8th at the 6767 Community Centre in Cote-des-Neiges. Young Filipino women rappers, artists, and singers will perform. The evening's highlight will be the stories of Filipino mothers and their children. On March 12th, the annual PWCQ International Women's Day comedy fundraiser will take place at Oliveira Cafe, 213 Rachel East, with local comedy talent from Comedy Off the Main including Ashaf Gerchak, and Filipino comedian, Paul Baluyot. For the IWD finale, PWCQ will host a live art show featuring local Filipino visual artists. Gene "Starship" Pendon, founding member of Heavyweight Production House, and Wing Diocson Yap, Sinag Bayan visual artist. Using poetry, art, music, energy, and the stories of our community as inspiration, Pendon and Yap will create an art mural while spoken word artists perform. The event will take place at McGill University, Thomson House, 3650 McTavish on March 15, 2008 at 8:00 pm. "As a daughter of a domestic worker, alongside honoring the experiences of our Filipino mothers, I will also honor my mother for her contribution. It is time for our community to recognize the strength and courage of our women" asserts Alarcon. *** For more information on these events and ticket prices, please contact the Philippine Women Centre of Quebec at the Kapit Bisig Filipino community centre. The phone number is (514) 678-3901 or via email at pwcofquebec@gmail.com. ***Philippine Women Centre of Quebec--- Under the supervision of the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC), we are an institution of research, education, advocacy, and capacity building by Filipino women for the Filipino community. Tel: (514) 678-3901