Filipino community helping Townshippers see their home in a whole new way

Three dinosaurs waving the flags of Canada, Quebec and the Philippines walk ahead of two flatbed trucks filled with smiling Filipinos.

It might not be what you expect to see at a small town parade about Irish heritage, but that wasn't stopping the members of the Société Philippine de Richmond.

The St. Patrick's Day parade in Richmond, Que., is one of the town's biggest annual events, and it served as the first public outreach activity for this local group of Filipinos who have chosen to make the Eastern Townships community their home.

"We really want to actively participate in the community," said Rachelle Corpuz, one of the members of the Société Philippine de Richmond, encouraging people in the community to take their presence in the parade as a sign of more projects to come in the near future.

Two floats and some inflatable dinosaur constumes were part of the Filipino community's contributions to this year's parade in Richmond, Que. (Submitted by Rogie Fuentes)

So how did this cultural crossover come to pass? The connection lies with Rogie Fuentes.

Fuentes moved to the small town of just over 3,000 people two years ago, attracted by the scenic environment and calm community. Before that he was living in nearby Drummondville, where he first settled after emigrating from the Philippines.

Rogie Fuentes showing off the camera he uses for his favourite pastime. (Gordon Lambie/CBC)

Fuentes is just one of a growing number of Filipinos settling in the Richmond area and he said that the scenery and historic environment are part of what drew him to the area. When the weather is nice, he grabs his camera drone and hits the road to take photos and videos of the area while relaxing or fishing by the St. Francois River.

"It's a very good way to connect to people. And I never expect that because at first it's just a hobby," he said.

Some of his photos are the backdrop for the website and social media accounts of the Société Philippine de Richmond, which is how they caught the attention of local residents like Sandra Picken Roberts.

She is a painter and a volunteer with the tourism bureau for the Richmond area.

"I thought, oh it just combines with what I'm doing," Picken Roberts said. "I asked him, 'What do you think if we could put the two together?'"

Fuentes's aerial views helped her to see old, familiar surroundings in a whole new light.

Looking to share that feeling with others, Picken Roberts asked if Fuentes would film Richmond's annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Fuentes agreed, and asked if the Société Philippine de Richmond could also take part.

Rachelle Corpuz (left) and Rogie Fuentes (right) from the Société Philippine de Richmond with Laurent Frey (second from left) and Sandra Picken Roberts (second from right) from the Corporation du Pays de l'ardoise tourism bureau in Richmond, Que. (Gordon Lambie/CBC)

"It's a big step for us," Corpuz said, adding that she thinks the town offers the perfect environment for Filipinos to settle.

"We know that Quebec is a French-speaking province, right? And here in Richmond there's a lot of people who also speak English, which is also our language back home in the Philippines," Corpuz said.

She explained that the mix of new and familiar languages creates an environment where people feel like they can communicate when they need to, but also have the resources to integrate into French-speaking society.

Corpuz estimated that there are about 100 Filipinos living in the area now, most of whom have come within the last few years. She credits two local businesses as the main employers for Filipinos in Richmond: Innotex, which manufactures protective equipment for firefighters, and the Wales Home, a seniors' residence and long-term care facility well known for its service to the English-speaking community.

Brendalee Piironen, the Wales Home's executive director, said that the home benefits greatly from the work of the 15 to 20 members of the Filipino community who work there.

"They are just really, really good people," she said, describing the group as kind, caring, generous and family-oriented.

"I love working with them."