E.B Radyo Migrante, Correspondent |[email protected]
TORONTO, ON – Migrante Ontario successfully launched its Second General assembly on November 30, 2025, at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Hall. The general assembly marked a key milestone for the organization, during which the members reflected on the successes of their campaigns, the strength of their organization, and their resolve to continue to advance the rights and welfare of Filipino migrant workers. The theme of the assembly was to: Reinvigorate and expand our organization to lead the struggle for the rights and welfare of Filipino migrants and their families. Strengthen our fight to end all forms of corruption, oppose the US-Marcos-Duterte regime, and advance the fight for national democracy!
“Hindi lang ito ang tema ng General Assembly, ito ang ating panawagan para palawakin ang ating pag-kilos dito sa Canada. Tungkulin natin ay itayo ang lakas ng migranteng Pilipino!” Leny Simbre, the outgoing Chairperson of Migrante Ontario, warmly reminded the membership. While, the keynote speaker, Dennise Velasco, Deputy Sec-Gen of Migrante Canada, emphasized that the convening of Migrante Ontario’s General Assembly further “strengthens the migrant struggle in the midst of the economic and political crises” especially at a time where corruption in the Philippines is “not new” as politicians, including those in Malacañang, are shamelessly stealing public funds from the Filipino people.
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the work of Migrante Ontario – as it did countless community groups across Canada – but Migrante Ontario persevered. Simbre lauded the members for their persistence in continuing to fight for migrant rights despite the seven-year hiatus of convening the second general assembly. At the Second General Assembly, Simbre said: “Sa mahabang panahong ipinaglalaban ng ilan nating mga miyembro ang kanilang status, natutuwa ako’t narito ang mga kasama at patuloy ang pagtataguyod sa pagkilos.”
Over the past seven years, Migrante Ontario launched and supported twenty-four campaigns, including calling an end to the Philippines’ Labour Export Policy and Canada’s Bill C-12 which impact the working and living conditions of Filipino migrants. Other campaigns included supporting migrants during the pandemic by spearheading the Kapit-Bisig initiative, a Canada-wide project in alliance with BAYAN Canada. All while stopping the deportation of several migrant workers, notably health worker Carlo Escario, migrant organizer Danilo de Leon, and migrant organizer and single mother Vangie and McKenna, and its years-long campaign against one of Ontario’s scrupulous recruiters Jeanette Moskito.
Migrante Ontario welcomes its newly elected Executive Committee: Chairperson Marisol Bobadilla, Vice-chairperson Lourdes Dela Pena, Secretary General Zharmaine Ante, Educational & Propaganda Officer AQ Alquinto, and Solidarity Officer Daisy Espinosa.
Migrante Ontario holds fast to the theme of the Second General Assembly to expand and strengthen its ranks as it continues to protect and defend the rights and welfare of migrants and their families in the province and in Canada. As overseas Filipinos and workers, it will continue the collective fight against all forms of exploitation and corruption in the Philippines, to resist the US-Marcos-Duterte regime, and to advance the movement for national democracy.
Contact Migrante Ontario at [email protected]
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