Statement of Migrante BC and Migrante Canada
Migrante B.C. and Migrante Canada give tribute and gratitude to Hylene Claudia Dizon for her time, hard work, and commitment for the rights and welfare of migrants and workers in BC and in Canada.
Hylene was a worker at Canada Post, a member of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), an active, enthusiastic long-time member of Migrante BC, a loving friend, and beloved “Ate” (Big Sister) to the youth of Migrante BC and Anakbayan.
She was one of several first-time delegates from across Canada to attend the Sixth Congress of Migrante Canada in Edmonton, Alberta in August 2024. Migrante Canada is the alliance of 14 Filipino organizations from coast to coast. Hylene met the members of the different chapters and member organizations, participated in the workshops, performed in the solidarity program, talked with several of our kababayan who were labour trafficked, and shook hands with Migrante members who fought their unjust removals from Canada, and won.
Hylene was generous with her time in the many activities of Migrante BC — whether it was helping out with the Summer Volleyball at the park, raising the campaign for the Migrante Sectoral Partylist in the 2013 Philippine elections, joining the picket in front of the Indonesian Consulate to “Save Mary Jane Veloso” from execution in 2015, marching with the Migrante BC delegation with its huge and colourful banners during summer festivals, or welcoming friends, members and allies to the Open House of Bahay Migrante/Migrante House in 2014.
Hylene had time to do civic engagement as well. A constituent of the riding of MLA Mable Elmore, she was one of the many volunteers in Elmore’s election campaigns, and after the 2024 BC provincial election, she was recognized as a member of the “SWAT” team that helped Elmore win her fifth term. Hylene’s network of friends expanded each time she worked in the community. One friend described her thus: Maaasahan, masipag at masayahin si Hylene.
Hylene received the Award of Recognition as Workers’ Rights Advocate in 2024 from the Diversity, Inclusion and Support Group of BC. Several members of Migrante BC also received their awards that night.
When Hylene’s union, the CUPW, went on strike, it was no surprise that the friends and members of Migrante, Anakbayan and the volunteers from the Mable SWAT election team joined her and other striking workers in solidarity at the picket line and braved the very chilly winter weather in 2024.
Hylene was hard-working, loved to laugh, dance and sing, but was just as happy to also sit and watch the others do it! She could put anyone to shame on the dance floor when she danced with the youth and her friends, and there are video clips to show it!
Hylene made lasting friendships with the youth from Migrante and Anakbayan. She could very well have been an honorary member of Anakbayan!
But she had that quiet presence, focused and centred. Ika nga, Hylene was always present in the moment.
In her time at the hospital, she maintained a log of visits, texts, images on her phone and shared that with her chatgroup and with others. A Migrante member quipped, “Hylene gave us the example of good documentation work” which also kept everyone on top of what she was going through.
Hylene passed away on July 1, a day we will all remember, not because it is also Canada Day, but because it is the day that Hylene left us – a beloved member of the family of Migrante and a very much-loved friend and Ate. She died at the Mount St. Joseph Hospital in Vancouver. She was 58 years old.
Hylene was family. As family, we deeply grieve her passing. Very, Very Much.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her brothers and their families, her friends, and union workers.
Nakapagpahinga na si Hylene. Maraming Salamat sa lahat, Hylene. Paalam.###
