Hello FCEN Kapwa!

Hopefully 2026 carries lots of promise and peace for you in the next twelve months ahead of us. Our activities for FCEN this year are starting a bit late, so please note the invitation to important activities in our network below.

January 18 to 31, 2026 - The Biyuti Project Arts Exhibit at The Textiles Museum

This art exhibit features the creations of research participants exploring the experiences of queer and trans Filipino/a/x youth in Catholic schools in Ontario. Please check out the following events and enjoy free admission if you register for any of the sessions. Register here.

• Jan 18: Launch from 1 to 4 PM, Filipino drag queen and math personality Kyne will be present!

• Jan 28: Guided Tour and Roundtable Discussion. The discussion will focus on implications of research findings on educational policy and practice.

• Jan 31: Pamaypay Extravaganza - Queer and Trans Filipinx FANtastica

February 10, 2026 at 4:30 PM - Filipino Advisory Committee Meeting at the TCDSB (Virtual)

Members affiliated or associated with the TCDSB community are welcome to attend. If you would like to participate as a community member and/or have items to add to the agenda, please message committee chair jodelyn.huang@tcdsb.org 

February 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM - Direction-Setting Meeting (Virtual)

All members of the network are welcome! At this meeting, we will discuss priorities and core activities within the network for the year ahead. This is also an opportunity for network members to share invitations to events, opportunities, organizations they are a part of for others to participate. Please email santiaa@tcdsb.org if interested in attending.

March 28, 2026 1 to 3 PM - Proudly Pinoy Educators Scholarship Fundraiser: Family Bowling

Sign up for fun with family and friends to support educator pathways for Filipino/a/x students at the TCDSB. This scholarship provides two students with $5000 each to support their entry into the teaching profession. If you can’t sign up, please share and/or donate! Lots of sponsorship opportunities as well for organizations or businesses to help connect you with the Filipino community. Check it out here.

June 2026 - Committee for TCDSB PancitFest Fundraiser

Our food fundraiser is looking a little different this year! If you are interested in being part of the committee, please email jodelyn.huang@tcdsb.org to sign up! Meeting dates are to be determined but the event will take place in June.

2024 Report:

• To promote the entry of Filipino/a/x students into the teaching profession, the TCDSB is granting a $5000 scholarship to two students every year. Two Filipino/a/x students were awarded the scholarship last year. Check out more details at The Angel Foundation.

• A true model of community and family engagement and fundraising, we worked with the St. Margaret staff, student, and family community in Toronto to fundraise through an Adobo Festival and raised around $6500!

• We piloted the Tuwa & Saya Filipino Summer Camp through the Focus on Youth program at the TCDSB. This was a huge success and is the very definition of “transformative” for the young people involved. Check out the videos covering some of the camp days. In addition to FOY coordinators and counselors, maraming salamat to Kababayan, OTT Remit, and KW Sentro for partnering with us week-long!

  • Day 3: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JrrurAAMfBS8Zj2B6  

  • Day 4: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Eacrr6JGUo73DVXs9  

  • Day 5: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hVsvS1LRSyijPwTm8 

Goals for the year ahead:

• Expansion/continuation of the Tuwa & Saya Filipino Summer Camp. 

• Bringing Filipino/a/x content into CRRP conversations at the TCDSB through the PASSOC Project and through creation of Filipino booklist to share with educators including recent publications such as:

  • Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino Canadian Writers

  • Reuniting with Strangers by Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio

  • True Colours of You by Jennifer Opinion

• Growing community networks by providing support to TCDSB Filipino Student Associations, aiming to connect more students and schools together

• Please email Aileen Santiago santiaa@tcdsb.org if you would like to be part of any of the above!

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES

Lots of things happening in the community…

• The Angel Foundation: Family Bowling Event on October 19 1 to 3 PM in Markham. Help support students at the TCDSB, including our Filipino students. Link here. Can’t make it? Donate instead!

• Filipino Parents/Guardians: Let’s Talk about Anti-Asian Racism. Help build community resources to support Asian Canadian parents with navigating anti-Asian racism. Check out the posters here in English and Filipino.

• Filipino-Canadian Civic Action Network (FCCAN) on Saturday, October 12 from 1 to 4 PM LAUNCH EVENT. FCCAN is a non-partisan, community-driven network that aims to support civic engagement in order to highlight community issues and mobilize a civic voice for Filipinos in the Greater Toronto & Hamilton Area. Sign up here.

• Philippine Teachers Association of Canada Conference: October 19, 2024, 9-12 pm

• Filipino Canadians Convention - Save the Date!

• Patricia Abad at the AGO. Please read this letter from Dr. Marissa Largo entitled “Letter Regarding Discontinuance as Community Curatorial Advisor for Patricia Abad at the AGO”

• Pinoys on Parliament 2025, “Panahon” is happening on February 21-23, 2025. They are currently looking for workshop presenters and facilitators and open to vendor applications. See linktree here: https://linktr.ee/pinoysonparliament

FOR FUN

If you haven’t checked out BINI yet, they’re a Filipina-pop group boasting some super fun tracks and rising international fame. Start with Pantropiko or Salamin, Salamin. You’re welcome!

Got stuff to share? Write to fil.can.educators.network@gmail.com and cc: santiaa@tcdsb.org to connect.