Toronto, ON – September 29, 2010 –

Building upon a decade-strong legacy of women’s organizing and empowerment in Ontario, the struggles, experiences and perspectives of progressive Filipino-Canadian women will define the new path for the future of the entire community. “Creating, Strengthening and Nurturing the Filipino-Canadian Women’s Struggle for Genuine Liberation and Empowerment” invites all Filipino-Canadian women to join the conversation and breathe life into the discussion of continuing the path of empowerment on November 27 & 28 at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Besides being able to partake in the flourishing of this discussion and learn from other Filipino-Canadian women, participants will also play an active part in the historic celebration of 10.10.2010 – the 10th year anniversary of the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (PWC-ON).

As part of the 10.10.2010 celebrations, this conference will reinvigorate and advance the unity built by Filipino Canadian women to raise their struggle to a national level at “Towards Filipino Women’s Liberation,” the first-ever national Filipino Canadian women’s consultative forum held in 1999. Out of these continued efforts in strengthening the Filipino-Canadian women’s movement, PWC-ON was formed in October 2000. “It has always been clear to us that Filipino-Canadian women not only have an important role to play in the empowerment of the entire community, but that our empowerment as women is fundamental to that of the entire community’s,” says Joy Sioson, chairperson of PWC-ON. Ten years later, amidst the intensifying exploitation and oppression of Filipino-Canadian women, the resounding call for genuine women’s liberation still rings true. “Creating, Strengthening and Nurturing…” will highlight the pivotal role of women’s organizing in defining the community’s struggle to attain full entitlement in Canadian society.

Organized under the auspices of the Congress of Progressive Filipino-Canadians (CPFC), “Creating, Strengthening and Nurturing…” will be one milestone in the community’s unfolding new path of settlement and integration. Panel speeches and discussions will recall past efforts while exploring new avenues of organizing as part of the community’s collective struggle to take root in Canada as their new home. “As young women, the only future we foresee for our community is one wherein our women are liberated,” says Alleben Purugganan, PWC-ON and UKPC/FCYA-ON member. In this conference, the uncompromising vision of Filipino-Canadian women will provide the fertile ground upon which future generations of Filipino-Canadians will thrive. It hopes to inspire all Filipino Canadian women to contribute to their community as leaders and as creators in their own right.

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“Creating, Strengthening and Nurturing the Filipino-Canadian Women’s Struggle for Genuine Liberation and Empowerment”

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Room 2214
University of Toronto

Saturday, November 27, 2010, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Solidarity Night 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunday, November 28, 2010, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Registration fee: $20.00

Click here to view the Conference Agenda

To register

or for more information, contact:

Kim Abis or Qara Clemente
(416) 519-2553
pwc-on@magkaisacentre.org
www.magkaisacentre.org