This is a list of Filipino Canadians who have made significant contributions to Canadian culture, politics, or society. It also includes those with notable mentions in Canadian media.
Academia
[edit]
Joselito (Lito) M. Arocena - soil scientist, Canada Research Chair in Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC
Glenda Bonifacio- Professor of Women's Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Lakehead University
Herbert Gaisano – Professor and Researcher at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine and Gastroenterologists
Jessica Trisko-Darden - activist, former model, beauty queen[1] and assistant professor of international development and conflict at American University's School of International Service[2]
Ann Makosinski - student inventor and public speaker[3]
Romulo F. Magsino Sr. - former Dean of Education at a major university in Canada
Rogemar Mamon - mathematician, professor at the University of Western Ontario[4]
Ana Serrano-artist, Dean of the Ontario College of Art and Design University
Eleanor Ty - professor in the department of English and film studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.[5]
Arts and letters
[edit]
Dance
[edit]
AC Bonifacio - dancer/female member of Lucky Aces[6]
Maribeth Manalaysay Tabanera aka Kilusan - artist, abolitionist educator and community organizer[7]
Alvin Erasga Tolentino - choreographer and dance artist
Victor Cui - CEO and owner of the MMA promotion ONE FC
Dominic Penaloza - CEO & founder of Ushi[20] and WorldFriends[21]
Fashion and pageantry
[edit]
Pageants
[edit]
Karla Henry - Miss Earth 2008
Bea Santiago - Miss International 2013
Riza Santos - Miss Earth Canada 2006, Miss World Canada 2011 and Miss Universe Canada 2013
Tisha Silang – former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe; beauty queen; TV host; entrepreneur
Jessica Trisko - Miss Earth 2007, academic, activist, beauty queen, and former model
Labour
[edit]
Juliet Cuenco - rights activist, public servant
Columbia 'Coco' Diaz - program manager for Intercede, an Ontario advocacy group for domestic workers[22]
Don Garcia - ILWU Canada president
Virginia Guiang-Santoro - founder of Filipino Domestic Workers Association of Manitoba[23]
Ging Hernandez - advocate for domestic care workers and women's rights activist
Juana Tejada - caregiver who campaigned for overseas Filipino workers' (OFW) and immigrants' rights in Canada[24]
Pura Velasco - advocate for caregivers
Fely Villasin - advocate for domestic workers, caregivers and new immigrants, founder/artistic director of Carlos Bulosan Theatre
Health Science
[edit]
Eileen de Villa - Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto
Gigi Osler - president of the Canadian Medical Association
Politics
[edit]
Cris Aglugub – Manitoba former NDP MLA, the Maples (1999–2007), former Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Labour and Immigration, and subsequently to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade.[25]
Carl Benito - former MLA for Edmonton-Mill Woods (2008–2012)
Lisa Bower - Councillor for Town of Ajax, Ontario (2018–present).[26]
Yvonne Clarke - first Filipina MLA (Portercreek 2021–present) in the Yukon Legislative Assembly[27]
Jelynn Dela Cruz - Member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for Radisson
Narima dela Cruz - community organizer
Mable Elmore – first Filipina-Canadian MLA in BC (NDP) (2009–present), current Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care (2020–present),[28] former Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction of British Columbia (2017–2020), former Spokesperson for Temporary Foreign Workers and Immigration and former the Deputy Spokesperson for Finance[29]
Tobias C. Enverga – first Filipino-Canadian Senator (Conservative); first Filipino-Canadian elected to the City of Toronto in 2010 (to the Toronto Catholic District School Board as trustee)
Flor Marcelino – first Filipino woman and racialized woman elected MLA in Manitoba (2007–2019), former Leader of the Opposition (2016–2017), Minister of Multiculturalism and Literacy (2013–2016), and Minister of Culture, Heritage, and Tourism (2009–2013)[30]
Malaya Marcelino - MLA in Manitoba- Notre Dame (2019)[31]
Ted Marcelino – former MLA in Manitoba, first MLA for the electoral district of Tyndall Park (2011–2019)
Rey Pagtakhan – first Filipino-Canadian Member of Parliament (1988–2004), first Filipino-Canadian Cabinet Minister (2001–2004), former Minister of Western Economic Diversification(2003–2004),Minister of Veterans Affairs (2002–2003), Senior Minister for Manitoba (2002–2004),Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) (2002–2003), and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) (2001–2002).[32][33]
Jon Reyes - Conservative MLA (St. Norbert 2016–2019, Waverley 2019-present) and Minister of Economic Development and Jobs in Manitoba (2020–present), former special envoy for military affairs[34][35]
Conrad Santos – first Filipino Canadian elected in Canada (elected as MLA in Manitoba (1981–1988, 1990-2007), and first Filipino Canadian to run for the leadership of a political party (Manitoba NDP, 1989)
Rowena Santos - first Filipino councillor in City of Brampton, Vice Chair of Audit and Risk, and Chair of Community Services (2018–present) [36]
Rechie Valdez - first Filipina woman elected MP, current MP for Mississauga-Streetsville, first Filipina-Canadian Cabinet Minister[37][38]
Tany Yao - Conservative MLA in Alberta in the riding of Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (2015)[39]
Sports
[edit]
Sean Anthony - professional basketball player for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters
Eve Badana - football goalkeeper
Matthew Baldisimo - midfielder for Pacific FC
Michael Baldisimo - soccer player for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Jonathan de Guzmán – midfielder for Feyenoord Rotterdam
Julian de Guzman - soccer coach and former professional player
Edrian Paul Celestino - figure skater
David Choinière - soccer player
Mathieu Choinière - soccer player
Kadin Chung - soccer player for Pacific FC
Camille Clarin - basketball player for the Philippines women's national basketball team
Aidan Daniels - midfielder for Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Crispin Duenas – Olympic archer
Mathew Dumba - professional hockey player (NHL)
Leylah Annie Fernandez - tennis player
Bianca Fernandez - tennis player
Rey Fortaleza – Olympic boxer
James Forrester - professional basketball player
Gilmore Junio - Winter Olympics long track speed skater
A. J. Mandani - former PBA & ABL basketball player
Patrick Metcalfe - soccer player for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Nick O'Donnell - soccer player for Philippines national football team in 2014
Alex Pagulayan – 2004 world pool champion
Victoria Pickett - professional soccer player
Kharis Ralph - former ice dancer
Rebecca Rivera - professional volleyball player
Kayla Sanchez - Olympic swimmer
Jaclyn Sawicki - footballer for Philippines women's national football team
Devin Shore - professional ice hockey player
Jesse Shugg - international soccer player
Kat Tolentino - professional volleyball player
Ernestine Tiamzon - former professional volleyball player
Norbert Torres - professional basketball player
Matthew Wright - basketball player for Kyoto Hannaryz, former PBA player
Television and film
[edit]
Television
[edit]
Susan Aceron - actress
Chasty Ballesteros - actress
Eric Bauza - voice actor, stand-up comedian and animation artist[40]
Carlos Bustamante (TV personality) - television host, actor and voice actor
Nancy Castiglione – actress and singer; actress on Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga