By Marlene Mogado, former Markham Catholic School Trustee, colleague and mentee of Alex Chiu
“2021 BANAAG (Philippine) Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas… conferred for their significant contributions to advance the cause or promote the interests of Filipino communities in diaspora.”
“Banaag: Filipino for daybreak, morning light, aurora, to dawn, to get light.”
Markham was a sleeper suburban town north of the bustling city of Toronto in the 70s when we settled in and organized the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians. Alex Chiu, who had just made his mark as the first newly elected Filipino Councilor in Ontario, was our prime mover. In time, he would prove his mettle in politics and civic work that pushed the boundaries, with many “firsts” in achievements, unmatched but copied everywhere, culminating to this recognition from a grateful Filipino nation with the Banaag Award, though given posthumously.
In Markham alone, his legacy lives in the many structures and spaces credited with his name- for examples, the Dr. Jose Rizal Monument, grandest in Canada, or elevating Markham into a City, that he authored .
Communities in the greater Toronto area and beyond, not just Filipinos, have been directly benefited by his vision and endeavors- the Independence and flagraising rituals were original ideas he first introduced with MFFC, now done by many groups in many places in Canada.
In the home country. he has brought the Markham brand of generosity by fundraising many times for disaster relief in kind or in cash-aid, and best of all by funding for the building of whole functioning communities named “Markham Villages”, one in Las Pinas with 52 housing units in partnership with ANCOP, and two in Leyte with 40 housing units or 20 each in partnership with Gawad Kalinga, functioning for also providing them with a community center and facilities, accompanied with programs and livelihood projects for the residents. This collectively is reported to be the first and biggest undertaking of this kind from anyone in Canada.
Born and raised in Candaba in Pampanga, of Chinese heritage, he has not ignored those facts of his life. Instead, it has led him to love the Philippines and to idolize Rizal, who is also with Chinese heritage, that later on fired his passion to build the Rizal monument in Markham. With the Chinese connection, it became his strength and success. He helped the Chinese community just as much, and was a factor in bridging Markham with China in friendship and economic ties.
By the time he retired from politics, he had earned the distinct honor of being the “longest continuously serving Councilor in Markham” with 33 years of service or elected for 10 consecutive terms, a rare feat for a Filipino in diaspora. Imagine the impact of this busybody in all that time with his numerous deeds and accomplishments- he was very much worthy of this Banaag Award.
The Daybreak representation for the Banaag Award fits Alex Chiu perfectly. As a colleague and my mentor, I have seen it all unfold. From the dawning of the new day for the emerging Filipino community in Toronto, like many of us Alex was but an ordinary guy, moved with plain altruism, to help struggling compatriots facing settlement problems in the adopted land in those early days. But he had vision and resourcefulness, and what seemed to be insatiable drive to promote the Filipino community.
Years later as the sunrise was upon us, he had achieved for us Filipinos the highest level of respectability and pride that we in Markham enjoy today.
His efforts had spanned the breadth and depth in every category there is- from individuals to groups, ethnic communities, civic and religious organizations, government offices and agencies, charitable causes, culture and heritage, including those mentioned above, too numerous to list for the purposes of this commentary.
For a better grasp of his leadership in sourcing for disaster relief, the campaign for Ondoy victims alone raised $150,000, which the Federal Government in a special incentive program to encourage the spirit of giving among Canadians, doubled up to $300,000. These money funded the Global Medic’s emergency program that supplied clean water in the flooding areas, and relief operations of many NGO’s in Manila, including with ShareLife Caritas International, not to forget donations of non-perishable goods, clothing, and household items that were separately collected through various community partners. Not only for the Philippines, calamities in other countries have also benefited from his fundraising efforts, particularly in Haiti, and Indonesia.
In terms of major undertakings, Alex led in acquiring the MFFC Community Center, and did not let up until it was paid fully for $350,000, the first such fully paid center for Filipinos, enjoyed for its varied programs especially for youths and seniors, from sports to fitness to arts, culture and heritage and Canadiana, empowerment and health and social justice issues.
With his contributions to big building projects, his name is etched in the memorial plaques, among them in the Markham Milliken Mills Community Centre, the Southlake Regional Health Centre, Markham YMCA, Markhaven Seniors’ Home, Community Safety Village, and Mobile Fire Safety House.
To expand on the many “firsts” in Canada we mentioned in the beginning reflecting on his originality and deep love for his Filipino roots, in addition to being the First elected Filipino Councilor, initiating the first Independence Week with flag raising and community picnic features in Markham, the first inclusive Filipino organization that is as strong and untainted as ever to this day- the MFFC, the first fully paid community center, among the major ones we can add to his credit the naming of the first Rizal Avenue, actually the longest such avenue in Markham, and also Manila Avenue and Luzon Avenue, all iconic Filipino symbols now signifying that we have staked our claim as contributors in nation building in this part of beautiful Canada.
Yes, unbeknown to many in who started it, these items have been copied all over.
Finally, it was on the Dr. Jose Rizal Monument project that his aspirations and life-long dream to express his proud Filipino Heritage came into fruition. From his childhood, the patriotic Rizal in his nationalism, struggles and escapades, had caught his young fancy.
Becoming a Knight of Rizal in late 90s, the monument idea began to take form. As luck would have it, with his buddy who was in the same groove commiserating with him, both were struck by a Eureka moment one day, and the two senior friends pledged to finally make it happen. In their partnership, Alex would look after raising the needed funds, and his buddy Sculptor Mogi Mogado would create the statue and design the monument.
The women’s touch would be contributed by his wife Alicia Chiu by visualizing flowers and blooming cherry trees, naming it Luneta Gardens, and eventually Chairing the partnership project committee with the City of Markham.
Fast forward to an ambitious dream becoming a reality, Alex was beaming with pride and satisfaction, as he presided in the unveiling of his pet project, budgeted at $300,000 shared half and half between the partners, the grandest Rizal monument in Canada, life-size in bronze at 6’4″ tall on a 7′ granite pedestal, dedicated as the Filipino community’s gift to Canadians in celebration of Canada150, preceded by a kilometer-long public community parade, biggest in the annals of parades in Markham, the most remarkable cultural symbol ushering the debut of Philippine Heritage Month on its first year of celebrations Canada wide, and also commemorating Philippine Independence that day.
In cultural significance, Alex had planted the equivalent of a proverbial flag of conquest signifying that Filipinos had arrived and made home in Canada. The monument speaks for us in Rizal’s universal message of brotherhood of man, of harmony in diversity, of our love for freedoms and democracy, values promoted in multicultural Canada, and especially treasured in the City of Markham. It has become a tourist spot to visit, listed as a beautiful and notable addition to the Public Art Collection of the City.
Alex may be gone, in eternal peace with the Lord, but in his memory are these many remarkable acts and physical reminders that his light had been on them. And truly this daybreak Banaag Award coming from the homeland affirms that the Filipino nation he grew up in has the greatest of appreciation for all that he had done.
Thank you and Congratulations Councilor Alex Chiu, Alicia and Cherrie- we in our Filipino community are proud of you.
Note: Alex Chiu was posthumously honored with the Banaag Award. The Announcement was recently issued by the Secretariat of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas in the Office of the President of the Philippines. He was nominated by the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians through the efforts of Chair Yoly Ladines and Secretary Ester Toribio. Alex was among 56 awardees, from 20 countries and territories, 3 of them from Toronto.
The Secretariat received a total of 117 nominations for the four award categories – Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), Pamana Ng Pilipino, Banaag, and Kaanib ng Bayan from 31 countries through 39 Philippine Foreign Service Posts across Asia, North and South America, Europe, and Australia.
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To expand on the many “firsts” in Canada we mentioned in the beginning reflecting on his originality and deep love for his Filipino roots, in addition to being the First elected Filipino Councilor, initiating the first Independence Week with flag raising and community picnic features in Markham, the first inclusive Filipino organization that is as strong and untainted as ever to this day- the MFFC, the first fully paid community center, among the major ones we can add to his credit the naming of the first Rizal Avenue, actually the longest such avenue in Markham, and also Manila Avenue and Luzon Avenue, all iconic Filipino symbols now signifying that we have staked our claim as contributors in nation building in this part of beautiful Canada. Yes, unbeknown to many in who started it, these items have been copied all over.
Finally, it was on the Dr. Jose Rizal Monument project that his aspirations and life-long dream to express his proud Filipino Heritage came into fruition. From his childhood, the patriotic Rizal in his nationalism, struggles and escapades, had caught his young fancy.
Becoming a Knight of Rizal in late 90s, the monument idea began to take form.
As luck would have it, with his buddy who was in the same groove commiserating with him, both were struck by a Eureka moment one day, and the two senior friends pledged to finally make it happen. In their partnership, Alex would look after raising the needed funds, and his buddy Sculptor Mogi Mogado would create the statue and design the monument.
The women’s touch would be contributed by his wife Alicia Chiu by visualizing flowers and blooming cherry trees, naming it Luneta Gardens, and eventually Chairing the joint partnership project committee with the City of Markham.
Fast forward to an ambitious dream becoming a reality, Alex was beaming with pride and satisfaction, as he presided in the unveiling of his pet project, budgeted at $300,000 shared half and half between the partners, the grandest Rizal monument in Canada, life-size in bronze at 6’4″ tall on a 7′ granite pedestal, dedicated as the Filipino community’s gift to Canadians in celebration of Canada150, preceded by a kilometer-long public community parade, biggest in the annals of parades in Markham, the most remarkable cultural symbol ushering the debut of Philippine Heritage Month on its first year of celebrations Canadawide, and also commemorating Philippine Independence that day.
In cultural significance, Alex had planted the equivalent of a proverbial flag of conquest signifying that Filipinos had arrived, and made home in Canada. The monument speaks for us in Rizal’s universal message of brotherhood of man, of harmony in diversity, of our love for freedoms and democracy, values promoted in multicultural Canada, and especially treasured in the City of Markham. It has become a tourist spot to visit, listed as a beautiful and notable addition to the Public Art Collection of the City.
Alex may be gone, in eternal peace with the Lord, but in his memory are these many remarkable acts and physical reminders that his light had been on them. And truly this daybreak Banaag Award coming from the homeland affirms that the Filipino nation he grew up in has the greatest of appreciation for all that he had done.
Thank you and Congratulations Councilor Alex Chiu, Alicia and Cherrie- we in our Filipino community are proud of you.
Note: Alex Chiu was posthumously honored with the Banaag Award. The Announcement was recently issued by the Secretariat of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas in the Office of the President of the Philippines. He was nominated by the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians through the efforts of Chair Yoly Ladines and Secretary Ester Toribio. Alex was among 56 awardees, from 20 countries and territories, 3 of them from Toronto. The Secretariat received a total of 117 nominations for the four award categories – Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), Pamana Ng Pilipino, Banaag, and Kaanib ng Bayan from 31 countries through 39 Philippine Foreign Service Posts across Asia, North and South America, Europe, and Australia.****
