BOB GABUNA 2 Sept 09

Mahirap ang maging purist. (I am invoking Rule 6, tama ba).
Kasi, wala namang pure Tagalog, wala ring pure Hiligaynon.
A number of our vocabularies were coined either from English
or Hispanic languages.
Some are even corrupted words.

On the subj of uniting Filipinos, let me share two specific
firsthand experiences that expat Pinoys based in Winnipeg
unite:

When Dr Rey Pagtakhan, a native of Cavite, run for the Parliament
in 1988, then I was a newcomer in Canada, the community was
buzzing with intrigues that a Canadian of Filipino descent have this
grandiose plans to be political kingpin, which was never done by
a Pinoy.

Being an idealist, although am not qualified to vote yet, I posted
the placard of Dr Rey PAGTAKHAN in the townhouse I am staying.
The compound is a housing unit occupied by members from various
ethnic community. Eighty-five percent (85%), of the occupants are
Pinoy.

Curiously, out 200 Filipino households, I was the only one who
carried the campaign placard of Dr Pagtakhan. Asking around why
the rest of our kababayan did not display the placard of Dr Pagtakhan,
the uniform reply I got was, "Paano kung matalo? 'Di, nakakahiya!".

Fortunately for me, Dr Pagtakhan, a U.P. graduate of Medicine won.
Eventually Dr Pagtakhan served as Parliamentary Secretary to the
Prime Minister of Canada.

When parliamentary elections were called in the subsequent years,
Pinoys in Winnipeg found their identify and pride that they are Pinoy.
Practically, all Canadian-Filipinos eligible to vote, turned out and
cast their support to Dr Pagtakhan. The compound where I stayed,
were littered with campaign placards of Dr Pagtakhan. For 18 years,
it appeared that Dr Pagtakhan is invincible as Member of the
Parliament.

Dr Pagtakhan gained the moniker of invincibility because the Pinoys
in Winnipeg united behind him.

The other occasion where Pinoys in Winnipeg came together and
unite was the event when opinion leaders in the Filipino Community
denounced the discriminatory act committed by Canada's largest
grocery department store----Supervalu.

The Fiipino Journal, and Good Morning Philippines (radio program)
brought the case to the Filipino Community about the mag lola
who were illegally frisked after paying their purchases on sheer
suspicion that the apo stole a candy bar. The lola looks like a
Native person. Akala ng store clerk, si lola ay Native.

Citywide boycott was launched. The store suffered loses of $50K
a day, since the other members of the migrant community joined us.
Those who migrated from Vietnam, India, and Pakistan sympathized
with us.

A year later, the headquarters of Supervalu sought reconciliation
with the Filipino Community.

I am in privy to the above described situation because I was an
active participant and planner in carrying out those moves.

Yes, Pinoys, have the ability to unite kung gustohin nilang magka
isa.

To unite for the betterment of the birthland, it must be willed.



Bob