Updated: Five Filipinos run in Manitoba election

The young Malaya Marcelino is confident she can win this election where she hopes to honour her mother’s legacy of service and passion for social activism. (NDP)

Updated: August 28, 2019, 1:10 PM

Winnipeg, Manitoba

 Malaya Marcelino follows mother into politics

Analysis

By Ted Alcuitas

Editor (ted@philippinecanadiannews.com)

philippinecanadiannews.com (PCN.com)

The daughter of the first woman of colour to elected in the Manitoba Legislature is hoping of follow in her mother’s footsteps, in next month’s provincial election on September 10, 2019.

Malaya Marcelino, the daughter of outgoing MLA Flor Marcelino is running for the NDP in the Notre Dame riding  in the inner city where she grew up.

The mother of two boys, Malaya is well prepared for politics growing up in a political family. Aside from her own mother, she has an uncle who is also in politics. NDP Ted Marcelino is the incumbent MLA for Tyndall Park riding and is seeking a third term.

Malaya has a degree in political science from the University of Toronto and a master’s from the University of Manitoba. She has worked as a research and communications specialist at a Manitoba agribusiness.

She has worked as a youth worker at Rossbrook House, board member at Children’s House Montessori School, and as a Sunday school teacher and board member at Broadway Disciples United Church.

Malaya Marcelino (right) and husband, Joel Capalad (left), with her young supporters in the playground of Burton Cummings Community Centre, after the nomination meeting. L-r: Joel Capalad, Elias Marcelino, Scarlett Sison, Sandigan Capalad, Damian Capalad, Malaya Marcelino, Jonas Marcelino (Photo: Pilipino Express)

The elder Marcelino is vowing out of politics after three terms (12 years) under the NDP where she served as a minister of Minister of Multiculturalism and Literacy, as well as the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism.

She was  the first woman of colour to head a provincial party when she was elected as interim leader of the Manitoba NDP in 2016 after the resignation of leader Greg Selinger following the party’s defeat.

NDP MLA (Logan)Flor Marcelino bids farewell to politics as she hugs her grandchildren. She passes the torch to daughter Malaya Marcelino. Son Diwa Marcelino captured the moment as Flor heard the news of the election. (Photo: Diwa Marcelino)

Kelly Legaspi, NDP- Agazzi

 

This is Legaspi’s second try in politics. (Photo: NDP)

Kelly Legaspi is the other woman candidate under the NDP and is running in the riding of Agazzi after losing the nomination to Malaya Marcelino for Notre Dame.

A nurse and martial arts instructor, Legaspi also run. unsuccessfully as a school trustee for Seven Oaks last year.       

The black belter operates the Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy with husband Red.

Active in the community, Legaspi hopes to bring her passion for involvement into politics.

The  mother of four grew up in the Philippines where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing.

She volunteered in the community, with everything from Folklorama to the Philippine Heritage Council, the Asian Heritage Council, the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival and CancerCare Manitoba.

Kelly was one of the founding members and former vice-president of the Philippine Nurses Association of Manitoba, and the former vice-president of the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba.

Jon Reyes, Conservative, Waverley

Jon Reyes in the campaign trail. (Jon Reyes, Facebook)

Elected in 2016 in St.Norbert riding, Reyes is the first second generation Filipino Canadian to win in the province. He is moving to the new riding of Waverley.

The former naval reserve and entrepreneur served as military Manitoba’s Special Envoy for Military Affairs.

A Canadian Forces veteran, he served 10 years in the Canadian Forces including 5 years stationed on the HMCS Winnipeg as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy.

The father of two graduated from the Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C.

He is actively involved in the community where he has served as the founder and past President of the Manitoba Filipino Business Council. He has served as a director with the Kidney Foundation-Manitoba Branch and was recently appointed to the RCMP’s Commanding Officer’s Advisory Committee on Diversity. In his spare time Reyes serves as an on-field official and support staff member for the U of M Bisons football and CFL games.

Ted Marcelino, NDP, Tyndall Park

The veteran Marcelino is considered the “king” in his riding of Tyndall Park serving it since his first election in 2011. 

The former Philippine lawyer is a tireless advocate for his constituents.

A grandfather, Marcelino hopes to keep his riding for the NDP.

He faces a tough opponent against Liberal Cindy Lamoureux, whose father, Kevin is currently the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North since 2010. Kevin is well-known in the Filipino community.

Edda Pangilinan, Manitoba Forward, Burrows

Former Honorary Philippine Consul Edda Pangilinan is running for the Manitoba Forward Party. (Photo: Facebook)

The fifth Filipino candidate is Edda Pangilinan, who is running for the Manitoba Forward Party in the riding of Burrows in the northern part of the city.

Pangilinan made headlines during her term as honorary consul when she complained about being excluded in a trade mission to the Philippines during the NDP administration. She spoke strongly about Filipino temporary workers that she claimed were exploited by their employers.

A graduate of Manila’s Centro Escolar University, she was a former president of the Philippine Association of Manitoba (PAM).