ROB MURRAY: I’m speaking with Jyn San Miguel. On Wednesday, June 2nd at 6 PM, artsPlace is hosting a Focus on Filipino Culture, which is something you’re involved in. What is this event all about?

JYN SAN MIGUEL: It’s a part of the celebration of the Filipino Heritage Month, which is a celebration of the Filipino and their contributions here in our country every June. We wanted to start the celebration by educating our community about the Filipino culture.

RM: How long have you been here in the Bow Valley?

JSM: About six years.

RM: What brought you here?

JSM: The mountains, just like everyone else. I get inspired by hiking, and I’m also an artist and I love painting the scenery’s here in the Rockies.

RM: Did you know about the robust Filipino culture we have here in the Bow Valley before you arrived, or was that a nice surprise for you?

JSM: A nice surprise, actually. It was just like many people here; I started working in the hotels. There’s always Filipino in every hotel that I worked for. It’s been a very strong community. We have a society that we established here called the Canmore Filipino Canadian Society. We organized it so we can create events like this.

RM: For people who attend this event on Wednesday, what can they expect from what’s going to happen?

JSM: They can expect some facts about us Filipino, probably a lot of surprises about the cultural differences that we have, and to better learn about our community and what contributions we’re bringing. We also have the Canmore Singers performing a traditional folk song. The Canmore Singers is composed of different ethnicities, and it’s really cool to have them together singing a Filipino folk song,

RM: Reading the byline here for the event, it says that we’ll learn about your experience with discrimination in the Bow Valley. Has that been an issue for you?

JSM: It has been an issue, not just for the Filipino community but for everyone else. We’d like to help build a kinder community. We want to be a model, not just for our community, but elsewhere. We’d like to empower the ethnic groups, especially in Canmore where we live. We want to see a growing community where kindness is fostered.

RM: The Focus on Filipino Culture event is happening through artsPlace, virtually, 6 to 7:30 PM on Wednesday. You can RSVP for this free event here. You mentioned a Filipino group here in town. What can you tell us about that?

JSM: The Canmore Filipino Canadian Society. We’re basically composed of people from the Filipino background. When the pandemic started we were the one who were reaching out to give food to the community. We’re looking to build and connect with Filipino newcomers here in the community.

RM: Is there a place that people can find you online?

JSM: Right now we’re only on Facebook. We have officers people can connect with if they need resources or if they need help. We’re also under the Philippine consulate, so if there’s anything that they need help with we’re happy to provide.

Filed under: artsPlace, Canmore