Toronto, ON – May 26, 2010 – Burgeoning talent and creativity amongst Filipino-Canadian youth, fostered through community organizing and activism, mark the recent achievements of Gabriella Abis and Kenneth Santos, both members of UKPC/FCYA-ON. The Magkaisa Centre proudly congratulates and celebrates the achievements of Abis and Santos, whose actions serve as a glimpse into the possibilities of an empowered Filipino-Canadian youth. Within the energies and capacities of the youth reside the driving force necessary to propel the Filipino-Canadian community towards its just and genuine settlement and integration, as exemplified by Abis and Santos.

Gabriella Abis, using her skills behind the lens, placed the Top 10 slots of the City of Toronto’s “Our City, Our Stories powered by Canon” photography competition. Her series of photographs, “The Odyssey of Play,” were chosen amongst 152 submissions, all of which originated from Toronto’s list of Priority Neighbourhoods. “My photos convey a sense of happiness, friendship and freedom,” describes Abis. “Some of feelings are what our parents brought us to Canada for, not just for jobs,” she continues. Abis is a 17-year old student at Msgr. Percy Johnson Catholic Secondary School in Rexdale.

Kenneth Santos, a fourth year Political Science, French and Education major at York University, was the recipient of the Jaswant Singh Randhawa Award in Political Science. As a young Filipino scholar, he emphasizes the need for research that is grounded in the community. “We belong to a community of educators. Our experiences as a community shape our collective histories,” Santos says. “Our crucial role as young scholars starts when we document those experiences and bring it back to the community through collective action and organizing” he adds.

As members of UKPC/FCYA-ON, Abis and Santos encourage all youth to discover their creativity and talent through the practice of community-building. Education, art and culture are powerful components of the community’s transformation and empowerment. Armed with the culture of resistance, Filipino youth are stepping up to the challenge to make Filipino youth count in Canada’s future.

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To view more of Gabriella Abis’ photos, click here.

For more information, contact:
Kim Abis
(416) 519-2553
ukpc-on@magkaisacentre.org
www.magkaisacentre.org