Philippines election top of mind for Filipinos in B.C.

With the Philippines' presidential election quickly approaching on May 9, many Filipinos in B.C. are watching the race closely to see what the outcome could mean for their native country.

Some local Filipino-Canadians are even working to shore up support — among registered voters both here in Canada and in the Philippines — for a popular but controversial candidate referred to by some as the "Philippine Donald Trump."

Rodrigo Duterte, who is leading in the polls, has raised eyebrows for his comments on women and has been accused by some for being responsible for the extrajudicial killings of drug dealers and other criminals during his time as mayor of Davao, the country's fourth largest city.

'Duterte Harry'

"His campaign speeches are punctuated by every swear word in the vernacular," said Leonora Angeles, a professor with UBC's School of Community and Regional Planning who was born in the Philippines.

Angeles said Duterte is not the only controversial candidate. Running for vice-president is Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos, the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos who was exiled from the country 30 years ago.

The current president Benigno Aquino III, who belongs to the Liberal Party, has served since 2010 and cannot run again because of term limits.

"It tells you how frustrated people are with the corruption and inefficiency of the political system," Angeles said. "It really echoes I think the nostalgia for a strong leader and authoritarian leader, and that's also why Bongbong Marcos is very popular."

Support in Metro Vancouver

That popularity extends to Filipino citizens living overseas who are eligible to vote in the upcoming election.

According to the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver there are more than 200,000 Filipinos living in Western Canada (which includes Alberta, B.C., the Yukon and  NWT), and of those, 33,000 are registered to vote.

Grassroots groups that support Duterte have sprung up across Canada, and here in the Lower Mainland a group of FIlipino Canadians formed the Vancouver chapter of the Duterte for President Movement earlier this year.

Glenn Delfino, one of the founders of the group, said Duterte wants to bring federalism to the Philippines, and so his group aims to teach Filipinos here and in the Philippines about what could mean for the country.

"We'd like to influence back home in the Philippines that the country can have a good government … there is something we can learn from Canada," Delfino said.

"We can influence and educate the public, the Filipinos, that his [Duterte's] platform is different. So then they have family back home, they call them and explain what the platform is, because a lot of people in the Philippines don't have access to the media, and some of the media is very controlled by the elite."

Though Duterte is controversial, the group said that he cleaned up the crime-riddled city of Davao, and could do the same for the rest of the country.

"People in the Philippines are sick and tired of being oppressed by their own government," said Eddie Ubalde, another member of the group.

"All of the previous presidents in the Philippines all come from the same family, the same area. They all belong to the elite. Duterte came from the mass[es]. We are behind this guy simply because he is there for us. He will represent change. That's the key word here. Change, in capital letters."

Time for change?

UBC professor Leonora Angeles said there is also support for other candidates in the local Filipino community.

"If you talk to the business people here in Vancouver, I think many of them would prefer the continuation of the current Aquino administration," she said, adding that she believes that means a vote for Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas and vice-president candidate Leni Robredo.

But she admits that many are tired of the political leaders that have come since the reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and so while some may want the Liberal Party to stay in power, others may want a bigger change.

"People are really tired of the old political system … and are really willing to take chances this time.

"That's why Duterte is top of the polls," said Angeles.

With files from CBC's The Early Edition

To hear an interview with Leonora Angeles listen to the audio labelled: Filipino-Canadian professor describes the candidates and political context of upcoming Philippines presidential election.